Head Banging

I think my sweet little baby is becoming a full blown toddler with the attitude to match.

DS has started Head Banging. He does it when he is tired or when he is having a tantrum. Of course initially this really worried me but I've done some reading and it seems to be a not uncommon and something that is more likely to occur in boys.

Everything I've read has said just to ingnore it and praise him when he does the right thing. The problem is it is driving me nuts. Say for example he wants the remote (which he isn't allowed to have) and I say no, he will look at me, bang his head on the wall, tiles door etc stamp his feet etc. It makes a terrible noise but he doesn't cry although sometimes gets a red mark. I'm not worried about autism etc because in all other interractions/developmental stages he is fine. Just a bloody annoying stage.

I guess I'd love to hear from other mum's who have had to deal with this and the most gentle way to deal with it. I am ignoring him when he does it and then trying to distract him afterwards but it isn't really making it any better.

Oh and I should mention he doesn't do it at day-care, just for Mummy and Daddy.

Any advice welcome.

Spring

hehehe yeah thats a fun stage!!!

No matter what we did stopped him from doing it - distraction, holding his head gently, trying to not make him tantrum - nothing worked.

I think he stopped doing it when he banged his head on the bathroom tiles so hard he had a bump on his noggin.

funnily enough - he doesn't do it that often anymore!!

No advice - but wanted to reassure you that it will pass.

Thanks Arimeh. I worry that DS will hit his head so hard that it will cause a bump but that might actually be the cure (lol).

Glad to hear your DS grew out of it. How long did the stage last?

Oh my - yep. We have just started going through this and I was wondering the same thing. As soon as she doesn't get something she wants she finds something to hit her head on...floor, fridge, couch (hehe) or us... I am hoping it is something she will grow out of and FAST ...My catch phrase over the last few weeks with this and other tantrumy behaviour has been ignore or distract. Unless she is doing something dangerous that's all we do - ignore/distract depending on how much patience we have left!
Good luck and fingers crossed it passes quickly for both of us!! :D

Ohhh we almost have enough head bangers to form our own Rock band :rofl:

Funny you should say that Spring - we listen to metal in this house and he does head bang along with it.. haha!!!!

Umm... I think it lasted from about 14 to 15 months to.... maybe 20 months? He hasn't seriously done it for a while - will regress now and then and do it once or twice a month I suppose... now he just shrieks at the top of his lungs if he wants something.. less painful for him.. more painful for us!!!!

Hi ladies,just wanted to say that our little man has just turned 11 months today,and is already near knocking himself out,sometimes i have to go & pick him up off the floor.I know they grow out of it,but I?m scared he will knock himself out,how would you explain that to a hospital these days?????? ykwim. Distractions only works for a little while,depends on his mood. :rolleyes:

We have this issue with Caleb ATM.
I found the way to deal with it is to ignore him. Let him hit his head and he will soon learn that it hurts and it's to no avail. A few times I picked him up and put him in his room (didn't shut the door and told him to calm down) because I couldn't bear to hear the thudding on the floorboards.

The cheeky monkey now knows to run to the carpet and do it there because it doesn't hurt. I still ignore it rofl. I must admit I have been thinking of getting the video camera out for future giggles but every time I go to do it the battery is flat!

DD used to do this. I'd just put on some metal and copy her - kinda mocking her - soon enough she realised it had no impact (much to her annoyance of mummy jumpong around too!) and gave it up.......

There seems to be a few of us dealing with this. It makes me feel more at ease that it isn't a freakish thing he is doing IYKWIM.

Arimeh: Glad to hear it didn't go on for ages. Not looking forward to the squealing though.

Mum of Many: I am the same as you. I am so worried that he will hurt himself. I got the courage to ask the GP and he reassured me it is just a stage and will likely just go away with time. But you're right, it would be a difficult thing to explain to a hossy.

Raven: What a clever little boy you have running to the carpet. DS seems to go for the most dangerous thing he can find (aka the glass doors). I think I'll take your advice and try removing him to his room when he is going on a head banging binge. The video idea is a good one. I think I'll do the same and when he is older show him. 21st perhaps (she says with an evil laugh)

Kitt3n: What an interesting tactic. I think DS would be totally confused if I did the same but hey, anything is worth a try.

Thanks for your help ladies.

Spring Angel,three of my bubs went through this it didnt last long,but it just scares me,I?m a nervous wreck some days......The Bubs dont seem to have any feeling in their heads,lol. Well they say each bub is different,but i can live without the head bangin. cheers to all.

Well I just thought I'd pop in and report that I think my son's head banging stage is over. He hardly does it any more (not wanting to jinx myself) and it seems that the ignoring did the trick.

Phew is all I can say.

Spring