Is head banging normal behaviour?

[puppie]

Hopefully someone can reassure me on this!

My 3 yr old DS has started banging his head on the floor (or doors or whatever is close enough) when he is told off and he is upset and crying.

For example last night he had his usual evening meltdown and was told off and put on the naughty step for trying to bite me in anger for being told off. He has never bitten before and did so in a temper last night hence being punished. He started banging his head on the floor and the nearby door. He has done this quite a few times of late.

I find this quite distressing that he is getting angry and upset to this extent.

Does anyone elses' DC's do this and how do you handle it?

Both mine did it all the time - ignore and it will loose its power and they will stop

Sounds like he is acting out his frustration and anger esp if this is a new behaviour. nb sometimes little children bang their heads if they have earache but that doesnt really sound like the picture your describe.

I think Maud is probably right. My HV has said the same to me. He will just have to learn to suppress his emotions like the rest of us!!

BTW my DS1 bangs his head because it's 'fun' and 'I like it, Mummy'

He probably does it against a door because he'll get a good loud shocking sound that way.

Dd1 used to headbang off the floor in a tantrum. It used to worry me silly until the day I saw her get on all fours to do it then shuffle over a few inches to make sure she was on the carpet and not the floorboards. I didn't take any notice after that and it soon stopped.

DS1 headbanged the floor during tantrums, for about 18 months before he grew out of it. We ignored it, or moved him onto carpet. He only ever did it in Sainsbury's once (hard floor) and on a concrete car park once, enough to leave marks. It was initially distressing, but part of how he expressed himself. Now he has stopped and hasn't done it since he was just 3. Ignore it if you can, but make sure he's safe.

Thank you ladies! That has definitely reassured me. It is really disturbing to see such a little child so incredibly angry, doesn't seem proportional to the actual incident that has made him angry (e.g. not being allowed to watch the Gruffalo until AFTER his bath!)