Is your baby or toddler headbutting the wall, their sibling — or even you? Don’t panic. This behavior is more common than you think!
Around 20% of children headbutt, according to the American Pediatric Association, and it tends to be more common in boys. Discover why it happens and how to prevent or manage it.
Why babies and toddlers start headbutting
Often, headbutting is a way young kids try to express themselves when they can’t verbally.
“It’s similar to any tantrum,” says Dr. Tisa Johnson-Hooper, a pediatrician with Detroit-based Henry Ford Health. “It’s usually brought on by frustration or lack of attention.”
Reasons also might include:
- Seeking attention from parents or caregivers
- Self-soothing to calm down or fall asleep (it mimics the movements they experienced in the womb)
- Expressing anger, excitement or other emotions
- Responding to physical pain, like teething or an ear infection
This behavior typically peaks around 18 months, though it can start as early as 6 months. And it can last until children develop better language skills, usually between ages 3 and 4.
How to prevent headbutting before it starts
Preventing headbutting begins with identifying triggers. Pay attention to when your toddler is more likely to headbutt — is it when you’re on the phone or busy with something else?
If your child is headbutting for attention, try setting up engaging activities like toys or games to keep them occupied while you’re busy.
Dr. Johnson-Hooper also suggests parents keep track of these incidents.
“When a parent comes to me with this issue, the first thing we do is go over the history,” says Dr. Johnson-Hooper. “We review what happened before, during and after the behavior.”
This can help you understand what your child is trying to communicate — and find patterns.
Keeping your child safe while headbutting
Fortunately, headbutting rarely leads to serious injury.
“It’s unlikely they will do it hard enough to hurt themselves more than once,” Johnson-Hooper says. Still, minor bruising is possible. Consider these safety precautions:
- Ensure they’re on a soft surface like a carpet or mat
- Remove any hard or sharp objects that might be in the area
- Pad their crib/bed, walls or nearby furniture to soften hard surfaces (but avoid excess pillows or blankets to prevent suffocation risks)
- Supervise and move them to a safe space if needed
Ignoring the behavior: Why less is more
That said, the best way to stop toddler headbutting is often to ignore it. Like tantrums, headbutting is often reinforced when it gets attention.
“Even picking up your child to stop the behavior can reinforce it,” says Dr. Johnson-Hooper.
Instead, if you’re concerned about their safety, place them in their crib or another safe space and leave the room.
This helps them calm down while you avoid giving the behavior more attention.
When to seek help or additional tips
If the headbutting persists for several months or seems unusually intense, consider contacting your pediatrician. Again, it could also be a sign of pain, which you’ll want to rule out.
Also, parents often worry that headbutting may indicate a developmental disorder like autism.
While headbutting alone isn’t usually a cause for alarm, though, watch for other signs like delayed speech, lack of eye contact or repetitive behaviors, experts say.
Expertise from Henry Ford Health. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s Your Top Kids Health Questions — Answered!
from Metro Parent https://ift.tt/Nx5awRI
0 comments:
Post a Comment