My son is 15 months old, not walking yet. But, he has started to bang his head on anything and everything he can and it terrifies me. I always yell No or pick him up quickly in fear he will hurt himself. Is this just a stage, anything I can do to stop it?
Thanks Everyone.
As for the relying on information here, I would never do that... I was simply asking for advice to see if anyone else has been through this also. I am very well in touch with his pediatrician, etc.
He is getting over Strep Throat too so I don't know if this is his way also of communicating his pain. He is still on antibiotics, this stage (if that is what it is) is just heart breaking. I keep trying to distract him when he does it for fear he will hurt himself.
My son was still in the crawling stage, and he got mad and started banging his head on the carpet, (Concriet underneath) and my husband gave him 2 swatts on the butt (Diaper) and like the other mom said he was not ready for that, and he never did it again. Something you have to nip in the bud, potential dangers is one of them. J.
Many kids do this and usually it is a stage. I would say when he does this, he is upset about something and has no other means of getting your attention, but this does it and quick. Just pick him up so he doesn't hurt himself and talk to him.
If he does it for too long, you may have to teach him that it gets him the wrong type attention and strap him into an umbrella stroller for 2 - 3 minutes and then take him out. If he repeats it, strap him back in for 2 - 3 minutes and take him out. While doing this, talk to him and explain what and why you are doing this. We have more trouble understanding them, but they understand us.
Best wishes.
You really didn't give enough information. But I do suggest that you take your son to a developmental pediatrician. Please do not rely on just a general pediatrician knowing the appropriate answers.
Penny Amic CEO/Clinical Director
Special Beginnings, Inc.
An Early Intervention Network
____@____.com
My son use to bang his head on the wall, windows, extra when he got mad or was put into time out. I read somewhere that children do it because it releases endorphins and gives them a "high" sensation. If the habit is not corrected from the start then it can become a big issue. I know this because I use to work with children at the Medical Health Center that had problems with banging their heads on things continually. I didn't want my son to become one of these children so I stopped him immediately and we've not had a problem for a VERY long time. The second my son started banging his head I would give him a flick (with my finger) on the back of his neck. He would cry out of shock and anger, but it didn't take long for him to figure out he didn't like the sting.
Blessings!
My daughter did that a couple of times, but I just watched and when she started to cry I told her that is what happens when you hit your head. I didn't pick her up till she came to me, and I didn't react much to it... She did it a couple of times, then she really hurt herself and stopped doing it... I wasn't trying to be mean or anything, but I knew if she was doing it, she would learn not to once she really got hurt...
Good luck. It is frustrating...
R.
My first child started head banging and it freaked me out. She did it because she was mad if I took something away from her, specifically the TV remote. She would throw herself down and start banging her head on the brick fireplace hearth. The first time, I was terrified she was going to hurt herself or get brain damage, so I picked her up to comfort her. She knocked a knot on her head and it obviously hurt. You'd think that would be the last time. Well, it wasn't. The second time she did it, I stood her up on her feet and popped her on the seat of her pants. She never saw THAT coming! I picked her up and put her in her crib and said, "You do NOT hit your head! NO!"
She cried but I left her in there for about 5 minutes and went in and got her and told her, "I love you. You don't hurt my baby." I kissed her head and told her no more owies.
She never banged her head again. She still got mad that I wouldn't let her play with the remote, but that amounted to fussing and crying about it which I let go in one ear and out the other. She never hit her head again though.
Some say to let them do it because when it hurts enough they'll quit, but my daughter was hard headed in more ways than one and I just wasn't going to ignore her banging bruises and lumps on her forehead. And, I didn't want to comfort her for throwing a fit. So...I swatted her.
I know some people won't agree with that, but a swat on her diapered tush hurt her far less than banging her head.
It worked for her. My son never banged his head. Thank God.
Much to my horror, this is a real stage in their development. My first son never ever did this but my second who is now 18months started at around 15months old! When I first saw him doing it I was horrified!!! Lo and behold one of the email newsletters I was subscribed to came through and the topic was head banging is normal at this age!! He still bangs his head on the floor now and again, but he is more "calculated" and careful - I guess because he does know it hurts!! Hopefully your son will pass through this phase quickly - don't forget they are pretty switched on too, and often do things to get a kick out of our reaction. Hang in there!
my dd did the same thing she is walking though so she was doing it on the windows. she has stopped after about a month. its all a learning thing. he knows he will get a reaction out of you but if you ignore it and when he does do a hum dinger make sure he's ok then just shake it off. When dd learned how to climb on the bed she took two falls to realize that she would no longer do that. he is just testing himself. its all a learning thing.
