Seeing your baby repeatedly hit their head against a wall or any other surface could be a little disturbing, and you might wonder: why are they doing it? Are they trying to hurt themselves? Is something bothering them?

If this sounds familiar, here is the good news. 

Head banging is a relatively common behaviour in babies and toddlers, and it is a part of normal development. In most cases, it is seen in babies around 6 to 9 months of age and tends to peak during the toddler years. Most children outgrow it by the time they reach three years of age.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, repetitive behaviours like banging the head or hitting the head repeatedly can be a way of expressing a strong emotion, frustration, or simply soothing themselves. They do not do it to injure or hurt themselves.

"Head banging is common and usually not a cause for concern." — American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)

While the behaviour is harmless in most cases, you should not completely ignore it, as it may sometimes be an indication of an underlying developmental, behavioural, or medical condition that needs proper medical intervention.

Is It Normal for Babies to Bang Their Heads?

Yes! It is normal for babies to bang their heads, as it is a normal developmental behaviour seen in infants and toddlers.

As per the Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, Jul 1983, about 20% of healthy children present with rhythmic and repetitive movements like head banging or body rocking during infancy or early childhood. Such movements are more prominent when the child is sleepy and during the night. The children gradually grow out of it. In most cases, no medical intervention is required.

Also, this has nothing to do with their brain development or intelligence. So, babies can bang their heads even if they are completely healthy and normal.

At What Age Does Head Banging Usually Start?

Head banging can begin at different ages, but it most commonly follows this pattern:

It is important to note that not every child follows the exact same timeline, and it may vary from one child to another. Also, head banging will be more prominent in some children, while others may do it only occasionally.

Why Does My Baby Hit Their Head Against the Wall?

It is hard to pinpoint one reason why your baby is hitting their head against the wall because every time, it could be for a completely different reason. Some of the most common of these are:

1. Self-soothing before going to sleep

One of the most common reasons why babies bang their heads is to relax themselves and fall asleep. The rhythmic movements make it easier for them to calm themselves down and transition to sleep. Not all babies may necessarily bang their heads. Some may even rock back and forth or roll around. It is due to this very reason that you may notice your little one engaging in such rhythmic movements when they are about to sleep or during short awakening windows.

What you can do

• Try to set a proper bedtime routine for your baby so that it becomes much more predictable when they are going to engage in such rhythmic movements.

• Whenever they are about to sleep, try to keep the environment soothing and cosy, with dim lights and minimal noise.

• Do not intervene or force your little one to stop the repetitive movements unless there is a risk of injury.

2. Expressing strong emotions

Unlike adults, babies and toddlers don't know how to express their emotions in words. Whenever they are frustrated, angry, overstimulated, or tired, they may respond physically rather than verbally. Head banging is one such physical sign that can help them express strong emotions and frustration when they are overwhelmed.

This is more commonly seen in babies as they become more and more independent but still cannot communicate their needs fully.

3. For comfort or your attention

There is one thing that babies learn very quickly, and that is how to get your attention. If they are doing something for which you constantly nag them, they know it is always going to work.

For instance, if you try to stop your baby from touching something, they will again and again try to touch the same thing to trigger your reaction.

This does not mean that your little one is being manipulative. Instead, they are only becoming more familiar with how their actions are triggering the reactions of people around them.

So, you need to watch out for signs like: Is your baby looking at you after they bang their head? Are they trying to seek reassurance or comfort from you? If yes, it is possible that they just want your attention and comfort.

Parent Tip

In such cases, instead of panicking, it is important to be very calm so that you can comfort your baby without making them feel more stressed.

4. Just exploring around

Babies are curious beings, and they tend to learn through movements and repetition. Banging their head could be just a way of exploring how the movement feels. So, it's like they found out they can do it, and they just want to do it again and again. This will gradually go away as your baby develops new motor and communication skills.

5. Overstimulated or tired

Your baby can be in the cot all day and still get tired. This is because they are using all their senses to explore the world around them.

Whether you have too many visitors at home, whether you have gone out shopping with them, or even if they have had exposure to screens for a long time, they can get overstimulated or tired. Sometimes, even being around another child of their age can make them tired or overstimulated.

In such cases, babies may bang their heads, rock themselves, or suck their thumb just to regulate their emotions. If your baby is doing it after a busy day or after you have had guests at home, they are simply tired.

Is There a Link Between Head Banging and Teething?

Teething can cause discomfort, and many a time, parents may think that their babies are banging their heads because of it. Babies experiencing teething discomfort generally rub their ears, cheeks, or gums, but there is no strong evidence to show a direct link between head banging and teething. If your child is showing any unusual signs like fever, persistent fussiness, or reduced appetite, you should consult a paediatrician for proper guidance.

Does Head Banging Mean My Baby Has Autism?

One of the most common fears that parents have is that they associate head banging with autism. However, this alone is not an indicative sign of autism. As per the American Academy of Pediatrics, repetitive behaviours are common in children, and they outgrow them. However, if the child is experiencing other unusual symptoms such as:

• Limited eye contact

• No babbling or gestures by the expected age

• Loss of acquired skills

• No response to their name

• No social interaction

• Delayed communication or language milestones

It is important to go for a proper evaluation. All these factors should be assessed as a whole and not individually.

When Is Head Banging Usually Harmless?

In the majority of cases, there is nothing to worry about if your baby is head banging because it is usually harmless. If your baby bangs their head occasionally, seems healthy and happy otherwise, is meeting all the developmental milestones, responds to their name, doesn't injure themselves, and does it primarily before sleep or during awake windows, there is nothing to worry about.

When Should Head Banging Be a Cause for Concern?

Head banging may be a cause of concern in some cases where there is a possibility or a history of the child harming themselves while doing so, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms.

It is important to speak to a paediatrician if:

• Your child is forcefully banging their head, which has led to bruising, swelling, or any other type of injury.

• The child is about three years old and still banging their head.

• The child is not meeting their developmental milestones and is losing the skills that they previously had.

• The child tends to bang their head when triggered by an external factor, such as anger, or when you do not give them something they want.

• The child is excessively sleepy and does not wake up even when you try to awaken them.

• The child does not respond to their name or make eye contact.

• The child has difficulties with feeding and is not gaining weight properly.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that developmental surveillance should be performed at every health supervision visit, as this helps to keep track of the important milestones that should not be missed.

Can Head Banging Cause Brain Damage?

Head banging during infancy rarely causes any brain injury. However, the risks may increase during toddlerhood. When there is a probability of the child hitting their head hard against the wall, in such cases, you just have to make sure that there is a soft barrier between their head and the wall edges and that they are not near any concrete or hard surface when they are engaged in such repetitive movements. You just need to watch out for and prevent secondary injuries caused by the head banging, such as hitting their head against a hard surface, falling from a bed, or repeated vomiting, etc.

What Should Parents Do?

Watching your baby repeatedly bang their head can be frustrating, but your response can make a great difference.

It is important to stay calm and not react unless and until you feel that something is actually wrong or if they are at risk of hurting themselves.

Check for the triggers: Is it just because your baby is tired or overstimulated or trying to gain your attention, or is there some serious reason behind it?

Create a calm, safe, and comfortable sleep environment for your baby, whether it is:

a. choosing the right bedding

b. maintaining a comfortable room temperature

c. keeping the lights dim

d. cancelling any unnecessary sounds

Help Your Baby Express Emotions

As your baby grows, you can help them express their emotions in different ways rather than simply banging their head. For instance, you can try to help them name their emotions or offer comfort without forcefully stopping them from banging their head. Try to keep their routines and bedtime more predictable, and encourage them to interact and play. Do not ignore your baby's needs.

References

1. American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Head Banging: Why Do Babies and Toddlers Do It?
   https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/Head-Banging.aspx  

2. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Promoting Optimal Development: Identifying Infants and Young Children With Developmental Disorders Through Developmental Surveillance and Screening.
   https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/145/1/e20193449/3694

3. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment.
   https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/1/e2022057990/188304 

4. NHS. Body Rocking and Head Banging.
   https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/body-rocking-and-head-banging/
   (Explains rhythmic movement behaviours, why they occur, and when parents should seek medical advice.)

5. World Health Organization (WHO). Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development.
   https://www.who.int/teams/maternal-newborn-child-adolescent-health-and-ageing/child-health/nurturing-care
   (Responsive caregiving, emotional development, and early childhood development.)

6. UNICEF. Early Childhood Development.
   https://www.unicef.org/early-childhood-development
   (Importance of responsive caregiving and healthy child development.)

7. Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP). Developmental Pediatrics Chapter / Early Childhood Development Resources.
   https://iapindia.org/
   (Indian guidance on developmental screening, milestone monitoring, and early intervention.)

8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Learn the Signs. Act Early. Developmental Milestones.
   https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/
   (Developmental milestones and signs that warrant further evaluation.)