To think my dd shouldn't hit herself

[monkeynuts123]

She is 3.5 and when having a spectacular tantrum, a really big big tantrum she will hit herself across around the head. She has smaller tantrums from time to time and behaves pretty standard and recovers from them easily. But sometimes she has these red mist tantrums, perhaps one a week or less and she hits herself around the head in a frenzied nutty way and to be frank it looks bonkers and is embarrassing if in a public space. Do other pre-schoolers do this?

My 2 yo does this on occasion too when its a really big tantrum. Would be interested to hear if its normal too as it worries me.

Worth adding that she is otherwise a bright, engaged kid with an excellent vocabulary (trying to make myself feel better!)

My son had an issue which required an operation on his skull at aged one.

When discussing it with his medical team, I told them that DS was fond of headbutting things, and asked if it was related. I was told that it was normal for babies and small toddlers to do stuff like this as a way of 'experiencing' things, and that sometimes they liked the sensation, even though it was mildly painful.

I'm not sure that this applies in your situation, when it is linked to tantrums, but it could just be a way of expressing how she feels, and it could be about the sensation too.

One thing I was advised though - if you react to it, it can cause children to do it more often as they see if gets a certain type of reaction. Does it upset you and do you show it?

I read that it is a form of comfort for small babies & children & that they should grow out of it.

If she's still doing it when she's older though, it could be that she's self harming and that should be investigated.