Head banging and rocking at bedtime: why does my baby do it?

What you might see

Sleep-related rhythmic movement comes in three main forms, as described by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM):

• Body rocking: rocking back and forth on hands and knees, or swaying the upper body while sitting. Onset is usually around 6 months.
• Head banging: moving the head repeatedly into the mattress or crib. Onset is usually around 9 months, and the AASM describes it as the form parents find most disturbing.
• Head rolling: turning the head from side to side, typically while lying on the back.

You will usually see it when a child is drowsy, falling asleep, or settling back to sleep after waking.

How often it happens

According to the AASM, it commonly fades by age two or three.

Rhythmic movement is widespread and usually harmless. When a night full of wakings comes with it, those wakings are what Actually Sleeping fixes.

Can it hurt my child?

In typical cases among infants and toddlers, the AASM says the risk of serious injury is low, though forceful movements can make loud banging against the bed or wall. Many children seem to use the rhythm to calm themselves, much like an adult jiggling a foot.

Making the crib safe

• Skip the padding. Crib bumpers are banned in the U.S., and the AAP says there should be no bumper pads in the crib. Leave it bare.
• Look over the crib. Tighten the bolts and screws, and pull the crib slightly away from the wall to reduce the noise and rattling.
• Never restrain your child.

When a doctor should take a look

According to the AASM, a sleep specialist is worth seeing if the movements injure your child or prevent them from sleeping well. Speak with your pediatrician as well if:

• It leaves your child with bruises, cuts or swelling.
• It goes on for long periods during the day, not only around sleep.
• It persists beyond early childhood or is becoming more intense.
• You have any worries about your child’s development, hearing or vision.

The AASM recommends keeping a sleep diary for two weeks and filming an episode to show the doctor.

When rocking signals a wider sleep problem

A child who rocks or bangs for a few minutes and then falls asleep is often just settling themselves. When it happens at every waking, all through the night, it is usually a symptom of broken sleep rather than its cause: a child who wakes between sleep cycles, struggles to drift off again, and rocks or bangs while trying. Parents often rush in and pick the child up, which can turn the waking itself into the habit.

The broken nights are what can be fixed, and that is the work Actually Sleeping does. Dr. Sam writes a plan for your child, at any age, that looks at the schedule and at how your child falls asleep at bedtime, all inside a bare, safe crib. You receive bootcamp-style coaching before the first night and 1:1 check-ins every day. Families share their stories in our 129 client video reviews. Read also about frequent night waking.

When banging or rocking comes with a night of constant waking, book a free consultation with Actually Sleeping.