Is it normal for my child to bang his head from time to time?

Head banging is usually nothing to worry about. So if your child is banging his head occasionally against the crib or the wall or any other surface, he’s most likely trying to soothe himself and release his stress, anger or frustration. This kind of behaviours, just like thumbsucking, is a normal part of a toddler’s life and doesn’t indicate an issue.

As a parent, you better not make something out of it, while doing your best to address any underlying cause of emotional upset and keeping a close eye on how often your tot bangs his head and how severely he does it, and report it to his paediatrician.

Head banging can be a sign of developmental disorders if it continues beyond age 4 and if associated with repetitive motor movements, developmental delays and impairments in social skills.

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