Headbanging
Q: My son is almost 2 years old. He is currently going through a stage where, if he gets mad or doesn't get what he wants, he either hits himself in the head or bangs his head on the floor. Is this something I should be worried about? What can I do to stop this behavior?
A: The behavior that you describe sounds like headbanging, a well-known type of repetitive behavior seen in many normal children. Headbanging (yes, that's actually the term medical people to describe this behavior) is usually a comforting behavior for the child. It often starts by accident when a baby or young child "rocks" himself to sleep up against a crib or wall. The child learns that the rhythmic motion feels good, and headbanging becomes a way to relieve tension. Although headbanging causes tension in parents, it can become a habitual response to frustration or anger in the child. It may become the skill of choice to help him fall asleep. In the absence of developmental delay, this behavior rarely leads to injury. Occasionally, a child will get a bruise or two. However, most children learn quickly that when a behavior hurts them they should stop it. The sound that the banging makes can occasionally be quite loud and alarming for parents. Although there are medical reasons for headbanging such as sinus or ear infections, for most children there is no medical cause. Rarely, repetitive headbanging is a sign of developmental delay or autism. The following signs indicate that this may not be normal headbanging:
- Headbanging occurs frequently during the daytime.
- Your child is losing motor, speech, or other skills he has already acquired.
- He is becoming withdrawn, lethargic, or increasingly agitated.
- His development is slower than normal.
- Your child actually hurts himself with the headbanging.
Dr. Nathan
Pediatrics
Dr. Nathan is a neonatal pediatrician with over 25 years of experience in caring for sick infants and children. He was recently selected as one of the top pediatric specialists in the Twin Cities area.
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