head hitting

Ignore him - it's a phase! He'll be twitching and gurning next!

Hitting it with his hand or against something hard?

With his fist I don't think he knows he's doing it until he's done it!

I'd ignore it for the time being.

That's my gut feeling: thanks for the advice.

I am sure that ignoring it is the best thing - but not easy I know.

Please can anyone help with some advice. My 18 month old grandson has been hitting his head off of anything HARD, floor, doors, walls,, anything he can get to. He hits it so hard that today I heard a crack and it sickened me to the stomach. All the "experts" say it is a phase of attention seeking but he is beginning to look like a Dalmation dog with huge black marks on his head. If I hit my head on the floor as hard as he does I would be unconscious.

Oh dear Nanachuckles this behaviour sounds quite upsetting and must be causing the poor little mite no end of pain ( I assume it does cause pain) . I am not sure how I would tackle this at all as very different from the original poster. I honestly don't think I would accept the so called "experts" opinion though as the poor little thing is going to cause himself a serious injury before too long. If I were you ( or your daughter/son) I would demand some help immediately.

Othergranny I remember my friends son hitting his head with his hands. He could obviously control the amount of pain he inflicted on himself and it turned out to be a silly phase that he grew out of.

My first GD was a headbanger, usually against the wall at about the same age. She is now 21 and as normal as anyone of her age can be!

Thank you all for replying to me. I can't understand how it doesn't hurt him. Surely banging your head off of a wall or concrete floor causes so much pain,,,, He seems to get so angry too. If you say no when he wants something or if he is tired,,,bang,, the head gets it. I hope it is a phase!

I think it is frustration, DD used to bang her head when she was a baby and could not make herself understood. GD used to bite the cuff of her sleeve when she was trying to talk and could not get the words out.