Stop Your Toddler from Head Banging in Anger

Have you noticed your toddler has started banging their head in anger on walls, tables, or people? Are you worried that your toddler will damage the sensitive little brain cells in their head? There are actions you can take to try and prevent this angry head banging behavior.

The first thing you should do is try to identify what triggers this angry head banging behavior, is your toddler tired or hungry, maybe your toddler is frustrated because he or she cannot communicate their feelings or emotions very well. It is also possible that they are banging their head in anger to get attention or maybe they are just uncomfortable.

Try to explain to your toddler that banging their head in anger is wrong and can physically hurt them, if they hurt themselves bad enough they will have to go and see the doctor.

Your toddler may be banging their head in anger because they are frustrated and unable to complete a task they are trying to do. Tell your toddler if it will not work this way, try a different way, to keep trying different ways until they get it and teach them to ask for help instead of banging their head in anger or acting out.

Try to avoid situations you know will trigger the head banging whenever possible. Sometimes before the anger starts you can suggest something that will distract them. Toddlers have short attention spans and can be easily distracted so take advantage of it.

Try letting your toddler make simple, minor decisions like do you want an apple or orange with your lunch. It will help them feel more in control of their lives and there will not be anger issues over the fact that they wanted an orange and you gave them an apple.

Try keeping off limit items you know they will want but you don't want them to have out of sight. For example if your toddler loves to play with your keys, but you know they are full of germs and don't want to risk losing them so unless you need them keep them in a place where your toddler cannot see them.

Your toddler may be banging their head in anger because they are not getting enough attention. Some toddlers may think that bad attention is better than no attention at all so try to make it a habit to reward good behavior. A reward does not have to be a physical object, cost a lot of money, or be a big thing. It can be a simple thing like reading a book or playing a game together. Anything your child likes will be fine as long as it is time you spend together.

I played on my toddler's empathy and simply told them when they banged their head in anger on the wall, table or me it would hurt the wall, table or me. They felt bad and did not want to hurt anything or anyone so they stopped. Of course not all toddlers are that easy but it never hurts to try.

Every toddler is different and what works for one may not work for the other do keep trying different methods until you find the one that works for you.