What to do when toddler hurts self on purpose?

kujess1

DS has begun recently to hit his head on things on purpose if he is upset/angry/frustrated. For example, he'll do it if I've been holding him for awhile and then need to set him down to do something and he's upset that I put him down. Or if he falls and hurts himself, and cries and then it turns into a tantrum and he does it. Or if he wants to do something that is unsafe and I don't let him do it. These are examples of things that set him into a tantrum and then he goes and tries to hit his head on anything he can find: the wall, the hardwood floor, the rails on his crib, etc. Anyone else's DC doing this? I know that obviously I shouldn't let him severely hurt himself.....but are there instances where I should ignore the behavior (since in some situations it seems to be an attention-seeking behavior)? Or should I always stop him and attempt to redirect him? Please help, this behavior is becoming very upsetting to me!

rubyshoes7

My DS used to do this. He will still hit himself on the head with his hands. I just ignore it. Because it only makes him do it more if he sees that he is getting extra attention from it. Of course, if he is seriously hurting himself, don't ignore it... but try not to make a big deal out if it.

 

yelena1223

Ignore if he is not going to hurt himself. If he MAY hurt himself, then hold him in a seated position facing out (no eye contact), like sit on a stair with him on your lap, facing out and only say one thing like "We do not do ____. It hurts"(lectures do not work at this age) Hold him in this time out for whatever amount of time needed. Hold him tight enough not to let him wiggle and give NO attention to him during that time. You are simply a safety harness at that time.

The kid I watch flings himself to the floor and starts to kind of knock his head against the floor. If he is on the carpet- I say " WHEN YOU ARE DONE, COME PLAY WITH ME" and walk away. He may do it for a moment of two and then be done... but if he is in the kitchen and I see that he is about to fling himself without knowing that there is a chair behind him- then I grab him and do the bear hold.

So far- it has worked great. Good luck!

irys09

ruby ? shoes:

My DS used to do this. He will still hit himself on the head with his hands. I just ignore it. Because it only makes him do it more if he sees that he is getting extra attention from it. Of course, if he is seriously hurting himself, don't ignore it... but try not to make a big deal out if it.

 

This. 

My DS is a fan of this too. We ignore it as long as he hasn't truly hurt himself. 

mustangbaby09

My LO does the same thing for the exact same reasons as yours.  I try to ignore it at first and if he continues and does it harder I stop him and tell him no, that hurts.  I asked the pedi about it in his well visit and the dr said it was "age appropriate".  What ever that means...I guess its normal.  Another way to get attention.

linday121

Both of my lo's have done this in the past and I just ignored the behavior.  It ended with 2-3 days.