Is it normal for babies to bang their head

And since he likes it when you fuss over his behavior, he may continue the head banging in order to get the attention he wants.

A developmental problem. Head banging can be associated with autism and other developmental disorders — but in most of these cases, it's just one of many behavioral red flags.

Rarely does head banging alone signal a serious problem. Sources BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Common childhood habits. American Academy of Pediatrics. Childhood habit behaviors and stereotypic movement disorder. Featured video. Nose picking. Pacifiers and your toddler. Weaning your toddler. Thumb sucking: why babies do it and the potential side effects.

New to BabyCenter? Join now. Password Forgot your password? Keep me logged in. Log in. Get the BabyCenter app. Download now. See all in Getting Pregnant. Is head banging contagious? How long does head banging last? How is head banging diagnosed? Three hallmark behaviors are the key signs that distinguish kids with autism-associated head banging and those with normal head banging: Lack of pointing — By fourteen months of age most children will point at objects in order to get another person to look.

Lack of gaze-following — By fourteen months, infants will often turn to look in the same direction an adult is looking. Lack of pretend play — By fourteen months, children will begin to play using object substitution, e. Again, head banging beyond age three deserves further evaluation. How is head banging treated? How can head banging be prevented? How do you prevent head injury?

Last medical review on: July 30, Greene is a practicing physician, author , national and international TEDx speaker , and global health advocate.

Get Dr. Greene's Wellness Recommendations Signup now to get Dr. Greene's healing philosophy, insight into medical trends, parenting tips, seasonal highlights, and health news delivered to your inbox every month. First Name. Email Address. Send Me The Tips! In most cases, this behavior goes away on its own during the toddler years and is not usually a sign of any health or developmental problem. Head banging is a repeated motion that happens around bedtime or during sleep.

Head banging continues with a consistent rhythm, happening every one to two seconds. It can go on for an extended period but typically lasts for 15 minutes or less. In many cases, head banging is accompanied by vocalizations such as a steady humming sound.

When spoken to, a child may temporarily stop the behavior but will usually return to head banging shortly thereafter. Most head banging in babies and children happens in the lead-up to sleep , but it can also occur while they are sleeping.

It may happen before and during daytime naps as well. It is believed that babies and children are not aware of head banging. Examples of other rhythmic movements include:. Head banging, body rocking, and head rolling are the most common of these rhythmic movements.

Some children may exhibit more than one of these movements at the same time. Body rocking often begins earlier in infancy, commonly starting at around six months of age, while head banging, on average, starts at about nine months. It is unknown exactly why babies bang their heads or engage in other rhythmic movements before or during sleep.

Existing research about these behaviors remains limited , but there are some theories for why head banging happens:. Further research is needed in order to determine whether any of these hypotheses conclusively explain why head banging happens in infants and young children. As children move into the toddler years, the prevalence of head banging declines. Head banging by babies is usually not a health concern.

For most infants and young children, the rhythmic movements do not pose any problems for their sleep or development. While seeing or hearing head banging or body rolling can be worrying for parents, it is rarely a risk to their child. This condition is diagnosed when head banging or other similar behaviors cause injury to a child, significantly disturb their sleep, or cause daytime impairment.

Research has found that only 0. As this data demonstrates, the large majority of children who engage in rhythmic, repetitive behaviors do not have Sleep Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder.

Even children with this disorder are unlikely to inflict serious self-harm as long as basic safety precautions are in place. However, they do have more sleep disruptions , lower sleep quality, and more daytime problems like reduced concentration or memory.

It is uncommon for head banging to be an indicator of a bigger health problem. Though parents may worry that this activity is a sign of a developmental disorder or another issue, this is rarely the case.

No clear connection has been established to date, and only some, not all, children with a sleep movement disorder show signs of a mental health condition. Some research indicates that Sleep Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder may have an association with obstructive sleep apnea OSA , a condition of breathing lapses during sleep, or restless leg syndrome RLS , which is marked by a strong urge to move the limbs.

While all of these conditions can cause disrupted sleep, research so far has not demonstrated any consistent link between them. This may be sufficient to determine if a child has Sleep Related Rhythmic Movement Disorder, but if necessary, the doctor can order other tests to rule out the presence of other sleep disorders and arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

Over time, these behaviors normally go away on their own. This means making sure that their crib or bed is well-built and meets national safety standards. Is my toddler angry? Head banging can take different forms.

Some children only bang their head when lying face down in the bed, and then repeatedly bang their head against the pillow or mattress. Other times, though, babies or toddlers head bang while in an upright position. In this case, they might bang their head against a wall, crib railing, or the back of a chair.

The habit can start around the ages of 6 to 9 months, with many children getting over the habit by ages 3 to 5. Understanding why a child bangs their head can help calm your nerves. Here are a couple possible explanations, with the first being much, much more common. Interestingly, this habit often occurs right before a child falls sleep. It may look painful, but in actuality, head banging is how some children soothe or calm themselves.

This is similar to how some children rock or shake their leg while going to sleep, or how some babies enjoy being rocked to sleep. To put it plainly, banging their head is a form of self-comfort, which most often leads to sleep. Of course, the sudden sound of banging at night might startle you. But resist the urge to run in and rescue your child.

Sometimes, though, head banging is a sign of a developmental condition like autism , or it might indicate psychological and neurological concerns.

To distinguish a rhythmic movement disorder from a developmental issue , observe when head banging occurs and the frequency. On the other hand, if other symptoms accompany head banging — like speech delays , emotional outbursts , or poor social interaction — there could be another issue.

See your pediatrician to rule out an underlying condition.