Head Banging Toddler

[tiredtwinmum]

Help!
Anyone have a head banger like us?
It's sending us all crazy and disturbing her twin sister on a daily basis.
Looking for toddler bed suggestions that might mute the noise.
She sits up and bangs the side of the cot so it needs to have low sides or protective padding - we don't want her to bang the walls instead

[tempnamechange98765]

I do, my 17 month old has head banged since he was about 8 months or so.

At the head and foot of the cot I've put pillows, which are held against the headboards using air wrap which is safe, unlike bumpers. It means that noise is dulled at least although he still manages to head bang the sides of the cot. It's noisy and annoying! I suggest ear plugs and separate rooms if you have the option? Although I'm sure your other DD will get used to it?

[twinsmum77]

Thanks so much!
Do you mean these?
www.johnlewis.com/airwrap-four-sided-baby-cot-bumper-white/p2155876
We currently have the cot padded out as best we can (plus of course ear plugs) but started to think maybe a toddler bed might be an option. She’s been at it since about 6 months just hope she grows out of it ASAP.
Hang in there too!

[tempnamechange98765]

Yes those exact ones! We are actually away this week and he's in a travel cot, it's a lot less annoying with the mesh sides so I am a bit tempted to take the sides off his cot at home and just get bed guards, but knowing him he will climb out.

It is really annoying/disruptive. My DS clearly does it as a way to soothe himself off to sleep which is so bizarre but hilarious. Apparently it's not that uncommon, apparently about 20% of toddlers do it. I read somewhere it peaks between 16 months and 2 years so I really hope my DS starts to die down on it as he approaches 2. He's definitely worse when he's teething and he has almost all his teeth now so fingers crossed!

How old is your DD?

[tiredtwinmum]

The DD's are 27 months now.
Definitely some sleep regression going on as they've been brilliant sleepers until now (obviously apart from the one head banging).
So tempted to get a low sided toddler bed to stop it but also scared of the escaping 🤦🏼‍♀️ and that causing even more disruption.
We're away too with travel cots and it's much improved. I have even done that at home when things are really bad.
Hope things stop for both of us x

[tempnamechange98765]

Hi there just wondering if you decided what to do?

My head banger is 18 months now and he's going through some kind of sleep regression as he's awake so many times in the night and so hard to settle! His head banging has gotten worse too, so I'm really really tempted to at least try taking the bars off the cot and replacing with mesh bed guards. I swear the banging is disturbing him...

[twinsmum77]

I am at a bit of a loss to be really honest.

We have had to separate the girls so the non head banger isn’t so disturbed but it’s only temporary as we don’t have the space!

I am wondering about a toddler bed with very low sides (But she’s not ready. And I’m sure the up and down would be even worse) or keeping her in a travel cot but from what I have read this could go on for a few more years (OMG!).

It’s so awful and disturbing for the whole family.

I am amazed if this is common in 20-30% of children that no one has come up with something to help stop!? It’s driving us all mad and can’t be good for her head either.

How are you getting on?

[tempnamechange98765]

Years? Oh god I hope not! I read somewhere that it peaks between 16-24 months so I hope it starts to die down by the time he turns 2.

We went for it and took the bars off, replaced
With a bed guard. The noise is better and he's slept better for a few nights but something is really bothering him again tonight so lots of banging.

I agree! It's a nightmare isn't it!

[twinsmum77]

How are you getting on?
The girls have (most days) dropped their afternoon naps so but the time they go to bed they are completely exhausted which has helped the banging.
We also nailed the cot legs to the floor and added more pillows at the end where she bangs which has helped.
Sounds so dramatic 🤦🏼‍♀️
Hope things have improved your side too!

[tempnamechange98765]

Hi Op! Yes we have completely changed his bed it seems ridiculous! On the side where the cot bed is against the wall he has a foam thing to stop him banging his head against the wall, then the bed guard on the other side. Pillows either end held in place by air wraps which were already there. We barely hear him doing it now! He still does for sure but the noise is hardly anything.

It does sound dramatic doesn't it! The lengths we go to! Sad to hear your DD hasn't stopped yet as I was really hopeful around 2 DS would stop