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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
16 month old head banging
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
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16 month old head banging
by skydaymom, May 12, 2007 12:00AM
I know that my son has entered the tantrum stage but I just don't even know what to do. He throws some serious fits. Any time he gets upset, he bangs his head on whatever he's near. He'll literally walk to something just to bang his head. And I wouldn't care so much if he was just bumping it but the child had a permanent bruise on his forhead. I know it has to hurt him but it's hard to tell because he's already crying when it happens. I have never been the type to pamper a child when they throw a tantrum but here I am, trying to figure out whether to walk away and ignore it or to scoop him up and kiss his head. He's done this in his crib as well, busting his lip open from head banging. He usually goes right to sleep now but when he's throwing his fits, he's just a mess. I certainly don't want him to get the impression that he'll get his way with the headbanging but how can I really ignore it. He doesn't stop. what on earth coud I possibly do to get him to stop? What if he ends up really hurting himself in the meantime?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., May 13, 2007 12:00AM
, May 13, 2007 12:00AM
Approximately one in five children display head banging (for various reasons) during the first several years. When head banging occurs as part of a tantrum, adopt a matter-of-fact approach, go about your business. Do not call attention to it. If you do, you will likely reinforce the behavior. The head banging will not injure your child in the sense of having any brain injury. This is what worries most parents the most. The child's head can weather the storm - it's 'built' to endure tumbles and various bumps along the road through childhood. This behavior will disappear on its own.
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What I am saying is that for me I do lots of checking that I am on the right road and then I am Confident that I am doing the right thing and dont second myself. Hope this does not confuse you at all. Go with the Doc if it does.