Toddler Keeps Hitting His Head On The Floor

Possible reasons your toddler may bang his head.

Toddler keeps hitting his head on the floor.

Yes ignore the behavior and do not draw attention to it when it happens. A toddler or older child with a head injury probably took a tumble ran into something or was hit by a heavy object she explains. Up to 20 percent of babies and toddlers bang their head on purpose although boys are three times more likely to do it than girls. Healthy infants and toddlers who are head bangers grow up to be coordinated and completely normal children.

Head banging can take different forms. It is very common and it is usually due to the child being frustrated and not being able to communucate. Some children only bang their head when lying face down in the bed and then repeatedly bang their head against the pillow or mattress. Head banging often starts in the second half of the first year and peaks between 18 and 24 months of age.

Install non skid mats in the bathtub and rugs on the bathroom floor. Curiously one large study of this habit in healthy children found head bangers to be measurably advanced compared to their peers. Head banging is surprisingly common. Whatever the cause of a head injury how you assess whether your child should see a doctor or go to the emergency room is the same.

My son started head banging at 5 months old and finally stopped around 2 1 2. He will head butt us or just hit us if we tell him no and he will hit his head really hard on anything around him including hard surfaces like the floor or tables etc. Assuming your son is otherwise healthy and happy there is not much too that you can do as parents to help except to keep him safe until he is ready to give up banging his head. First off don t panic if you see a lot of blood says dr.

Answers from boston on april 28 2008. Watch for wet areas on hard floors especially around pool and bath surfaces. Your child s head banging habit may last for several months or even years though most children outgrow it by age 3. Tips to prevent head bumps and injuries install and secure baby gates on the top and bottom of stairs.

Head banging often starts in the second half of the first year and peaks between 18 and 24 months of age.