Why does my 3-month-old baby frequently shake head and scratch his ears? This could indicate vestibular sensitivity , so what should I do? How can I distinguish normal head shaking? When should head shaking be taken seriously?
A 3-month-old baby cannot express his feelings with words, so he can only use some body movements to express his wishes to his parents.
In most cases, phenomena such as shaking the head and scratching the ears are caused by the uneven development of the baby’s inner ears on both sides .
Unbalanced development of the inner ears on both sides is a normal phenomenon in the baby’s growth and development process. This situation will generally disappear gradually when the baby is around 12 months old.
In theory, this situation does not require intervention, but it may have a certain impact on the baby’s life. In addition to frequent shaking of the head and pulling of the ears, some babies may also have problems with motion sickness and show extreme resistance to the safety seat. In severe cases, they may vomit while riding in the car, which is very uncomfortable.
Parents can help their baby develop both inner ears through some exercises in their daily lives, thereby alleviating their discomfort. For example, for younger babies, parents can gently massage their external auditory canals and let them practice lying on their stomachs and rolling over. For older babies, parents can hold their babies in swivel chairs or swings, as these activities can also promote inner ear development.
There are many situations in which babies may experience this phenomenon. Let’s introduce them one by one below.
Normal conditions (shake head) that do not require treatment
Uncomfortable sleeping posture
If a 3-month-old baby always shake head while sleeping, it may be that he is not satisfied with his current sleeping position. He will actively tilt his head in the direction he likes until he finds the most comfortable position.
Not yet in deep sleep
Shaking the head in sleep may also indicate that the baby is in a light sleep state, accompanied by small movements such as eye movements and facial twitching.
The baby is trying to coax himself to sleep
Shake head is also a way for babies to soothe themselves, helping them calm down and slowly fall into a sweet sleep.
Fast metabolism
In this case, the baby is particularly prone to sweating, which causes itchy scalp. Only by shaking the head back and forth can the baby feel a little more comfortable. This is the reason for the formation of occipital baldness.
Development of head control ability
As the baby grows, the strength of the head and neck develops better and better. In the first two months, the neck may not be able to support the head, and the head will naturally fall back when held. But by 3 months, the baby can stand upright.
Issues that need attention and improvement
Calcium deficiency
When babies lack calcium, they will feel irritable and restless, and their heads will shake while sleeping.
If breastfeeding, mothers should check themselves to see if they are deficient in calcium, such as calf cramps, loose teeth, etc.
Unsuitable environment
For example, if the quilt or clothes are too thick, the baby may feel uncomfortable and shake his head to express his discomfort.
You can touch the back of your baby’s neck to feel if there is sweating. Sweating means that the baby is wearing too much or covering too thickly. Warmth is normal.
Suggestion: In addition, if the weather is hot, you can turn on the air conditioner, but be careful not to blow it directly. It is more appropriate to adjust it to 24-26℃.
Some diseases such as eczema
In addition, if a baby always shakes his head, it may be caused by physiological diseases, such as eczema, otitis media , cold and nasal congestion.
Especially eczema, which is very common, almost four out of five babies will suffer from varying degrees of eczema. This skin disease will make children feel itchy, so they will tell their parents by shaking their heads repeatedly.
At this time, you can usually find a red rash on the baby’s head and face. The condition worsens especially when it is hot, and you may even find skin desquamation.
Recommendations: Maintain a comfortable room temperature and avoid wrapping your baby too thickly to prevent perspiration from exacerbating the infection. Also, cleanse your baby’s skin regularly and apply moisturizer to strengthen the skin’s barrier function. Remember not to bathe your child based on traditional remedies, and even if you’re using hormone-based ointments, consult a doctor first.
In short, once you find that your baby is abnormal, you must immediately carry out targeted treatment, care and cleaning. These small movements of the baby are signals to parents, and you must observe carefully at ordinary times.
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