A bit worried about my 14 month old DD, is this normal?

[gallifrey]

She is a very clever little girl but also very determined and has a bit of a temper!

She is walking about and is fine when she is going where she wants to go, if you try and get her to go in another direction she literally throws herself on the floor deliberately banging her head and screaming. If you really won't let her do something she starts hitting herself on the head and screaming! She also head bangs things too if she can't get her own way.

Is this normal behaviour for a baby so young?

My DD did this when she was around the same age, I think its pretty normal. We just let her get on with it, and like most things it passed and was just a phase. She's 3 now and no longer hits herself in the face, we're onto nail biting!

Good luck.

thank you, my older daughter was a very laid back baby but this one is a right little madam! I'm definitely going to have my hands full with her!

She has red hair and a temper to match!

Yep, DD was exactly the same at this age and it's only now - two and a half months later, reading this that I've suddenly realised she's totally grown out of it! I've not seen her head banging for a while and I think it's because she's more confident and authoritative generally. It'll pass.

Does she points to things when trying to show you something?

yes she points and says 'look'

She just started hitting herself just now when I stopped her from throwing stuff down the toilet!

Yes it's normal but it's hard to watch isn't it?

You need to try not to react to the headbanging, etc and just calmly continue to expect her to do what you were asking.

Children only generally persist in this type of behaviour or escalate it when it serves a purpose for them.

Do make sure you give her a hug when she's ready for one. Being sympathetic to her upset is still important and isn't giving in.

Pointing is great news, so I guess it is more about preventing her to hurt herself.

Do you have a safe place where you can pop her in while she is having the tantrum? travel cot perhaps? her pushchair? That may also help to remove her from the situation and hopefully for her to understand that head banging is followed by a time in a rather boring place.

Once she has calmed down give her a hug but don't over do it.