How to stop my 3 year old head hitting?

[Dunnowhatimat]

My 3 year old daughter has ASD and has always been very sensory seeking. She has recently started hitting objects (absolutely anything and everything - nothing off limits) off her forehead. It has started getting worse and I just don't know how to get her to stop.
It's not a frustration thing - she likes doing it and seems to be getting sensory feedback from it. She's pre-verbal so explaining how it's dangerous won't help.
There's no specific triggers I can see, no predicting it, we could even just be sitting down and all of a sudden she'll slap her forehead.
There's no 'safe' thing I can give her to use as she wants to hit everything off her forehead. She's also still in the 'everything goes in the mouth' phase so I have to be careful of what I do gibe her.
I'm waiting for appt with an OT, paediatrician but who knows how long that'll be.

Has anyone any experience with this?

https://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/understanding-challenging-behaviour/specific-behaviours/self-injurious-behaviour/

Hello, I have some experience of working with children with this type of behaviour and also various family members. Generally it is a form of sensory stimulation like you have mentioned or also a means of communication or frustration. I have found this website to be really helpful. They have various information and videos which may be useful. I hope it helps.

Thank you very much, much appreciated 😊

If this is a recent development, could DD be unwell or in pain? Some parents find their DC do this/the frequency they do it increases when they are unwell &/or in pain.

Some people find the book the Out of Sync Child helpful. Some won’t be relevant to DD’s age/stage, but some of it will be. Also this booklet and the resources from the Occuplaytional therapist.

Thank you I will look at those 😊

It's not really new but is more frequent. She actually was sick on and off a good bit since Christmas! That may have been what set her off more and now it's developing more habitually, but I'm unsure how to stop it! She definitely does enjoy it is the thing ☹️