Baby shaking head back & forth in sleep?

Is this normal or something to mention to the pediatrician? My daughter had what looked like a seizure episode and then her neck got stuck to one side. However two doctors are just saying it's torticollis. It happened two times now. The first time I didn't know if any eye movement happened prior, but this 2nd time I was watching her. Her eyes rolled back and then rapidly went side to side for a few seconds. That happened twice. Then a minute or two later her neck was stuck tilted to the left. They didn't want to do further testing because they said she didn't present with evidence of a seizure. I don't think I'd noticed her shaking her head like this in her sleep before. So that's why I'm concerned.

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I would get another opinion! Idk if it’s normal or not but pushing for a test can’t hurt🫶🏼

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how old is she? it's not uncommon for newborns/ younger infants to do this in their sleep as a feeding reflex. if she's past that age i would definitely get a different opinion and i wouldn't stop until you got an answer. it does look concerning.

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My son use to do something similar to self soothe to sleep. I don't know if it's the same thing or not. Definitely get another opinion just in case.

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Definitely get another opinion to be safe

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I think it can be a form of self soothing, but definitely get another opinion if your gut is telling you. X

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My daughter used to rub her head on her mattress as comfort when sleeping/going to sleep. She’s 18 months now and absolutely fine! If you are concerned though I’d definitely get another opinion x

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My son use to do this. Hate to say, it’s normal. He did the a lot

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What do you mean by neck stuck to one side? My baby does the same. It's active sleep. Regardless, trust your gut and get her checked by another professional if you'd like. My baby is 2.5 months and doesn't do it as much anymore.

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@Charlea She's almost 5 months. Is that too old for that reflex?

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@Jessica Oh, the thing in this video is a secondary thing that happened. My mom had been babysitting her while I was at work and got worried. The eyes going back and then left to right rapidly was while she was wide awake. Her neck was tilted to one side. Like a stiff neck. She couldn't move it to straighten it. That's happened twice. About a month apart. The first time it lasted about 6 hours. Then this 2nd time it lasted over a day. I know torticollis can come and go like that, but she was evaluated by a physical therapist that would specialize in things of that nature and she told us that it didn't look like torticollis to her. So... for them to tell me that it's unlikely she had a seizure it confused me. Because it's what it looked like to me. It's just it was so fast and so subtle that I couldn't have had time to record that happening. So it's my description they're relying on.

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It looks like a normal REM sleep to me but always best to ask your midwife or doctor if something seems wrong

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@Erin That's what I was thinking about this video. This was something my mom noticed while babysitting her. The eye movement and head getting stuck to the left side was a different thing entirely. I haven't been able to catch that on video. The neck thing yes, but not what happened with her eyes.

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This looks like what infants do when they try to self soothe and settle themselves to sleep. Baby might put herself to sleep soon!

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Honestly it looks like baby girl is sleeping pretty good buuuut as a mom we will only be okay to know for sure. Go get her second opinion to be okay.

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My daughter did this when she was little. When she was tired she'd shake her head back and forth quite quickly and in bed. It was a tired/soothing cue. She grew out of it. Can't hurt to show you dr or child health nurse if you're worried but it's likely nothing.

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It’s normal. My son is 7 months and has been doing this for some time now. They’re trying to get comfy to sleep/self soothing. I understand the worry, I posted about this once too.

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This is really normal. It’s a soothing technique

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Aww I miss that stage my baby does that to fall asleep.

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If your worried talk to your ped but must my son did this for months when he was a baby while sleeping he was self soothing back to sleep is what our ped said and he grew out of it

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@Brenda definitely get another opinion!!

My son had the rabid eye movement youre talking about too, as well as unusual spacing out and his dr had him get a brain scan at 4 months just to be safe.
Epilepsy does run in my family.

His scan thankfully didnt show anything, but that stuff is definitely concerning, and with all of what you said, it definitely sounds plausible it could be seizures.
If seizures run in the family at all, absolutely mention that too.

It's much better to be safe than sorry !!

If she does eventually get a brain scan too, I recommend bringing a comfortable hat for her!! (Either a bit loose or with plenty of stretch! And of course ask if thats okay!)

My sons scan was an awful experience because they put a weird mesh cap on him to hold the wires in place and it was incredibly uncomfortable and I believe hurting his head!
I held him and it hurt my arm where it rested :(

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I asked my pediatrician recently on this because my 4m old is doing the same and they said it’s fine they are either trying to fight their sleep or soothe themselves ❤️

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My baby does this and I always wonder if it’s ok

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My daughter did this but it’s always good to talk to her pediatrician sometimes it’s self soothing

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There's no harm in mentioning it with concern

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My son’s pediatrician said that is they are restless and toss their head from side to side it’s a sign of an ear infection, it could just be your baby self soothing but definitely worth talking with your babies pediatrician about it!

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