Hitting Head on Crib

My daughter didn't do this but I have heard about it. It seems to be a phase some kids go through. I bet you could google it and find out more about it.

He is just showing his frustration and doesn't want to take a nap. You said he stops after 20 - 30 seconds so that is good. Just don't give this your attention and make a big deal of it. He will finally realize he is getting no where with this and will stop. He isn't hurting himself. Trust me if it was hurting him he wouldn't do it or if it is he would stop which he is doing. They are smart little things and are just trying to see what they can get away with. But if you give it a lot of attention then he will know he has gotten your attention and will continue it or even make it worse. Just tell him you love him and it is time for his nap, put him down and walk away. He will be fine.

J.,

My son is also 14 months (July 19) and ever since he was 8 mos. or so, he always bangs his hands on the headboard or his crib only when he's tired and last night, he discovered that if he bangs his head on it, it makes the same noice, so he banged and giggled. I put a stop to it right away by putting my hand in between and laying him down several times. I'm not worried, I think he's just experiencing sounds and actions. H. it helps to know there's another 14 mo. old baby doing the exact same thing.

p.s. Over the past year, his ears and sinus have all been checked b/c of lots of congestion..no link to him banging b/c of ear problems, his ears are good.

- H.

I haven't read your other responses, but this will probably be contrary to what you are being told by others. My oldest son also did this at the same age, although longer than 20-30 seconds. He went on to be an honor student and Eagle Scout who is now a 26-year-old engineer, having graduated college with honors. Despite my fears, his "bonking" (as we called it) did not cause any brain damage.

My sister did it. She turned out fine- although she says she thinks she was ADD. For her and for my brother it was soothing. It was only crib. for those who hit floor and wall I would try to distract them to avoid injury, but 30 seconds in crib? not a big deal.
K.

This may be a long shot, but does your son have any ear or sinus problems? My son used to bang his head on the floor or the wall and we talked to a doctor and finally concluded it was a result of all of the pain and pressure. It was his way of dealing with it because he could not communicate that his ears were hurting. After he got tubes in his ears it stopped.

Our daughter did this - she is strong-willed. She hated going to sleep at night and would do anything she could think of to get us to come in at night and give her attention. When she found that she got no attention (though it hurt me to hear it!), she finally stopped. We did ask the pediatrician to check her out just in case there was some other issue, but he just said it was normal for a strong-willed child who wants out of her crib.

The first thing it sounds like he is telling you that he does not want to be in there, and that because of the lack of words that is what he does just in frustration.

is he doing this because he is frustraited that he has to take a nap? our pedi told us that at this age he would either start holding his breath or start hitting his head, i did not realise he ment hit his head on the floor! i think it sounds normal. we told our son NO when he did this as we want him to learn good behaviors to handeling anger. He now points his finger and yells gibberish, but gets over it.