Head Banging

[redkaybee]

Hi
My 15 month old started nursery 2 months ago - 3 days a week tues-thurs. She also started head banging.
She had head banged before but only once or twice. Now she looks at me while on all fours and places her head on the floor and bangs it repeatedly - maybe 4-5 times, and then cries. Or she sits and bangs it against a wall, the fridge, the cooker, a mirror, kitchen units, the bath.
Now she will not go down in her cot - if I put her down she screams like a banshee. I have always had difficulty with her sleep patterns - very erratic - but had some success with the shush pat cry it out method and decided to return to that this evening. I am now afraid to leave her alone in her cot - tonight I tried to be firm and have some resolve as I know she can sense this. After 5 minutes I heard an almighty bang and she had a red line on her forehead where she had smacked it against the top of the cot. What can I do?
I have no idea, besides let her sleep in with me so she doesn't hurt herself.
I spoke to a HV and my doctor who both said babies self regulate - I don't think she did that this evening - she really hurt herself. It can't be good for her. Develomentally she seems on track but isn't walking alone yet.

Hello

I'm sorry to hear this and it must be very difficult to tackle and worrying.

A lot of the advice out there is that actually, this is quite normal in children who cannot yet express their feelings or communicate with you through words.

I found this link that may be helpful www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/381/are-headbanging-toddlers-at-risk-for-autism-or-other-disorders

"If overall your son is happy and accomplishing regular milestones of development there is typically no need to worry. However, if the head-banging increases in severity or frequency, or accompanies other odd behavior, sadness or developmental delays, I recommend speaking to your child's physician."

If you strongly feel that this advice of it being 'normal' doesn't suit your daughter, that it is getting worse and she is not meeting milestones and that something else is going on - I would go back to the HV and the GP and express your concerns again, they may look at it in more depth if they realise how concerned you really are about this. Or get a second opinion somewhere else.

I hope that in your case it is normal and it does settle down once she becomes more verbal and starts having the ability to be more independent.

I'm afraid that is all the advice I have, but I hope it helps a bit!
Good luck
x

It sounds like she's getting stressed at nursery and is doing this to relieve her stress. Headbangers sometimes do it if they haven't been rocked as much as they need - it's their way of filling in the gap because babies need movement to calm themselves. Are you happy with the nursery? Are you satisfied that she's getting the comfort and physical contact she needs? I would be asking some serious questions of the nursery because it sounds to me like that's where the problem is. Have you thought about childminders? Your daughter is trying to communicate with you and let you know she's unhappy.

In the more immediate term I really, really wouldn't leave her to cry it out. It sounds as though she's going through a very stressful time and needs your support. Lots of cuddles, stay with her while she falls asleep. Help her, don't leave her.

Hi
She is still head banging esp at night when putting her down to sleep. I have done some research and spoken with health visitors - and I have a physicians appointment in January to check her over. She is becoming more and more verbal and attempting to communicate constantly - I think she is just telling me she doesn't want to sleep in her cot alone. But she is actually hurting herself via this form of communication. I have been advised to protect her from harm and read simple word books over and over so she can grasp more language - and thus her frustration will wane!!!

As I mentioned above, she may also be doing it to relieve the stress of her day - I would really have a discussion with her nursery about it. At the least find out whether she does it when they put her down for naps. It can't be a coincidence that it started when she started nursery.