
Written by Ambili Kartha
Surprised to see your babies bang their heads? It is true that babies often do it, leaving you to wonder about the cause. Babies bang their heads to soothe themselves, express any irritation or pain, or even get your attention. Head banging in babies is a sign of letting others know their discomfort or frustration. In babies, head banging frequently reflects an act of self-stimulation or self-comfort. You can catch your baby doing it on purpose or just for the sheer joy of it.
Your baby needs a lot of pampering, so give them what they obviously crave. Try to ease them through this stage until they grow out of it. Sometimes they do it for no reason at all. Often, you may notice that head banging is your baby’s favorite pastime and one of the things they have learned along their way through the developmental stages.
In This Article
A rhythmic banging of the head on any surface is referred to as head banging in babies. Babies rock themselves or bang their heads just to comfort themselves. One aspect of childrearing that is unexpected is the head-banging habit that babies cultivate. They repeatedly bang their heads on items you really cannot avoid, like the floor, crib, wall, and their hands.
Some babies bang their heads only while lying face down on their bed. Their heads bang while in an upright position too. Sometimes babies make noise or moan while they rock themselves and bang their heads. Parents feel saddened to witness this, though it is only temporary.
Yes, head banging is normal in babies. Babies deal with their development in many ways, and head banging is one of them. The rhythmical movement of head banging is soothing for babies, and it rocks them to sleep. To distract from teething pain or an ear infection, your baby resorts to head banging. This seems to keep their pain at bay. Normally, it is not a cause for concern unless, of course, they are hurting themselves in the process or getting their sleep disrupted.
Here are some common signs of head banging in babies:
Towards the end of the first year, babies begin to bang their heads, and they do that more often between one and a half and two years of age. This comes to an end almost as soon as they are four years old.
Head banging usually happens when it is time for your baby’s nap or at sleep time during the night. Shortly after waking up or at some point during the day, your baby bangs their head. It is their way of communicating with you.
There are a couple of explanations or possible causes of head banging in babies.
Head banging usually happens when it is time for your baby’s nap or at sleep time during the night. You may find them to keep at it for a few minutes or for almost an hour. Shortly after waking up or at some point during the day, your baby bangs their head. It is their way of communicating with you.
Sometimes an episode of head-banging can last up to fifteen minutes. These actions subside by the age of three or four and go away on their own.
Babies will soon outgrow the behavior of head banging, but you can adopt the following tips to alleviate their head banging.
Head banging is not a sign of a health problem, it is normal among infants and toddlers. When head banging is combined with any developmental delay then it could be a sign that your little one should be screened for Autism Spectrum disorder.
Sometimes this behaviour may indicate Neurological and Psychological concern. To differentiate such rhythmic movement disorder from issues related to development, you must observe when your baby’s head banging occurs and also the frequency.
To be on the safe side, it is best to mention to your doctor about your baby’s head banging. When you notice that your baby bangs their head many times during the day or continues the head banging even though they are hurting themselves, then you need to immediately reach for your doctor.
Notify your doctor if your baby’s behavior raises concern like
Conclusion
Head banging in babies is a typically normal and appropriate developmental action, that clearly reveals that your baby is exploring or relating to the world. One aspect of child-rearing that may be unexpected, is the repeated head-banging of babies. Understanding why your baby is banging their head is the first step in the right direction. Patiently handling them, and pushing your anxiety to the back of your mind will help you breeze through this phase with babies.
No, headbanging is certainly not a form of autism. However, it is quite common to notice that head banging is normal among children with autism.
Headbanging is common and usually has no cause for worry. In some babies, it may be a part of a developmental problem.
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