2 Year Old and Head-butting

LOL...My 15 month old head butts things. She does it for fun though...go figure. She was just head butting the cupboard.

When she head butts you I would tell her NO and put her down or walk away if you're not holding her.

I would let her head butt things too. She will learn the natural consequences that it will hurt her head. I would not pay attention (watch but dont let her see you) so she doesnt learn this will be an attention getter from you.

Teach her how to communicate... sign language.

Does she say any words at all?
Every State has an "Early Childhood Intervention" program, that for FREE assesses the development/speech in a child through 3 years old. My son got that for Speech Therapy. It is GREAT. He LOVED it.
You do not need a referral from your Doctor. I just called them myself. They come to your home. It is really great.

Your daughter is frustrated, because she cannot communicate.... also teach her the names for feelings. ie: happy, sad, hungry, tired, mad etc. Use sign language if anything. HELP find a way to help her communicate. Acting out like that, is common with toddlers who cannot yet talk.....

all the best,
Susan

teach her sign. she is fustrated. she cant communicate. I have a 2 1/2 yr old that cant communicate either. other than sign. use a water bottle on her when she starts head butting. spray her it will shock her into stopping. and get ahold of eci for speech and other development problems. she needs to be able to vent her fustration and that is the only way she knows how.

I agree with the others that she's probably just frustrated and trying to communicate the only way she knows how. However, it could also be a sign of possible sensory issues. You could ask about this when the twins are evaluated on Jan. 5.

I feel for you, my 22 months old son does the same, and he knows baby sign, and can talk somewhat too, and he STILL doesn it anyway, some kids just do.

I have tried putting him down if he head-butts me, and ignoring him if he is banging on the floor or whatnot in a tantrum way......he DOESN'T learn from the natural consequence of it hurting him, he just cries harder and bangs it again. It is a tantrum and a way of asking for attention or something else ( food, nap, etc.). I have tried hugging him to calm him, and sometimes that helps, and the only other thing that gets him to calm down is a time out in his room alone....he needs the quiet and space to clam himself, and his pacifier and blankie help, too.

These things calm him and get him to stop tantruming, but they don't stop him from doing it the next time. I try to get him to use his words and explain what is wrong, but once he is angry/frustrated, there is no reasoning with him. I am hoping it is just a phase and he will grow out of it.

I hope there might be some actually helpful responses form moms who have had head-bangers who have now gotten past it....other than buying them a helmet, LOL.

It is a very frustrating and worrysome behaviour for us moms. Sorry i was probably no help....I would suggest calmly picking them up and putting them in their beds/cribs for a calm-down time, and close the door and tell them they can come out when they are calmed down and ready to play nicely again....that is all I usually do to help him settle down.

Jess

I taught my twins basic sign language (please, thank you, hungry, more, drink, etc.) and it really does help w/ them not getting frustrated. You can pick up simple sign cards at a book store or probably a book at your library. good luck.