14 month old bangs head on crib on purpose. help!

babypuplove · October 2011

We took away the paci about 10 days ago, and it went much better than expected. She just requires a little longer snuggle time at bedtime, and wakes in the middle of the night to cuddle for a few minutes. That all changed a few days ago.

She started refusing to go to bed at all, even after 30ish minutes of me rocking and holding her until she was almost asleep. She was up from 2:30-4:45 this morning, screaming and thrashing in between cuddle sessions. Around 3:45 I put her in her crib and watched her on the video monitor (and checked on her every 10 to soothe). A few minutes into it, she started banging her forehead on the crib while standing up. I ran in there and cuddled with her, and she finally went to sleep 45 minutes later. This morning, I noticed that her forehead has about 10(!!!!) small, very visible, bruises on it. It is obviously from the crib, and now I'm second guessing the paci removal. I feel like it's been a week and a half, so we should just keep it away, but not if it means she's going to physically hurt herself! This afternoon, I put her down on the floor for a minute (she's MUCH more attached to me since we got rid of paci, even though she has a lovie), and she started banging her head on the wood floor!

I'm at a loss. Part of me thinks we should just go to the store and buy more pacifiers, but it's been over a week, and I can't imagine it will be easy to get rid of it when she's older. But she can't keep doing this.

Has anyone experienced this before? WWYD? Help!

Stacyc625 · October 2011

no experience- but i know for a fact that kids that do this it is OFTEN a way of expressing a way to self- soothe.

sounds strange- but it's true. and quite common

I would have no idea what i would do-

Stacyc625 · October 2011

https://www.babyzone.com/toddler/toddler_development/whining_tantrums/article/what-head-banging-means

McAllie5 · October 2011

Apparently when I was about 3 I would bang my head on the floor when throwing a temper tantrum. My parents said their pediatrician said just to let me do it and not show any response (this was 22 years ago, mind you) and that I'd figure out not to do it.

And then one day I tried it on the *brick* floor. I nearly knocked myself unconscious. I never banged my head on the floor again, though.

susanmosley · October 2011

I don't know what I would do. I think the idea of crib rails or noodles to pad the rails is a good one. I agree with everything Stacy says - I don't know what to do about it but I know it is common for frustration AND self soothing.

I parent the road of least resistance for the most part thus far - this may bite me in the butt someday. So, I know I would consider giving her the paci too. I think I would see if the behavior changed over the course of a few days before doing it ? I don't know. I've seen this a lot with kids I work with, but don't have any intelligent solution to the problem. I'm sorry!!!

babypuplove · October 2011

I gave her a paci, and she immediately put her head down to sleep and stopped crying. I can't believe we went 10 days without it just to go right back. She's never done this before now, and it's pretty obvious that she was soothing herself in some twisted way, or was just super upset and frustrated. I'm so bummed that we have to start over, but I can't have her hurting herself like that. Her forehead looks awful.

susanmosley · October 2011

maybe you can do some limited paci schedule? Previously did she have it other than sleeping times? Maybe now limit it to sleeping only?

susanmosley · October 2011

or maybe give her a less preferred style/shape/brand of paci so that it is "good enough" to meet her need but not the greatest thing ever?

just brain storming

Stacyc625 · October 2011

personally- I think I would have done the same thing. But that is me.

Chase still takes a paci for naps and bed only- he really only sucks on it for a little bit falls asleep and it falls out and doesn't bother for it until next nap/bed. Gisele never took one- not even as a newborn- just didn't like them.

I say- give it some time- let her have them for naps/bed. And try weaning again in a week or so and go from there.

I wouldn't sweat it babypup! You NEVER see a college kid fall asleep with a paci. You will ditch them soon enough-

babypuplove · October 2011

Thanks.

It was actually an old paci of DD#1's from last year (they used different kinds). I found it on a shelf, and figured it would be better than nothing since I cut the tips off of all of them last week. DH and I have decided we're going to let her use it only at nap time and bed time. And funnily enough, it's not even in her mouth right now. It fell out after she went to sleep.

jnksmom · October 2011

I would have done the same thing. I wouldn't sweat it. DS had a paci for nap and bedtime until 25 months. He cried for 2 nights for it and that was it. DD gave up her paci at 22 months. Neither of them show signs now(their teeth are fine) that they had a paci that long.

babypuplove · October 2011

The reason I want it gone sooner rather than later is because we waited until DD1 was 23 months to take it away, and she now has a major oral fixation. She always has her hands or other objects in her mouth, and she's 2.5 years old! I think that really contributed to her getting sick so often last winter after we took away the paci. I really want to avoid that for DD2, but hopefully it just won't be a problem with her.

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14 month old bangs head on crib on purpose. help!

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