Baby hitting head while feeding
Why Do Babies Hit While Nursing? – KeaBabies
Do you find your baby tugging, wiggling, pinching, pulling, fidgeting, or even hitting during nursing sessions? Has your calm, peaceful nursing newborn turned into a seemingly aggressive, active older baby during breastfeeding sessions? Surprisingly, these behaviors are actually fairly common for breastfeeding infants - and here’s why.
Even though this behavior might strike parents as being overly aggressive and even mean-spirited, nursing mothers shouldn’t take this behavior personally. Hitting and flailing during nursing is simply a developmental phase of infancy. Babies flail, hit, and smack during nursing sessions for a variety of reasons.
Your baby might hit during a nursing session simply to get your attention. In the age of modern technology, nursing mothers often seek to multitask while they breastfeed their infants, either through scrolling through their social media, watching TV, listening to an audiobook, or talking on the phone. Your baby craves your attention at all times! Even though your sweet little one might spend a lot of effort concentrating on latching and sucking, she still wants to know that you’re paying attention to her. If you find your baby swiping your phone out of your hands, or smacking your chest as you’re trying to talk on the phone, try eliminating distractions during the next feed and concentrate on watching your little one eat. This may help your little one feel more calm, secure, and relaxed!
It takes several months for babies to outgrow the quirky reflexes they are born with. If your baby is hitting you during every nursing session, the behavior might just be a part of normal baby behavior! The arm movement involved in “hitting” might be a reflexive motion that your baby is exhibiting, and the soothing and calming nature of breastfeeding might enable your little one to relax so much he doesn’t realize he’s engaging in the reflexive motion.
Your little one’s aimless swings will eventually become the basis for more graceful coordinated movements in which your baby can reach for and grasp objects.
Anyone who has spent significant time around a baby quickly observes that babies thrive on repetition. If your baby is hitting you at repeated intervals during nursing sessions, she might just be enjoying a simple repetitive behavior. Repeating an action over and over demonstrates a significant development in your child’s brain. She is practicing a particular motion, and in time, that motion will give way to more productive (and less painful!) motions such as reaching, pulling, grabbing and grasping.
If you react to your baby’s hitting by flinching, scolding, laughing, or simply looking at your baby, he might begin to repeat the hitting motion more often! Babies love to understand cause-and-effect relationships, and what better person to test their theories out than on mama? If you have a strong reaction, whether positive or negative, to your baby’s hitting behavior, he’ll realize that he will likely receive a response every time he does the behavior.
This is actually a big step in your baby’s social and cognitive development - which might as well be celebrated!
When a baby is born, she probably doesn’t understand that her arms and hands are attached to her body and that she can control them. As babies grow and develop physically and cognitively, they soon learn that they have a certain degree of control over their bodily movements. Some of the first parts of the body babies take interest in are their hands and arms. Babies learn to grasp, pull, and reach for objects within their eyesight range. If your one-peaceful baby suddenly begins to slap you during nursing sessions, she may have discovered her control over her arms and is practicing using them! If this is the case, your baby might be placated by offering a stuffed animal, rattle, or blanket to hold and play with during each nursing session.
If your little one is hurting you with his hitting, try distracting him while you’re breastfeeding.
You can offer a toy, a burp cloth, or gently play with his arms and fingers while he’s nursing. You can also try to bring your baby into a different environment - one that is dark and quiet so that he is more relaxed while he eats. Chances are, your little one isn’t causing any harm with the behavior, and there isn’t any need to try disciplinary measures on young babies! It’s a reflex that he’ll most likely grow out of soon!
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Parenting is awesome. Sleep is overrated. Every day is an adventure.
| Meet Our KeaMommy Contributor: Kaitlyn Torrez I’m Kaitlyn Torrez, from the San Francisco Bay Area. I live with my husband and two children, Roman and Logan. I’m a former preschool teacher, currently enjoying being a stay at home mom. I love all things writing, coffee, and chocolate. |
In my free time, I enjoy reading, blogging, and working out.Why Is My Baby Hitting His Head? There Are A Few Different Reasons
You’re putting your baby down for a nap. Everything is peaceful and your little sweetie looks like they’ll soon be snoozing — and you just might get a break. But then, out of nowhere, your babe suddenly strikes themselves in the head or bangs their head against the crib. And then, does it again. When you get over the shock, you might ask yourself: why is my baby hitting his head?
“Head banging is a common behavior,” pediatrician Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, MD, tells Romper. “It typically appears before 12 months of age and most babies stop by age 2 or 3.” Still, the sight of your little nugget knocking their noggin can be completely frightening.
So what does head banging actually look like? It can be your babe banging their head against anything from a wall to their crib to other objects, SleepFoundation.org reported.
They might even lift their head up and bonk it back down onto the mattress. Scary stuff to see, for sure, but there’s likely an explanation for this alarming behavior.
Some babies play with their hair… you know, the few strands they might have. Others take the palm of their hand and give their head a good wallop. What gives? Well, it depends on what they’re doing prior to the punch, licensed child psychologist Dr. Amy Nasamran PhD tells Romper. “Many babies hit their heads as a self-soothing mechanism before or during sleep,” she says. “Even though this can cause concern for new parents, it's totally normal behavior for babies to do this for short periods of time (not lasting longer than about 15 minutes).”
kate_sept2004/E+/Getty ImagesYour Baby Bangs Their Head As Part Of Their DevelopmentBabies go through a whole bunch of developmental milestones. And while headbanging might not seem as exciting as, say, a first tooth erupting through their gums, it’s fairly normal — and important.
“Research has suggested that it is a part of a group of repetitive behaviors that we commonly see in childhood (thumb sucking, nail biting, genital play, etc.),” explains Dr. Mantravadi. “It is a mechanism for their developing neurologic system to interact with environmental influences, like a crib.” So by your baby banging their head, they’re actually learning how they fit in with their surroundings.
You serve up string beans for dinner, but your little love wants pears instead. Cue the tears and (possibly) some head banging. Babies have been known to hit their heads out of frustration, Kids Health reported. Dr. Fran Walfish, PhD, a family and relationship psychotherapist and author of The Self-Aware Parent, agrees. “Baby or toddler head banging is usually a symptom of the child’s anger,” she says. “They may not yet have the language development to verbally express their frustration in words.
” Try to figure out what could have potentially upset your child, and then do your best to soothe your baby so that they don’t have to resort to headbanging.
Your Baby Bangs Their Head Because It Gets A Reaction
Your little one crashes their head into the crib, and you gasp. Or you might cradle your little cutie and cover them with kisses. Either way, headbanging is pretty much guaranteed to get a parental response, which is why some babies like doing it. “Your baby knows that head banging gets a big reaction out of Mommy, and that’s why they do it,” explains Dr. Walfish. Although you don’t want to limit your baby’s ways of self-soothing (or in some cases, venting), headbanging for effect isn’t something you want to encourage. “Offer your baby an alternative to headbanging such as squeezing or even biting a toy,” she says.
If Your Baby’s Headbanging Becomes ProblematicAlthough headbanging is normal, there are times in which it can become a real issue.
“Head banging that causes injury is a sign that more professional help may be needed,” says Dr. Nasamran. “For example, if your baby or toddler hits himself on the head when upset or during a tantrum that causes bruising or bleeding, it may be helpful to talk to your pediatrician or a child psychologist to figure out why.”
Since headbanging is often associated as a precursor to sleep, monitor when your baby bonks their head. “If your child is otherwise healthy and only does this at night or at naptime, there is little concern as it is a common way for babies to fall asleep,” says Dr. Mantravadi. But if it’s during the day, it might be cause to call your pediatrician.
And if you have other concerns that coincide with the headbanging, it’s best to speak with a medical professional, Dr. Nasamran advises. “Head banging in and of itself is not a symptom of a mental health diagnosis or developmental concern, but if it occurs in conjunction with other behaviors or difficulties, it could be a sign of something more,” she explains.
“For example, children with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD sometimes engage in head banging.” You might want to consult with a child psychologist who specializes in child development and behavior for additional answers.
Although it can be upsetting to see, headbanging in children is quite common. Make sure to monitor your child, though, to ensure that it’s not excessive or could pose a potential danger. Hopefully your little headbanger outgrows this stage sooner rather than later — before you want to bang your own head out of frustration.
Experts:
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, MD, a pediatrician and founder of Ahimsa
Dr. Amy Nasamran, PhD, a licensed child psychologist and founder of Atlas Psychology
Dr. Fran Walfish, PhD, a family and relationship psychotherapist
This article was originally published on
Rocking and head-banging in a child
Head-banging often begins in the second half of the first year of life and peaks between 18 and 24 months of age.
Your child's head banging habit can last for months or even years, although most children outgrow it by age 3.
Possible causes for your baby to hit his head:
Self-comfort.
Strange as it may sound, most babies who behave this way do it to relax. They beat their heads rhythmically when they fall asleep, when they wake up in the middle of the night, or even when they sleep. Some swing on all fours. Developmental experts believe that rhythmic movement, such as rocking in a chair, can help your baby calm down. nine0003
Pain relief.
Your baby may also hit his head if he is in pain, such as from teething or an ear infection. Headbutting helps children feel better, perhaps by distracting them from mouth or ear discomfort.
Disappointment.
If your baby is banging his head during a tantrum, he is probably trying to express strong emotions. He has not yet learned how to adequately express his feelings in words, so he uses physical actions.
And again, he can comfort himself during this very stressful event. nine0003
Need for attention.
Constant head banging can also help your baby get attention. He understands that you can be careful when you see your child doing something dangerous. And since he likes it when you make a fuss about his behavior, he can keep headbanging to get the attention he wants.
The problem of development.
Headbanging can be linked to autism and other developmental disorders - but in most cases it's just one of many behavioral red flags. Situations where rocking and headbutting signal a serious problem are rare. nine0003
What can I do about it?
Pay attention to your baby, but not when he knocks.
Make sure your child gets plenty of positive attention from you when he's not hitting himself in the head. If he continues to bang his head to get your attention, try not to make it a big deal or you may reinforce the behavior.
Even if you can't completely ignore it, don't scold or punish him. He is too small to understand the situation, and your disapproval can only make things worse. nine0003
Protect your child from injury.
Check all screws and bolts and sharp corners on the crib or wherever he does it, once a month or more to make sure rocking won't damage anything. You can also place rubber casters on the crib legs and hang a soft cloth or blanket between the crib and the wall to reduce noise and minimize wear and tear on the walls and floors.
Do not put pillows or blankets in his crib to soften the environment, as this increases the risk of suffocation. If you want to use bumpers on your baby's crib to cushion his bumps, make sure they're thin, strong (not puffy) and securely tied to the crib railing so your little one can't stick his head between the bumper and the walls. nine0003
Try not to worry.
Your little one may get a bruise or two, but don't worry - rocking and headbutting is usually a "self-regulating" behaviour.
This means that your child is unlikely to hit his head hard enough to seriously injure himself. He knows his threshold of pain and most likely will stop, so as not to hurt himself.
Help develop your child's love of rhythm in other ways.
Your child clearly likes a good steady rhythm, so help him find other outlets for his love of rhythm. Experts often recommend dancing, marching, drumming, or clapping to the music. You can also try placing the metronome in your child's room to give them a steady beat. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise throughout the day to help him burn off some of the nervous energy that can power his headbutts.
Start a soothing sleep pattern.
If your child shakes and bangs his head to calm himself down after a busy day, try setting a relaxing mode. A warm bath, a warm stone on your lap, and a quiet story or song can help. You can spend a few minutes lightly stroking his back or other parts of his body. Soft music in his bedroom can also have a calming effect.
Call your doctor if your child's behavior is worrying you. nine0008
If your child hits his head hard during the day or keeps hitting his head even though he hurts himself, you may be concerned. Although rare, head-banging may be associated with autism and other developmental disorders that sometimes become apparent during preschool years.
Autistic children usually have less contact with others. They are often not interested in physical contact with their parents and seem to look anywhere but at them. If you notice that your child is losing physical abilities, speaking worse, or degrading other acquired skills; if he becomes more and more withdrawn; or if he is consistently retarded, check with his doctor. nine0003
12 reasons why breastfeeding is not just about milk
Breastfeeding is the right choice for expectant mothers and their babies.
Increasingly, at appointments, pediatricians on the day of a healthy child are faced with the problems of breastfeeding in new mothers.
This problem is very relevant, because at the moment in the world there is a "boom" of breastfeeding, and that's fine.
It is important to remember that the best food for a baby is and will always be mother's breast milk in the first year of life
Breastfeeding is a natural process that replaces pregnancy and childbirth. A newborn and his mother equally need breastfeeding.
12 reasons why breastfeeding is not just about milk.
1. Calm down. Babies have a need to suck. Even when the baby is full, the baby can still continue to breastfeed. Even if you are scared by the thought that your baby is “hanging on his chest” too much and for you this means that he is not full, then this is not so. The child has one of the most pronounced reflexes in the first weeks of life - the sucking reflex. And best of all, he satisfies him naturally, and not through pacifiers or bottles. nine0003
2. Analgesic effect. Attachment to the chest helps to remove pain from cutting teeth, ear pain and other similar phenomena.
Note that this is not always the case. If your child is restless on the chest, draws his legs during feeding, is naughty, hits his ears, then it is best to contact a specialist to examine the child.
3. Quenching thirst. Breast milk contains a lot of water, so the baby can take it if he wants to drink, but not eat.
It is important not to supplement your breastfeeding baby! If your personal physician or consultant claims otherwise, you should consider another candidate. Supplementation with water takes place to be bottle-fed. Don't force your child to drink water if he doesn't want to. nine0003
4. Natural medicine. If a child is sick, he may ask for a breast more often, because his body dictates to him so. Babies are less likely to get sick while breastfed. Most often, parents do not experience respiratory diseases in the first year of a child's life.
5. Relaxation. When the baby is overworked or frightened, the chest will help to relax and calm him down. First of all, here plays the role of contact between mother and child.
The baby has no one dearer and closer than the mother, and this will continue for the first years, until the child socializes and feels himself in society. Mom is like a whole world for him, and when a child feels warmth and mother's touch, he feels completely safe. At the time of breastfeeding, this is especially pronounced. nine0003
6. Sleeping pills. An interesting fact: at night, the level of melatonin, a natural sleeping pill for an infant, rises in breast milk. Perhaps that is why most babies fall asleep on their breasts with ease. And at the same time they continue to suck
7. Breast milk is easily digested. There is no danger of overfeeding the baby, you can breastfeed whenever you ask. When feeding with a mixture, you should always monitor the amount eaten per day.
8. Sucking regulates milk production. Every time a baby is breastfed, it shows the mother's body how much milk she needs. It is important not to skip breastfeeding on demand so that milk is produced in sufficient quantities.
The same applies to the quality and composition of milk. nine0003
9. Attachment. When a baby suckles, the mother's body releases the hormone oxytocin, also known as the love hormone. And the truth is, every time you feed a child, you fall in love with each other even more.
10. Everything is free! Why buy bottles, breast pumps, bags...? Breast milk is both healthy and free. No bottles and nipples, it's better to once again spend money on really necessary or pleasant things for the baby, or for yourself)
11. Breast milk from the breast is always at the ideal temperature. No need to freeze, defrost, heat…
13. You can get enough sleep while breastfeeding☺ Believe it or not, many breastfeeding mothers say they get enough sleep even though no one helps them with nighttime feedings. And the reason is that they don't have to get out of bed to cook and heat the formula. Breastfeeding mothers, and especially those who practice co-sleeping, breastfeed the baby that has not yet fully woken up, which allows both of them to fall asleep sooner.
