2 yr old not up 2 speed!

[JackzMumma]

:wave: Hello evey1,
I have a 2 yr old who seems to be having difficulties. He hits his head on the floor or wall when he's upset with some things, like when he gets told no. He doesn't do it all the time, just when he's tired, hungry or frustrated. He has stopped doing it as much, but now hits himself in the head/face with boths hands, then he cries coz it hurt, then expects a hug from you. I've only ever read that some kids do it to get to sleep, but he goes to sleep normally. I saw the MCHN last wk and she said he needs a speech pathologist. He only has about 30 words and he doesn't string any together. I'm worried :confused: that I haven't done enough with him over the last year to improve his speech, as my time has been taken up with my 4mth old, and now he's paying the price by getting frustrated and hurting himself. He understands heaps, but doesn't seem to be able to communicate back. Has anybody been to a speech pathologist? Do they help? And has anybody had any problems like these with their children hitting/hurting themselves deliberately? Being my 1st child I'm not sure what I should be doing to help him. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanx Heaps, Katie.:)

[V8]

Hey There, my DS is nearly 2 and has been doing that since he was little. He still bangs his head on things or hits himself in the face out of frustration and chucking a tantrum, he seems to be able to communicat pretty well though and can speak a lot but otherwise i have no advice though sorry. :(

[JackzMumma]

Hello,
It feels a tiny bit better to know I'm not alone, because I have friends with boys 4-6 mths younger and they aren't having this trouble, I know he'll grow out of it, since he's starting to do it less, but it just hurts to see him do it though.:crying:

[lachys_mama]

my ds pulls his hair and bites himself if that makes you feel any better. as for the speech pathologist thing, they can help, my best friends brother is one and the difference in her son going to him was amazing!

[Hokey Pokey]

My little sister did this... so did our cousin and it can be related to a behavioural disorder or it can just be nothing more than attention seeking or expressing themselves.

[Missy75]

Yes I agree that head banging seems to be pretty common 2 year old behaviour.

My son sees a speech pathologist and she is wonderful. They offer great tips and advice and ours is a great support to me.

I'm no expert, but I thought 30 words sounded pretty normal for a 2 year old. In any case, the speechy will be the best person to advise you and hopefully put your mind at ease.

Don't feel guilty, we all just assume that these things fall into place and happen when they should. It's not too late to get help if he needs it.

[Mamaduke]

I would go and see the speech pathologist, if for nothing else but to rule things out.
Can you remember your response when he first did the head bang or the hitting?
I bet it was to drop whatever it was you were doing and run to him, pick him up and console him...that's where he got you. From then on he knew if he was frustrated etc and wanted you the easiest and quickest way to get Mum's attention was to head bang or hit (I'm tipping he's going with the hitting now because he can control the severity whereas hitting his head on the floor, depending on the what type of floor, could really hurt him...and that's not what he wants to do trust me!)
When Lucas was doing this (and being the 2nd child he wasn't getting away with it) I would just say casually "Do it again Lucas" - it only took him a couple of times to realise that it wasn't get him anywhere (except hurt!) and he stopped alltogether.
We don't give these 2 year olds enough credit...they have us so worked out it's sometimes scary!
Good luck.

[JackzMumma]

Thanx to every1 who replied to my probs. It's great to know that I'm not alone in this. I will take him to the speech pathologist, I would love to know what they think. As for ignoring him when he hits his head and then expects a hug, I can deny myself that hug, it's not him it's for me!! How hopeless am I??