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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

15M DD hitting her own head - Normal?

15 replies

callmeoverchristmas · 20/12/2007 10:19

DD hits her self on the head when angry or very tired, as if it hurts or is annoying her. She has a real temper and started having tamtrums at about 10M. I can manage the tantrums (even when she hits me as well ) but the hitting herself has me a bit worried.

Any experiences of this or thoughts?

OP posts:

wessexgirl · 20/12/2007 10:22

My dd2 is a bit of a fiery one and she used to do this - it was a phase, lasted about six months or so. It did worry me at the time, but she only really hurt herself once (big bruise, nothing serious) and she was over it by 18 months.

wessexgirl · 20/12/2007 10:23

Oh, and just to add, the phase ended around the same time her language skills started to take off. I think it was linked to the frustration of not being able to express herself.

Original poster

callmeoverchristmas · 20/12/2007 10:25

Yes I thought that too. She signs quite a lot and spoke a few words very early. She can make us understand most of her basic needs but when she is tired all that gets forgotten and she gets really angry.

OP posts:

DaddyJoseph · 20/12/2007 10:31

Our dd is similarly single-minded and determined
so whenever she throws a wobbly
(no one told her the terrible twos start at 2 not at 16 months!)
she bends and contorts her body and does not
care whether in the process she bangs her head
against random objects like my forehead.

She does not hit herself (yet!?) but it is quite a violent spectacle nevertheless.

No, neither dw nor I think it's anything to worry about
as it is clearly linked to her frustration at not being
able to express herself the way she wants to.

I do feel for her as she understands a great deal now
but is only just starting to talk.
Reminds me of my own frustrations whenever I spend time in Budapest!

Original poster

callmeoverchristmas · 20/12/2007 20:20

Hi DaddyJ Thanks! I don't feel so bad now. The head hitting is worrying as I worked in a Residential home for a while and the Children (well teenagers up really) with severe SN and one of the things several of them did all the time in frustration was to hit their heads with their hands.

OP posts:

mehdi · 20/12/2007 20:55

hi mine often did it. Especially when angry nearly two now and does it very rarely. They just showing you they not happy

devonsmummy · 20/12/2007 21:11

My DS used to punch his head while bf.
At the moment he is teething and punches himself in the mouth. Earlier today he got the telly control and was bashing it against his head. It's as if he enjoys the pain

strange...

Original poster

callmeoverchristmas · 20/12/2007 21:37

OK - I am feeling MUCH better now! She does the head bashing whilst BFing too! And she has hit her mouth whilst teething.

Thanks MN

OP posts:

WulfricTheRedNosedReindeer · 20/12/2007 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Wisteria · 20/12/2007 21:43

my dd2 used to sit with her back to the lounge door and whack it with her head - don't worry she is now mega talented in Maths ..... so obviously didn't harm her too badly - my Mum said they were testing their pain barriers out ??

Original poster

callmeoverchristmas · 21/12/2007 20:13

Things have come to a head - so to speak! DD repeatedly banged her head on the cot last night as I did not get into her room fast enough when she woke up. I walked in and she was stood headbanging

I think she may be getting headaches or something, I have known quite a few babies and never seen this before. I am going to see the HV I think - even if only to put my mind at rest - don't panic, our HV is great

I had to take her to Nursery today with bruises on her head

OP posts:

devonsmummy · 21/12/2007 20:20

Hope DD's head not too battered!

I too think it maybe headaches - after I gave DS calpol earlier he stopped bashing his head.

Hope the HV puts your mind at rest - let me know what she says

Original poster

callmeoverchristmas · 21/12/2007 20:24

I will but won't be until New Year now as I have missed the last Clinic!

OP posts:

DaddyJ · 31/12/2007 14:05

I hope all will be ok - and from what I have
found online (I searched for 'toddlers head banging'),
it does seem reasonably common.

I am sure you have done a search yourself but
I found this explanation helpful.

Elfsmummy · 31/12/2007 14:13

My DD does this. She started at about the same age as your DD (she's now 20 months) and it was when she was bored or tired. I got advise at the time and was assured that it was really common.

The way to tackle it is to completely ignore it (really hard) and try to distract them (before it starts if possible?) Otherwise they see the behaviour getting rewards (IYSWIM?)

My DD will still do it on occasion - usually if she's been told not to do something, she'll walk over to a wall and bang her head against it until she cries. I now tackle it by picking up something else in the room and starting to play with it in a really animated fashion to try and get her attention.

Its become much less common and is now something that I deal with maybe once a week?

I don't know if you've heard of the book Toddler Taming by Dr Christopher Green? But its a great read and it has an interesting few paragraphs on head banging - pg 270-271 - he basically advises an approach like I've suggested

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