Lots of children love to rock back and forth. Most often this is just normal behavior; however, occasionally it can be associated with specific problems, such as autism. To distinguish between normal rocking and abnormal behavior, you can look at the rocking specifically and your child's behavior in general. Is your daughter's rocking playful, or is it machine-like, with your child almost going into a trance-like state? Playful rocking is expected behavior in 1-year-old children. Children will make eye contact with you at times during the rocking, and they usually appear happy or engaged.

General behavioral patterns to look for include your child's language and social skills. Does she have some language, such as the words "dada" and "mama"? Does your daughter communicate her wants? Does she desire your attention? These are all normal social and language skills for a 1-year-old. If you are uncertain about how to describe the rocking or how to interpret your daughter's behavior, I suggest you take a video of your daughter rocking and playing to show her pediatrician. Always express any concerns you have about your child's behavior and development to her pediatrician.

Learn more in the Everyday Health Kids' Health Center.