18 mth old keeps banging her head deliberately. Suggestions?

[Fivefour]

It seems to be mainly if she's annoyed, if she can't have her own way. She'll bang her head on the floor or chair or whatever but then she'll be more upset because it hurts and she knows it hurts but will still do it again. She also bangs her head on the sofa just when she'd sitting there, no obvious reason but I don't mind that so much because it's soft.
Any one else's kid ever do this?
What's the best way to react? At the moment I either ignore her completely or just say "Ouch, yes I should think that did hurt", but I don't make a big fuss.

[TiggernPooh2]

My ds is 13 months and also does this. Bangs head on wall, door, chair etc usually if annoyed or if I am getting on with something, I guess for attention.

I have tried to ignore too but don't want him to hurt himself.

Glad to know he is not the only one but any suggestions???

[Tutter]

i ignore - in fact i walk out of the room

same as when he sticks his fingers down his throat or pulls his eyelids

[cacaboo]

Many years ago I read a newspaper article that suggesting joining in with the head bashing as one of the options.

I'd tend to go with ignoring or walk away though! I'd like my head to remain intact!

[Kelly1978]

joining in woudl eb interesting! dt1 (19mnths) has a vile temper and often hits furniture in a rage. Once I thought I'd join in, and smacked the sofa - he screamed in fury and threw himself on the floor. Def wouldn't recomend it anyway. dt1 bites his own fingers if I am out of biting range (prefers to bite/slap/pinch me). I ignore him. If he does it to me, twice, then he goes in time out.

[Fivefour]

Well, atleast she's not the only one. I don't think I'll be joining in though. I'm not sure I can understand how that would help anyway!

[berrycherry]

don't worry and best to ignore - they soon realise iyt gets no response and go on to learn a way to have a tantrum which wont actually hurt them!

my dd1 is 6, and she did this when she was 13 months, it stopped after about 3 months, and then she pearnt how to throw mega tantrums...she is now a (usually)lovely girl, who only has the occassional wobbler, and the odd bit of whinging, try to keep your sanity!

[Peridot30]

I would definately ignore. My dd did this out of frustration or if didn't get her own way. once realises how sore it is they eventually stop. Its just for attention and if you don't react it will soon stop.

[mamama]

My 13 month old ds does this as does his 16 mo old friend who I look after. I mentioned it to the GP at a check-up and he said it's perfectly normal and to ignore it.

I have noticed that if I react, ds smiles & does it more. He tends to head bang when tired or when needing attention so ignoring it does seem to be the best way. It's hard though, when you can see that it actually hurts. Ds's friend has done it so hard, he made himself cry but still continued!