Baby shaking head side to side, body rocking and other similar movements are ways that children soothe themselves. As a parent, it can be worrisome when your child engages in these movements. But these behaviors usually aren’t harmful unless they cause injury or sleep disturbances.
Is your baby shaking their head from side to side? Banging their head onto their pillow? Rocking back and forth? These behaviors can be worrisome, especially if you’re a new parent. But head banging, body rocking and similar behaviors are normal in babies and toddlers, particularly during naps or at nighttime.
These behaviors only become an issue if they result in injury or disrupt your child’s sleep. When they cause complications, healthcare providers call these behaviors rhythmic movement disorders (RMD).
Babies and toddlers exhibit rhythmic movements in a few different ways. The most common types include:
Less common types include:
Rhythmic movements are very common among healthy babies and toddlers. Up to 60% of babies exhibit symptoms by the time they’re 9 months old.
These movements tend to occur at the same rate regardless of sex and may run in families with a history of RMDs.
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Children who don’t have rhythmic movement disorders can still show the same movements as those who do. Providers don’t consider the movements themselves a disorder unless they disrupt your child’s sleep, cause injuries or make it hard for them to focus on tasks.
Babies and toddlers who exhibit rhythmic movements may:
Researchers are still learning why many children exhibit rhythmic movements. The most common theory is that these are self-soothing behaviors that help your child relax and fall asleep. Your child may find these movements comforting because they mimic the feeling of a caregiver holding or rocking them.
Other researchers think these rhythmic movements happen because your child’s nervous system hasn’t fully developed. As a result, they can’t control motor functions while they sleep.
If your child shows symptoms of rhythmic movements, it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong. In most cases, these behaviors are a normal part of development. But in some cases, rhythmic movements may occur alongside other conditions, including:
In most cases, children who make rhythmic movements have no other developmental or cognitive conditions. If you’re not sure whether your baby’s rhythmic movements are typical for their age, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician. They can help you find the answers you need.
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A pediatrician can talk with you to get a more detailed sleep history. They may also run tests to rule out other conditions, like:
Possible diagnostic tests may include:
Most children who exhibit rhythmic movements don’t require treatment.
If your child receives an RMD diagnosis and is at risk for injury, your pediatrician may recommend:
If your child has severe symptoms, your pediatrician might recommend other ways to help them.
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Unless your child is harming themselves, there’s no need to do anything. But if your child exhibits severe symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider about the options mentioned above.
These behaviors typically subside by age 2 or 3. By age 5, only 5% of children who don’t have underlying conditions exhibit rhythmic movements.
Rhythmic movements usually go away on their own when your baby or toddler reaches early childhood. Adolescents and adults rarely have these symptoms.
In most cases, rhythmic movements are just a normal part of development. Babies and toddlers who have RMD generally grow out of it and go on to live perfectly healthy lives.
In most cases, head shaking and body rocking are normal movements and nothing to worry about. But you should schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician if:
Most of the time, babies who shake their heads from side to side are trying to self-soothe. It’s normal for them to do this when they’re trying to fall asleep.
Rhythmic rocking is a self-soothing behavior that comforts children and helps them feel calm — especially during naps or at nighttime.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
As a parent, it can be unsettling to watch your child shake their head or rock back and forth. But in most cases, these behaviors are harmless. Most likely, your child isn’t in distress — they’re just self-soothing. But if you witness worrisome behaviors, talk to your pediatrician. They can tell you whether your child needs further evaluation.
Last reviewed on 07/26/2023.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy