Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

HEAD BANGING

15 replies

subs · 30/10/2004 10:19

my 15 month old KEEPS banging her head in frustration i guess, but on really hard things like the walls and pavement so it hurts her - HELP!

is this normal and what do i do?????

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

WideWebWitch · 30/10/2004 10:32

Mine (nearly 1yo) is doing it too, what a doofus hey? It is normal afaik and they get the message eventually and stop doing it I think. Can't remember my ds doing this but it was a while ago now.

tammybear · 30/10/2004 10:35

my dd has been doing it since i can remember. she's almost 2 now and does it everytime she has a tantrum she bangs her head repeatedly on the floor. when she does it, i just pick her up off the floor and try to calm her down, or put her somewhere like in her cot so she can't hurt herself. when you say she does it on the pavement, is that just in your garden or whilst you're actually out with her?

shrub · 30/10/2004 11:35

have you tried cranial osteopathy? our ds1 did this and someone recommended we try it (always go by recommendation who specialises with children). he also use to push his head into the headboard when he was trying to go to sleep - the cranial osteopath said it was his way of trying to release the tension/pain in his head - when he had his first session he fell asleep in his arms, he completely surrendered and when we got home had 4 hour sleep! this happened with each treatment (4 in total, £25 a time)from someone who was so cynical before i would really recommend it. i would also say lots of baths and water play have helped when we were having one of those days and helping them to articulate their feelings when they do start to tantrum, explaining that they are angry and why they can't do something and trying to get them through it by whispering/distraction/holding her etc.
best of luck - this was only a couple of years ago for ds1 and i can remember how upsetting it all was

WideWebWitch · 30/10/2004 12:19

Is it unusual then? Should I be worried about it?

coppertop · 30/10/2004 12:21

It's pretty normal AFAIK. All you can do is either try to distract them or just minimise the damage they can do and move them to somewhere that they can headbang safely.

WideWebWitch · 30/10/2004 12:22

Thanks coppertop! Wasn't worried and then suddenly wondered if I should be, you know how it is!

coppertop · 30/10/2004 12:24

Yep!

shrub · 30/10/2004 12:25

this is a tricky one - on the one hand i was told to ignore it, it will go away etc. but personally felt i would be shocked if i saw an adult stranger doing this, so why should i think it normal when it was my 2 year old son? the cranial osteopath also linked it to the birth which was very difficult.

WideWebWitch · 30/10/2004 12:27

My dd had a horrible shocking birth too Shrub (horrible for both of us) so I do wonder.

coppertop · 30/10/2004 12:28

It's fairly normal for a young child but not normal/usual for an adult (unless into heavy metal!). Some parents worry that it may be a sign of autism with the stereotypical headbanging but it's rarely the case. It's a mixture of frustration and the child liking the sensation that it gives them. The latter is why so many metallers do it.

shrub · 30/10/2004 12:40

wickedwaterwitch -not sure how the whole thing works but the c o said in my son's case it was something to do with 'the plates being out of alignment'? and that parts of his skull felt very tight, he asked all about the pregnancy and birth including what way ds1 came out (couldn't remember) if you are interested and near devon i could give you his number - parents come over from europe just to visit him as he has had such good results.

WideWebWitch · 30/10/2004 12:52

Shrub, I used to live in Devon (Dartmouth) but we're in Bristol now and so I think it's a bit far, unless we were going to Devon anyway to see people. Thanks for the offer though, it's kind of you. I'm going to think about it -I think my step sister, who lives here, knows of one locally too and she's said before that she thinks I should take dd. She came round about 5 minutes after dd was born and so knows how traumatic it was for both of us.

Motherof2 · 30/10/2004 17:37

Hello Im new hear,I have a 2 1/2 year old autistic son. He was diagnosed a little over one year ago.
I was wondering if any one has any info on autisum.I know alot but,I seek for more knowledge about my son.

luckymum · 30/10/2004 17:42

Motherof2 - try posting this on the Special needs board. There are loads of helpful, experienced mums over there.

Original poster

subs · 30/10/2004 20:34

hey all - had to go after posting first message - but all the thoughts/ advice really helpful. it makes sense that they are stressed or frustrated by their inability to communicate something or do what they want - but the osteopathy thing does sound v interesting - so does anyone have a bristol recommenation?

thanks all
xxx

OP posts:

Flip