Head Banging in Children: Causes and Recommendations for Parents

With the end of infancy, children become increasingly aware of their surroundings and begin to explore the outside world. At the same time, they start learning to express their wishes and needs verbally. However, they are not yet fully developed in verbal expression. The difficulty of not being able to fully express themselves can sometimes lead to anger and frustration, which can manifest as hitting themselves or head banging.

Research shows that this behavior especially occurs when children feel tired, lonely, or sad. It has also been noted that infants may bang their heads during bedtime.

Young children may also hit themselves or bang their heads when they are excited. We can see that young children express their emotions through their bodies in different ways. In this sense, head banging can be similar to clapping hands or jumping when excited.

Another research finding suggests that babies and children bang their heads to relieve pain. For example, if your child is hitting one side of their head, tapping their head, or pulling their ears, they might be experiencing teething pain.

What Can Be Done in Case of Self-Hitting or Head Banging?

It is never easy to see your child hitting themselves or banging their head. While calming your head-banging child with a soothing tone of voice, you can support them with a warm, loving touch or a hug. Addressing this behavior early on will prevent it from turning into a habit or self-harm as a self-soothing mechanism in the future.

The first step is to discover the underlying cause of the head banging behavior. Once you find the reason, it will be easier to intervene. Make sure you create a safe environment to protect your child from injury until they can express their wants and needs verbally. Children who bang their heads are not aware that they can hurt themselves. You can prevent your child from head banging by gently holding their hands, stroking them, or comforting them in your arms.

Use soothing words. Validate their feelings, and tell them that you will get through this together and everything will be alright. If they find it hard to calm down, you can give them a soft toy to squeeze in their hands.

If you notice that head banging and biting are related to teething pain, you can offer them a teether or a cool piece of fruit wrapped in a muslin cloth.

Do not scold or punish your child for self-hitting or head banging, as your reaction might frighten them, cause more stress, or increase the behavior.

Your child might also resort to head banging when they feel lonely to get your attention and care. Make sure you spend quality, uninterrupted play-time with your child every day.

Instead, when your child bangs their head, you can distract them to comfort them by looking out the window together, redirecting them to their favorite toy, or giving them a warm hug.

If you cannot identify a specific reason behind your child's head banging behavior, it is important to consult your pediatrician. Observe and note down its frequency, when it happens, and its duration.

How Long Do Children Engage in Head Banging or Self-Hitting?

This behavior, which usually starts around 1 to 1.5 years of age, decreases as they learn to express themselves verbally and is expected to stop around age 4.

While self-harm alone is not a symptom of autism, self-hitting, scratching, and other self-harming behaviors can be seen in children on the autism spectrum for various reasons.

Does every child go through a hitting phase? Many children try hitting themselves or someone else at least once before age 3. However, the parents' attitude and environmental factors play a key role in whether this behavior persists. Research notes that temper tantrums can begin around 1 year of age and may increase around age 3.

What Should I Do When My Child Bangs Their Head?

Do not yell at or punish your child. Try not to take the behavior personally, reject their emotions, or make critical comments.

From 14 months of age, children point to objects for their parents to look at.

From 14 months of age, when a child sees their parent looking in a certain direction, they look in that direction too.

From 14 months of age, children start playing pretend games, such as using a wooden block as a phone.