Help! Head banging one year old with horrible temper

Hello,

My son just turned 1. Just prior to his first birthday, he began banging his head during tantrums. My dr. said to ignore it to not reinforce the behavior. He's been sick the past week and the head banging has escalated to the point that he has bruises on his head. My dr. said to continue to ignore it and not give in to him and to try to bring him to a safe place. (I have hardwood floors throughout most of the house, which makes it difficult). He's even now begun to try to headbutt us. I'm hoping once he feels better, it won't be as often, but I just don't know what to do. I hear this is common, but it's very scary and stressful. Any suggestions?

Re: Help! Head banging one year old with horrible temper

I don't have any advice but I was reading in Parenting Magazine that head banging at that age is normal! Hang in there

Re: Help! Head banging one year old with horrible temper

Not only did my DS get bruises but olive size bumps along with them. I ignored them and they eventually stopped but it took a few months. He started around 10 months, lasted about a month and stopped because I ignored them. Then around 13 or 14 months he started again mainly beacuse of the following (in this order too): we moved in with my parents June 17th, had DD July 9th, moved into our new home OOS July 13th. So I think he was just looking for attention. It finially stopped around 18 months when I started to include him more when I did things with DD, like him throwing out the diapers for me.

I only have 2 area rugs in my house and always only had 2 and I would move him. He also use to bang his head on the wall, cabinets and sliding glass door (that one I usually moved him before he could do it). He would go down for a nap and it sounded like their was brawl going on in his crib.

Definitly ignore them and move him if you can. You can also put a pillow infront of him if he is on hardwood.

Re: Help! Head banging one year old with horrible temper

I am in the same exact situation right now with my 14 month old. If anyone saw my DS at the moment they might think I beat him.

It's really hard but you have to ignore it. I know that he looks for me and when he sees me he hits his head harder.

His twin is now doing it..except he is smarter and does not do it so hard that he bruises his head. It's kind of funny to watch b/c he gently hits his head on the wall and then whines for my attention.

Re: Help! Head banging one year old with horrible temper

Thanks so much for the replies.

He actually did it in the pediatricican's office on my husband's chest when the dr. tried to check his heart. I was almost happy that the dr. saw it so they didn't think we were beating him!

I was actually thinking of setting up the pack n play and putting him in there when he has a meltdown.