Headbanging toddler - how to stop it ?

[catsmother]

I have a DD aged 2. Most of the time she's affectionate, funny and isn't too much hard work. However, whenever she's told off, or prevented from doing/having something she wants, her reaction is to bang her head ...

... she either knocks her forehead against the wall, so it's often got different colour bruises on it, or, worse, she'll throw herself back - without bending her knees to take any of the impact - so she crashes the back of her head onto the floor, or even the basin.

This is often prompted simply if we say "no", or if we take something away from her she shouldn't have etc.

My older son never did this - and I'm at my wits end to know how to stop her, as obviously she hurts herself and cries terribly each time.

Anyone had similar ? ...... is this something I should speak to HV about ?

[sparklymieow]

My dd2 diid this when she was younger, we could hear her upstairs banging her head on the floor. She had some fantanstic bruises, anyway, one day she just stopped doing it, IIRC it did last that long, and she soon outgrew it.

[sparklymieow]

didn't last that long

[pashmina]

my dd1 started doing this at 14 months, it stopped after a few months, she just got so frustrated, and was her way of having a tantrum. it stopped when she found other, less painful ways...she is now a very sweet natured 6 year old, so don't panic!

[sareg26tymaddie]

saw this the other day on mums the word. A little boty was hanging the patio doors when he couldn't have his own way and the mom ignored the behaviour and he stopped doing it. Basically he wouldn't be doing it if he was really hurting himself. Also they showed you the power of distraction. Before he goes to do it get a book or whatever. He soon forgot what he was going to have strop about. It was good advice.

[alluka10]

has she had this as a baby..I mean the head banging...could be worth to take her to a registered osteopath and try cranial osteopathy..it worked wonder with my little one..could be her way of releasing the stress when having a tantrum...
u can find a registered osteopath in your area by viisting:
www.osteopathy.org.uk
good luck

[MamaG]

My DS did this for weeks. At first we would run up to him, gasping and rubbing his head. Then we completely ignored him when he did it and it stopped after about a week - its hard but imo its only way.