Help with head banging please

[PollInLaw]

3 year son in process of getting diagnosed with autism. He has a big speech delay and can't communicate his needs or feelings. He bangs his head either by pretending to fall and hit his head to get attention or when you want him to do something or try to stop him doing something and he doesn't want to he will throw himself backwards hitting his head. I'm really worried he will do serious damage. He banged his head at nursery when they tried to get him in his pram. Any advice or good helmets that would help? Thanks

My son used to head-bang a lot. Thankfully he seems to have grown out of it now. I used to carry a small pillow around with us and put it under his head.

We also had a vibrating pillow for a while which seemed to be a good sensory substitute for him. Deep pressure squeezing of his hands and feet also helped.

Might be worth trying to get an OT to do an assessment.

Does your son have an OT @PollInLaw? I know they can be given by them, Amazon also have a range of soft helmets that might be worth a go too

Thanks for the replies. No he doesn't have an OT. Do I go to GP to get a referral?
Yeah think I'll need to carry a pillow around with me.

My daughter was (and occasionally still is) a head-banger, when she wanted something couldn’t have or when she was sensorily overwhelmed.

The advice we had from various professionals was not to give a big reaction to the behaviour. We would make her as safe as possible, eg by sliding a pillow underneath her head, and try not to make a fuss. Distraction sometimes worked.
I think not reacting much worked, as she does it far less these days.

, OP. I know how distressing it is to watch.