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one today and headbangs all the time...why?

5 replies

cocoliver · 09/07/2004 11:43

My one year old today has enjoyed banging his head on hard surfaces for the last 3 months & if anything it is getting worse. I have put preventative padding on his high chair (wooden) but bar putting a cotton wool pad on his head I am really worried about him. It just seems he enjoys it which is the weirdest thing. Any ideas what it might be and how I can stop him without getting cross with him. He also likes to bite me (and only me)in an affectionate way whilst laughing. Not sure if this is connected. Any

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littlemissbossy · 09/07/2004 12:14

Don't worry, he'll probably outgrow this, here I copied this from a site for you HTH lmb
Why it happens
Head banging and body rocking are normal behaviors in children under age 3, who seem to find the rhythmic back-and-forth movements a soothing way to fall asleep. Head banging can start as late as the second year and can last for several months or even years. Some toddlers bang their foreheads or the back of their heads against the crib or bed's headboard, while others are partial to the railings.

Head banging can also soothe a child in pain. Toddlers are more likely to bang their head when they're teething or suffering from an ear infection. Head banging apparently helps them feel better, perhaps by distracting them from the discomfort in their mouth or ear.

What you can do about it
While it may look painful, your child won't get hurt head banging herself to sleep. Head banging in toddlers is generally not a sign of any behavioral or emotional problem, and you don't need to take any precautionary steps for your child's sake. Some parents find that their toddler will stop if they put a ticking metronome in the bedroom; the rhythmic sound seems to soothe and distract children from their head banging behavior. If the sound of your child's head banging bothers you, try moving the crib or bed away from the wall, or putting her to sleep on a mattress on the floor. Also be sure to tighten the screws and bolts on her crib or bed regularly.

If your toddler starts head banging after 18 months, has similar behaviors during the daytime, or if the behavior persists into her third or fourth year, consult her doctor.

gold123 · 09/07/2004 12:22

my dd did this and I had completely forgotten about it until I read this post - I think she was about 1 we she started it, but it used to be brick walls - i remember telling the doctor about it because 1. is it normal, what can I do and 2. I was worried that if she did any serious damage to herself, that I may get the blame for hurting her. He reassured me that it is a perfectly normal thing to do at this age, if I remember righly, she had stopped within 6 months.

eddm · 09/07/2004 12:48

Happy birthday to your ds!

My sister used to do this to go to sleep and she grew up quite normal so I wouldn't worry too much.

HTH

Chandra · 09/07/2004 13:41

Cocoliver, same here, DS has been banging his head against the cot rails for several months but is becoming less with time. However, this week he has find hitting his head with his hands very amusing and is doing it all the time (???)

He has also has had a week of happy bitting that I'm not very sure about how to control because it is always preceeded by a very big hug, and it is never as an agression(canibal love, I guess ) It worries me to tell him off as I would do in other ocassions as he may not understand that I'm telling him off for the biting rather than for being affectionate, I still say no and put him down but I don't do the ignoring bit as in other cases. I have told the nursery to keep an eye on him just in case.

cocoliver · 09/07/2004 14:33

Thanks that makes me feel a bit better. The biting is always when I have just picked him up and given him a big hug too. It is just odd (and lucky) that he doesnt do it to anyone else. He keeps doing it too chuckling to himself and clinging on. Men eh!

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