My nine month old recently learned to clap. He has now started hitting himself in the head with the same type of motion he uses to clap. He is not hitting himself hard, but does it quite a bit now. Has anyone else had their child do this. It worries me a bit that he is hitting himself.
I believe that is very normal and more common in boys (I have a 16 month old son). That said, we always try to catch his hands when he does it (not very often anymore) and gently touch/stroke his head/hair, repeatedly saying "Be gentle." It seems to work and gives him the basic understanding of what "gentle" means.
My son is 14 months old now and has done the same thing off and on. He also like to bang his head on the wall, crib..or couch. He just laughs. My oldest didn't do it, but it's normal. Just an exploration of cause and effect.
Totally normal! My son did it too. After a while he just stopped.
Yes, I believe they are just exploring, cause and effect, how things feel, etc. My daughter then once hit her head on the floor and wall and started to bang her head against the wall to listen to the sound, weird, I know. She doesn't do that anymore, it's just a phase...kids are crazy!
Don't worry! He's just experimenting. He'll stop if he hurts himself!
My 13 month old son just discovered he can hit his head on things. He thinks it's funny, and since it's not hard, I'm not worried. I'm sure they grow out of it!
He'll grow out of it. Maybe you can give him a pillow or stuffed animal to "clap" instead. Maybe some cymbals would be fun for him. Good Luck!
My son is 13 months old and does the same thing. Its just a phase and totally normal, he'll move on from it. Mine started doing it when he learned to clap too. As first time mom's, we question everything and that's totally normal too.
my 1 year old son does this too, he just learned how to play "peek a boo" && clap. im guessing this is normal. i wouldnt be too concerned about it. we just remind my son to be nice && gentle with himself as well as other people. :]
My son did the same thing. They discover they can do one thing and they always seem to take it to a different level. My son did it on and off for about 2 months. My son is VERY spirited and I am always reminding him to be nice & gentle, to himself, to others, to toys, etc. I'm sure it will pass. Just yet another phase to enjoy!
HI Corrine,
My 12 1/2 month old daughter did the same thing, but it only lasted a couple of weeks. I believe it's a phase that your little one will grow out of (according to my ped.) Your son probably just discovered this new thing, which I know is pretty traumatic for us moms, but he should be fine.
