Head Banging... Normal or No?

"Head banging is common and usually nothing to worry about. However, in some kids, it can signal a developmental problem." - WebMD Article

In my blog post earlier this week I talked about my toddler banging his head out of frustration, or so I think that's why. It prompted me to do a Google search. I wanted to know if other parents were seeing the same thing.

What I found.

Head banging in toddlers is normal... kind of.

"Up to 20% of toddlers bang their heads on purpose. Boys are more likely to do this than girls. Head banging usually starts during the second half of their first year of life. The behavior can continue for several months or even years. Toddlers usually outgrow head banging by the age of 3 years." - WebMD

Okay, Okay. Doesn't sound terrible right?

Should I Be Concerned if a Toddler Bangs Their Head?

If your child is healthy and only bangs their head or rocks during nighttime or nap time, there is no need to be concerned. Children commonly do these things to help them fall asleep.

Head banging and body rocking behavior is only considered a disorder if it markedly interferes with sleep or results in bodily injury. - WebMD

I'm sorry, What? How do I know what Roman is doing is just normal development or not? My opinion, at this time, I don't. My plan? To closely monitor his actions, let his pediatrician know what's going on, and work with him one-on-one on working through our emotions to see if that helps.

Is that the right way to handle the behavior? I don't know. I'm just following my gut. And for that, I'm thankful.

Connect with me!

Please, feel free to reach out to me on social or email. I would love to hear your stories, share your stories on this platform, but also do the research and ask experts what we can do to give our kids the best future possible.