1 Yr Old Spins in a Circle...

Updated on January 22, 2018
K.I. asks from Spokane, WA
25 answers

Hello Ladies...

My 1 yr old daughter has taught herself how to spin in a circle...you know how you do when your kids...spin till you fall down. She has done it for a couple months now (she walked at 8 months), I am just wondering if this is normal behavior? I do not remember any of my other boys ever doing this till they were 4 or 5 or so. It is NOT something she does compulsively or for long periods of time, but she does do it almost every day. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
K.

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A.L.

answers from Medford on

Lol, my 15 month old does the same thing. Not everyday but it's still quite frequent. She always is smiling when she's doing it so I think that its just something that amuses her. I don't think anything is wrong with it.

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A.W.

answers from Seattle on

My one year old also walked at eight months and she's doing the exact same thing. Spin spin spin- so, yeah. I think it's normal. :)

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J.W.

answers from Seattle on

She learned a new skill and she's proud of herself!!! Kids on the playground do it too. She's gaining control of her body, she feels the cause and the effect of her actions. It's all about learning and growing. Just make sure that where she does it is a safe place, so when she falls down she doesn't hit her head on sharp or hard object. Congratulations on the infusion of estrogen in your household!!! The two of you will have an awesome journey thru this life.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.W.

answers from Seattle on

Sounds normal to me. My daughter still spins in circles until she falls down. I think they just like the sensation.

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J.H.

answers from Seattle on

My son does the same thing but now that he's 2 1/2 he doesn't spin quite as often. I was recommended to get him a sit-n-spin so that he can experience the spinning in another (safer) position as well. Before then, we made a rule that he could spin but only if he cleaned up his toys around him & didn't spin around things he could hurt himself on when he would fall over & only for a few minutes at a time (he'd spin for well over 10 minutes if we let him). Joshua loves his sit-n-spin, & it's a great arm excercise. It was only a couple of dollars at a thrift store. If you're really concerned about your daughter's spinning being abnormal, then you can contact the county's early intervention department to be checked out by an occupational therapist for hyposensitivity. Most likely it's nothing but trust your gut & get it checked out if you think something's wrong.

--J.C.

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F.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter does the same thing! She started walking at 8 months and started spinning until she fell down dizzy at 14 months. For my daughter she is at or above development so I know she is fine...she just likes spinning. As long as your child is developing properly...she's probably just silly and likes to spin! Hope this reassures you :)

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A.H.

answers from Portland on

Seems normal to me. Every kid is different.

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A.M.

answers from Seattle on

I have 3 kids and so far they have all done it, (the youngest is only 10 months so I'm waiting) and run a home daycare and they all do it, sometimes as a group.

Totally normal, but it does make you want to put a helmet on them! LOL!

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C.F.

answers from Portland on

My 2-1/2-year-old does the same thing. He didn't walk until he was 15 months old. But, he's been spinning off and on in a circle for a year. I personally think it is just a game for him. He usually spins when he's just playing. He likes the dizzy feeling that he gets.

Spinning can be a negative, but you should probably wait and observe until she is a little older and see if there are anything other things going on. Or- just talk to her doctor next time you are in and explain concerns.

With my boy- we just make sure that he isn't anywhere near sharp objects (or his baby brother) and let him go. He's just being silly. He has taken days off from spinning to practice other fun behavior like jumping, running, somersaults, etc. Just being a toddler.

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J.N.

answers from Seattle on

Hi K.,
Yes - very very normal. My one year old daughter does this also. :) Both of my boys did it also. She's learned balance is all.

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J.C.

answers from Seattle on

Hi, K.--- it sounds beautifully typical to me-- as long as it does not go ''' on and on''' and as long as she can be distracted to some other activity. Likely - she is enjoying the sensation of making her body bounce. Can you get her a small trampoline ( looks to be about 36'' in diameter) - it has a handle that she would hold onto while she jumps. Or, a swing - or a 'wonder horse' type of toy. There is a body process called ''' the vestibular system'' that is really comforted by motion--- and likely that's what she's doing.

Blessings,
J.

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M.L.

answers from Seattle on

Totally normal. It's a new skill that she's enjoying, so take a little video and enjoy!

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R.S.

answers from Seattle on

I think its perfectly normal. My son is 2 1/2 and still does it. No need to worry!

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T.P.

answers from Portland on

Nothing to worry about. It's a new sensation to feel dizzy and babies are all about new sensations. My daughter is 18m old and still does this at least once a day, only now she does is while saying "dissy dissy dissy" or chanting, singing and stomping (we call this "chaneling her inner native american" because it sounds/looks like she is doing a war dance). Just make sure she does it in a location when she won't hit her head if she falls and let her go at it. We make it kind of a game and I stomp in circles with her and she thinks it's the funniest thing EVER.

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F.G.

answers from Anchorage on

My son spins in circles also. It just seems like fun i wouldnt be worried.

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M.S.

answers from Portland on

My son did that too... around 18 months when he walked well enough to do it. They are really experiencing dizziness for the first time, and learning what makes them dizzy, and how to control it. It is just a fun game... spin with her, and have fun. She'll get bored with it and it will become less frequent, but even older kids love to spin themselves dizzy once and a while.

L.D.

answers from Terre Haute on

My two year old granddaughter does the same thing. It's perfectly normal. I don't know why they don't have more on the internet to relieve mothers. When I try to look things up like that, all I can seem to find are autism articles and videos. Not all such things are signs of autism. Lots of children spin in circles until they fall down. My granddaughter also likes to walk around me over and over again, but she doesn't do it too much. That kind of behavior is just being a normal kid. I don't remember my daughter doing some of the things my granddaughter does, but every child is different. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with them. My granddaughter shows signs of being very smart and understanding a lot that we say even though she doesn't know how to communicate very well yet. She responds to what we say, so we know she understands what we are talking about. I'm surprised how much she understands sometimes when she still can't talk very well. She can say many things but not enough to tell us much. When I started to watch one of those autism videos, I think their main concern is that the child have an interest in interacting with people. If your child wants to play with you and has no problems looking in your face speaking to you, even if you can't understand what they say yet, then there is nothing to worry about in my opinion. I don't want you to worry over nothing. Hope this helps. Thanks for your question.

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V.B.

answers from Portland on

Hi K.-
Your question made me giggle as I pictured my toddler who loves to spin. We had a hippy farm volunteer here last fall and I think she inspired him! He doesn't do it everyday, and it's usually just for about 10-20 seconds, but he manages not to get dizzy and fall down... it's pretty fun to watch.

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A.K.

answers from Seattle on

Sounds normal to me. When my son figured out how to do it (he was a fairly early walker at 10 months) he would do it for fun sometimes. That and walking backwards. :) I just think they are exploring how their bodies work and unless it's a constant compulsive behavior or something, it's probably just normal toddler stuff! ;)

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M.L.

answers from Corvallis on

I remember reading that spinning and making oneself dizzy as a child is an indicator of their desire as an adult to intoxicate themselves... so look out later in life!

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V.H.

answers from Seattle on

Normal and healthy- when you get dizzy your brain has to "compensate". It has to right itself and work to make everything even again. It actually helps in brain development.

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K.R.

answers from Portland on

as long as it's not compulsive (and even if it seems so to us), spinning is often important for kids to set up their vestibular-balance systems. My first brother and I spun for years, for fun (but my mom worried we were autism-spectrum). I think we were especially into it when I was like 6-8 and he was 4-6. Ish. When we did the "what's it like to be drunk" test in jr high, where we had to spin for 30 seconds and then walk a line, I aced it ;). (I don't drink, though ;).)

If she walked early she may have skipped some neurological integration steps, and this might be part of picking those up. (My youngest never crawled properly until after he had walking figured out ... then he took up crawling again and taught himself to do it correctly ... kids are pretty instinctual about it I guess!)

I bet there are lots of YouTubes with spinning toddlers ;).

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C.R.

answers from Seattle on

She probably likes the dizzy feeling. :-)

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M.C.

answers from Seattle on

My son started at about 1 year and would sing "ashes ashes ah fah dah" when he did it...he loved and still does love spinning in circles. I think she is just fine. Our daughter did it early also!

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K.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hello Group.....

My daughter is almost 1 yr. old. She also started to walk early at 8 months(thank God). I to was wondering if it was a little out of the ordinary too. I think walking early is sign enough to trry and engage the child into more advanced activities(a few months). Maybe these children have the abilty to learn a little quicker. My daugther is also in a day care . Im assuming that alot has to do with her imitating other children , either older or ahead of their milestones. However, I am no expert though I have enough mommy credit hours to be considered a Professor. lol! Hope that helps anyone .

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