14 mth old hitting herself

[CJ2010]

I need some advice please regarding my 14 mth old DD's behaviour.

She has started hitting herself on the head, she slaps the side of her head and when she is in her highchair she bangs her head backwards and hits her head on the back of the seat. I am finding this behaviour alarming. She has been doing this for about a month now.

She sometimes does it when she is having a bit of a tantrum, but at other times, she is smiling and happy. Why do you think she is doing this, is it normal at this age? She also hits me and DP, she likes to slap us on the head and pull our hair/ eyebrows!

I spoke to the HV about it and she thinks it is because she is frustrated, but I don't know what I can do, I give her lots of play time and atttention. DD is not walking yet, but she is moving around furniture. Could she be frustrated that she can't walk about?

I highly recommend Cranial Osteopathy for this - google it! Its amazing!!

I might be way off here but would you take her out of the high chair and put her in a booster at the table ? Sometimes it can seem to them that they are marooned up on their perch while everyone else it at the same level at the table (so I think anyway).

We had lots of bucking and thrashing in the high chair too and getting her out of it was the solution.

Just a thought.

I think they don't understand the implications of hitting and pulling at people's hair etc at that age - she probably just wants to see your reaction. If she hits would you think about taking her hand and just stroking your face (or whatever she has hit ) and say gently gently.

Of course I have actually been hit in the face by my then 18 month old with a copy of "Hands are not for Hitting" so I may not be the ideal responder to this post.

But I do think what you are describing is totally normal for what it is worth.

My 14 month old does this a bit, but less than she was about a month ago. I wouldn't worry too much - Im not worrying but am just keeping my eye on it.

My friends DD did this and she is now 18 and perfectly normal. Try not to worry..... next month it will be something else that you worry about. I have a 14month old and I am finding one worry morphs into another then another.....

Big hugs!

My 14month old does this too. I wouldn't worry about it. Mine finds it hilarious. She hits herself on the head if she is trying to post her toy pennies into her piggy bang and can't manage it or she can't reach something (frustration) she does it if she is whingy (frustration and tiredness) She does it if i say "no" firmly to her and she does it to make her big sister laugh!!

I think they will grow out of it.

hey, my dd did this too, she is now 18 months and i can't remember last time she did it. just a stage i reckon. HTH