15mo - odd behaviour

My DS has fairly recently (last month or two I think) started having these mini-tanties - spacc-attacks I call them! - where he'll be eating a meal or sitting in his carseat or even just being held when we're out or something and he'll suddenly shriek and whack himself in the mouth or hit himself on the head, or slap the person holding him. It's only the once and it's very brief and short-lived but can happen a few times one day or over a few days then not for a while... It's really really frustrating - especially the slapping us part! It doesn't seem to have any cause that we can see. Doesn't seem to happen when he's playing or directly interacting with someone. Could it be attention seeking? We've never rewarded shrieking with attention - always deliberately ignored it and him when he does it.

We usually tell him firmly 'No hitting' then ask him to touch us gently which he always does but it hasn't stopped the initial behavior. If we're at home when he does it we instantly put him on the floor when he does it, after saying 'no hitting'. But it's having no effect and the behavior seems to be getting more frequent not less...

Any ideas?

See your GP. Does he remember doing it afterwards? Could it be something he has no control over - a mini fit or tic? Not that I'm trying to worry you or think the worst.... ;-)

teething? that wasthe first thought that came to my mind, the sudden pain of his teeth could set him off, and then pass as quick as it came?
hope it stops for you soon, i know for little people they sure have on hell of a whack on them!!

Could it be something like a siezure a type of epilepsy. Take him to the Drs just to make sure

I was wondering If he remembered it happening too, if he doesn't it could be as others have said a type of fit. Definitely get him checked out.

If you're worried I'd go see a GP. Especially if you can't see any 'trigger' and it doesn't seem to be a 'temper tantrum'.

I don't know how to tell if he remembers it? He's not really at the ask-and-answer stage yet... Except with if he wants/doesn't want objects/food.
I guess it could be teething... He's difficult to tell with though as he's usually more generally whingy as well which he has been but he's also had an ear-infection so I assumed the whingy was from that. He doesn't get noticeably red on the gums either.
If it is a seizure/fit you would assume that he'd be doing it sometimes at daycare too right? His carer mentioned today that he's been randomly slapping other kids noticeably more today which is why I'm asking now, but I think I'll contact her tomorrow and see if she's noticed it in conjunction with a shriek or self-slap.

He has a similar sort of reaction when he gets angry with us not letting him hold a spoon/book/etc but that seems quite understandable as a response to a frustrating situation, typically exaggerated when he's tired - while this other kind usually seems to come completely out of the blue.

Hey hun. The first thing that came to my mind was teething as well......sorry, apart from that I have no idea. DS is almost 11 months, no teeth yet, but in the last week or so he's been hitting himself in the mouth and then biting into what ever is near him, ie toy, my hand, face, what ever. He shrieks too. So maybe it's teething, but I'd get it checked out by a GP and get a referal to a paed as well. GL hun!

:hug: has he had a new stress put on him lately, new routine etc? that could be the trigger? Maybe see your GP if your really worried but he may just grow out of it. they ahve so much going on in their littles brains but have no way of expressing it other than physically :hug: x