When you have a baby, an absolutely new world opens up, full of joys but also many fears. If it is the first baby, then the fears are redoubled when we see them have strange behaviors, that we do not remember having heard or that our own mothers do not remember either, after so many years.
A baby is a new universe and every day we learn something and ask ourselves new questions. For example, Why does my baby hit his head against his crib? Doesn't it hurt? Can't you get hurt? How can I make it not do it anymore? It distresses me to see it! Well, today we will try to explain the subject and leave the mothers alone.
The baby and the pounding of his head
You hold the baby in your arms and leave him in the crib to take a well-deserved nap. Everything is peaceful and the baby looks like candy, sweet, asleep, calm. But then, out of nowhere, he starts banging his head against the crib. One time. And another. And another. Why?! Why is my baby banging his head against his crib?
Any pediatrician will tell you that rocking and headbutting are normal behavior, which typically appears before 12 months of age and that children no longer do it between the ages of two and three. Yes, there is an explanation and it is normal. Calmer?
So head and body banging are normal behaviors of rocking by self-comfort in babies. The rhythmic back-and-forth motion can soothe your baby and help him fall asleep, much like he rocked in a rocking chair or you do with your arms.
Oddly enough, your baby can also hit his head to distract from the pain (if you are teething or have an ear infection), for example. hitting your head is surprisingly common. Up to 20 percent of infants and young children hit their heads on purpose, although boys are three times more likely to do so than girlss.
Frequent head banging begins in the second half of the first year and between 18 and 24 months of age. The habit it can last Several months, or even years, although most children, as we said, exceed 3 years.
Just as some babies play with their hair, others suck on their hands, others hit their heads. What does it provide them? Child psychologists say that it depends on what they are doing before the blow, but basically it is a harmless behavior.
Some babies hit their front or the back of their head against the head of the crib, while others are partial to crib rails. Other babies roll their heads from side to side while lying on their back, which often results in a bald spot on the back of the head.
Could it be that babies bang their heads against their cribs out of anger or frustration? If it can be. Babies cannot express themselves orally, they do not speak, so their language is purely body language and with their body they express their frustration. Also I might be trying to get your attention, after all you get surprised, you get scared and you make some moan when you see that behavior. And what's more, surely you take him in your arm and comfort him a little. The baby is, in his own way, intelligent, so he knows that if he hits his head, the mom or dad will react.
In short, although it is in the vast majority of cases, almost all, a harmless and normal behavior, there may be times when the baby hitting his head against his crib can mean a problem. If he ends up bleeding and that doesn't stop him... go to the pediatrician! He will know how to read the child's attitude, will ask you about other behaviors and will be able to tell you if it is normal or if you have to take action on the matter, perhaps preventing some autism spectrum disorder.
What can I do about it? Head banging in babies is rarely a sign of a developmental or emotional problem, but if your baby does, go ahead and talk to your doctor. As we said, on rare occasions (especially if your baby has developmental delays) it signals Problem. Most likely, however, in your baby's behavior, although annoying to watch, is harmless. Your baby won't hurt himself by hitting his head.
The only precaution you should take is to tighten the screws and bolts from the crib regularly. Do not put pillows, blankets or bumpers in his crib to soften the surroundings. These may represent a choking hazard. If the sound of your baby hitting his head bothers you, try moving the crib away from the wall.
Since your baby is probably trying to comfort himself, give him a hand. do your quiet sleep environment. Help him relax with a hot bath before bed, give him a gentle massage, or spend more time rocking it to put it to sleep. Some babies find soft music or the steady beat of a metronome tapping, as a method of calming down before bed.
Always keep in mind that babies go through so many milestones in their development, and while banging their heads may not seem as exciting to us as getting their first tooth through their gums, it's normal and it's important.
Banging his head against his crib is seen as part of those repetitive behaviors that are seen in childhood (biting nails, sucking thumb, playing with genitals, etc.). These are behaviors that help the development of the neurological system to interact with environmental influences, in this case the crib.
Resumiendo:
- Signs of head banging: Repeatedly bangs head against mattress or crib itself, sits up right after head banging. he moves his head back and forth and hits it, rests on his back and rolls his head from side to side with enough force to shake it.
- How long does this behavior last?: The behavior itself does not last more than 15 minutes, but it begins between six and nine months and stops around the age of 3, although there are cases of healthy children who maintain it until they are 5 years old. If it persists, consult your pediatrician.
- Possible causes: a self-soothing to fall asleep, is a response to boredom, frustration or anxiety or a way to self-stimulate.
- When can it be a problem?: if the behavior persists after 3 years. So it can be associated with autism, stereoscopic movement disorder, or some neurological problem.