Should I be worried about DD headbutting?

[OliveTree75]

Hi everyone,
My DD is 15 months old and recently we have some concerns over some of her behaviours. She keeps headbutting things, particularly the sofa and my legs. She seems to do it at all times even when she is happy and calm. If I take something off her, she will lie on the floor and headbutt the carpet. Should we be concerned about this? I have read it can be normal but mainly in boys.
She also takes clothes out of the washing basket or drawers and will wrap them around her neck and walk around with them. We used to think she was just playing and thought she was dressing herself, but now we are not sure. Now she sometimes puts them over her head so she can't see and then walks into things. We have to watch her like a hawk.

She does:
-walk
-smile and laugh
-interacts with us and her brothers
-babbles alot. Can say mama, dada, hiya, wow etc.
-points at things
-waves
-claps her hands
-reaches to be picked up.
-responds to her name.
-imitates e.g will put my phone or the remote to her ear and babble, tries to brush her own hair etc

She is very affectionate but always seems to want to be held. We co sleep and she will often try and sleep on top of me, as if she just can't get close enough.

We are concerned as we are sure that our 5yo has asd or adhd or something along those lines, though school don't agree atm and have backtracked. He has sat against the sofa and banged his head against it since he was 6mo. He has some other mild signs too and is extremely loud and active. Sometimes we catch dd doing the rocking against sofa too but she laughs as she does it so don't know if she is copying him or doing it for attention.

I feel really worried today after a morning of head butting and clothes over head🙈

Oh, she also hits me out of nowhere and seemingly for no reason

It sounds like sensory seeking behaviour to me. It might be worth getting her seen by an OT although she is very young. Building more sensory activities into her day might help, things like swinging for vestibular sensation. A weighted blanket might help if she likes the sensation of being hugged or a hanging chair.

How is she with eating? Does she chew on non food items?

Her eating is okay. She is young so still tries to put alot in her mouth but she doesn't chew on things.

Ah, it sounds like very normal 15th month old behaviour to me, although it seems strange, the headbutting is normal and many do it. Both my DS's have done this and the oldest is growing out of it now at 3.9.! Your daughter could be copying her older brother or she is just seeking out the sensation for herself. It can be a comfort thing, especially when teething too, plus separation anxiety kicks in at this age. The list of things you say she does all sound normal and appropriate for her age too. My DS almost 20 months is always trying to get his clothes off his head. Could your DD have an ear infection? That might explain the headbutting but it could equally be molar teething. Many toddlers hit out too. It does tend to get better and less often once they can talk a bit more. Obviously I'm no expert, but wanted to reply as what you explain is definitely not unusual in our house either currently and also previously, and I don't think such behaviour precedes a diagnosis for ADHD.

Oh god, you've just taken me back to when my second D's was this age. He headbutted be backwards so hard that I thought he'd taken a chip out of my eye socket. I was really worried at the time too.

He grew out of it. He's 9 now and I'd forgotten all about it until I read your post.

Hopefully it'll be the same for you (minus the chipped eye socket!).

My boys are 19 months. She sounds like twin 2. He'll sit head butting the door behind him, he's ALWAYS got something draped around his neck, wil wear a hat constantly. He has got increasingly snuggly having previously been the less affectionate one. He chews on everything.

I'd just assumed it was an age thing... 😳

Thanks all. I had assumed the head butting was normal when it was out of anger, frustration etc until she started doing it just randomly. I had considered maybe she has some pain from her teeth or ears so will look more into that! I got worried this morning because my dp said why does she keep headbutting things? And for him to notice it must be noticeable 😂 we both just looked at eachother this morning after I removed her pyjamas off her head and then she threw herself on the floor and headbutted it whilst screaming🙈

Twin 2 would def be angry if i removed his carefully arranged accessories 😳😂😂