Hi! I have a 10 month old daughter. Every now and then she will hit herself in the head. Is this normal? My HB doesn't like it when she is doing it. She says that autistic children do that and he is worried. She is developing normally and is a very happy healthy and active baby. She just uses her hands and hits herself in the head sometimes. Thank you :wave:

I wouldn't be to concerned unless she is showing other signs. Several my kids (i have 4) did things like this because it got our attention and they thought it was silly. In autistic children it is usually repetitive hitting like if she sat in one place hitting herself over and over again for a long period of time and seemed zoned out to the rest of the world, as autistic children tend to do that as a way of tunning out everything else going on around them.

Thank you so much! That puts me at ease. I didn't think it was any big deal. Otherwise she is very healthy, happy and EXTREMLY Active! She likes to be going all day! She does take 2 naps during the day! Y IPPEEE!!! My HB just had me concerned. She just does it a couple of times and it is not regular. I was thinking maybe her head was hurting her. Can babies get headaches?

It is hard to say if they get headaches since they can't tell you but I do know that my 5 yr old when she was 2 would tell me her head hurt but she never hit her head then. My 7yr old who did that a lot was very active (and still is :bouncing: ) It just though it was funny and got a reaction out of it. My husband didn't like it either and always thought something was wrong with him but he is a healthy active little boy and too social to be autistic. By the way that is another thing. Does she interact with you and other people smiling and cooing autistic babies do things to not interact with people. If she is happy alot that is a good sign. :wave:

Oh yes, She smiles and laughs and says momma and dada. She reaches for us and tries to mimicks us. I glad to hear that! Thank you!!! My HB had be worried!

I kind of giggled when I read this. My daughter is almost 15 months and she does the same thing. She will walk right up to something, make sure I'm looking, and hit her head on it and laugh! I thought it was really bizarre at first, but I guess you get used to this sort of thing with a little one about!

Aren't kids funny! I didn't mention but my two daughters that came after my son saw him do this so they did it also. We went through a period of time when my son did it just to get his little sister to do it also and they had their own little game going it was cute (sometimes). My 7 yr old got so used to it he does it now sometime usually just once when he goofs up or says something wrong he'll hit his head and say "I'm so silly".

That is to funny that she makes sure you are looking and then does it! Thank you!

My daughter also does this sometimes.I have read in parenting magazines that this is quite normal for this age.It is not only done for attention but as a learning thing."If I bonk my head it feels like this.""If I cover my ears and make noise,it sounds like this."etc.
Children do some crazy off-the-wall things sometimes that are all part of the growing,experiencing,thing.I'm sure that my husband would clear out the whole house if he could and cussion everything that is left :D .Daddys don't seem to be as incompatent as a mother who sits back and lets her little girl learn :D .
If she is healthy don't sweat it.If somthing is realy wrong,children have a way of letting us know. :bouncing: :wave: :p :angel:

Hi,

I wouldn't worry about her hitting her head being anything more than attention getting. My oldest child would do things like that to be funny. She's 14 now, and still the center of attention.

My youngest son (3 years old) is autistic. He never hit his head, or displayed self injurious behavior. He just fixated on one particlular toy for long periods, like he was studying it, or jumped in his bouncy chair for as long as you would let him. People always get worried about any silly behavior, and relate it to autism. Autism is so much more than one "odd" behavior.

Hope that makes you feel a little better.
Matt's mom