My little one is 9 months old. He has been rocking back and forth for a while now. I am concerned about this behavior, so I have that on my list of things to talk to the doctor about when he goes in for his well visit next week. But now he has realized that if he sits with his back against somthing and rocks he can hit his head. He does this repeatedly and several times a day. When he does it I move him so he can't bang his head.

Has anyone else had a child do something like this?

I posted a similar question not long ago. Here is a link to that post. I got some really good advice. HTH

http://www.christian-mommies.com/forumsv4/showthread.php?t=7763

It is pretty common. My oldest did it for a while.

It's always a autism "red flag" but our oldest and youngest both done it and are fine. Our middle done it also, and is autistic, but looking back, he was much more intense about it than the other two. I would maybe bring it up, but don't let it worry you too much.

It's always a autism "red flag"

I guess that is what I am worried about....our two year old is autistic....He didn't do the rocking thing at all though......our little one who is rocking is also has a couple of other behaviors that might be related to autism.....we want to catch it early and do early intervention if it is autism....but at the same time, I guess we don't want to jump the gun if it is nothing to worry about......

thank you for your responses......I am trying not to worry, but I guess that is what mommies do.....

I understand. When patrick was little, I noticed every little thing that he didn't do or that he done wrong, and things like that. I compared each boy to the other.

But remember, the mirror what they see until it gets bored for them. With Patrick, we knew the headbanging hurt, but we "let him do it" a few times. He realized he wasn't gettting attention, and that it hurt him and he stopped. He still lines things up, when he sees Bri do it, he still chants the same thing over and over, when Bri does it, you get the idea. It sounds cruel, but we really just made him "prove himself" so to speak. Since Bri doesn't feel pain the way most of us do, it didn't bother him to bang for nearly twenty minutes at a time. Patrick on the other hand, could feel the pain, and would stop after hitting his head once or twice!

I can understand your concerns, for a while my youngest was throwing himself on the floor and doing some awful tantruming, but like Kana said he seemed to realize that it hurt. I went back and forward too for a while, but I htink for M a lotof it was him copying big brother! neither of my boys have rocked. Actually E really only tip toe walked and flapped his hands on occassion! Obviously he still does too :)

Praying for you!!

My little guy did the head banging thing when he was between 9 months and 2 years. He would kneel on the floor and bang his head on the floor or on the wall. He seemed to have this constant bruise on his forehead. I sometimes wondered if it wasn't related to his teething, that his gums hurt so much and that was the only way he could release the frustration. He did eventually stop doing it and is fine today. Won't hurt to have it checked out though. At least it will put you at ease.

Daniel's been banging his head as well. He finds it funny, but also does it when he gets really frustrated.

Well, I talked to the doctor about it today....and he didn't seem too concerned until we started talking about some of the communication "delays" that we are noticing.....by this age he should be able to recognize his name, no, mommy, and daddy....but he is not doing any of this.....he babbles, but there is no meaning behind his babbles......so we are just going to keep observing what is going on for right now....and if we still have developmental concerns at 12 months we will go ahead and have Hayden evaluated.....

I wish there were some rhyme or reason to Hayden's rocking and head banging, but there is not....he just does it.....if he is not crawling or standing up, he is rocking.....He will be sitting on the floor playing with a toy rocking, he rocks when he is sitting in my lap, he rocks when he is eating......thankfully he doesn't bang the front of his head on things.....it is just the back of his head....his favorite is sitting against a wall and bumping back into it......I guess he is meeting some sort of sensory need.....I just wish I could figure out which one and try to find a more appropriate way to meet it.....I have tried swinging....but that doesn't do it......children are definitely a mystery.....