13 Months, Hits Herself

There are a couple of reason why your daughter may be doing this.

Possible Reason #1: When she does it, she gets your attention and possibly that has become some kind of game for her. If that's the case then, if you ignore the behavior, it will evenutally go away.

Possible Reason #2: She is experiencing some frustration and that's how she is dealing with it right now. A likely source of frustration may be that she needs something but is not able to tell you because her ability to communicate are not that well developed yet. If that's the case, you will need to pay attention too see what's causing her frustration and "give her the words" to say to help her get her needs met.

Possible Reason #3: This is most likely not the case with your daughter but there are children who have a sensory processing disorder (SPD). Some of those kids have a sluggish mind and they sometimes hit their head with their hands or against the wall to get themselves to wake up. The odds of this being a problem are slight but I thought I would put it out there just in case.

my daughter does it and is 18 months old i think it started around then too. we tap the hand when she does something wrong so she then will grab her own arm and slap her hand. she also when she gets mad hits her face and yells and screams. i see it as frustration. she will do it both when shes in trouble and before we even get after her. i wouldnt worry too much about it but if your concerned theres no real harm to getting her checked out. good luck

This is normal. My now 4 year old did this at that age and it's a phase some kids go through. True, it could be something else and if it gets worse or there are other symptoms of a more serious issue, be aware of it and follow up. For this "normal" phase, don't pay too much attention to it because then it becomes a game or a way to communicate with you. I think it's great that you say, "Love Lola"... in addition I would teach her how to get her frustration out in other ways. When she hits herself, tell her "Love Lola and show her how to hug herself or pat herself gently, then show her that she can hit a pillow when she's mad if she wants. So often parents (including myself but I'm learning) tend to just tell kids "no" when they do something wrong and give a consequence (age appropriate) which is good too, but don't teach them alternative ways to deal with whatever is bothering them. Kids this young can't express their feelings with words so it's important to teach them how to deal with their feelings in positive healthy ways. Talk to your Pediatrician too because they will reassure you that it's normal! :)K.

Here are some links for information:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/ChildBehavior/messages/3359...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2008061120315...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2007062102341...
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/worries/hitting.html
http://boards.webmd.com/webx?THDX@@.89a655ea!thdchild=.89...
http://www.google.com/search?q=1+year+old+hits+herself&am...

Hope this helps. I know some toddlers that age even hit their heads on things. Good luck,
Susan

My two year old started doing this a few weeks ago...so, disturbing to watch but, I think that's the thing you can't just watch. Our kids are learning who they are in our lives, and how to express what they want for themselves. We saw my son's doctor today and I forgot to ask the question, so I called and talked to his nurse and she explained that at any age once communication begins kids often get so full of anxiety over not being able to get what they want using 'their words' that they take it out on themselves. Since, my son was clear of ear infections and isn't teething right now, she suggested a variant on what some Mom's have arleady suggested.

As soon as, the action occurs sit down with you little one and while holding their hands gently explain how much you love them and not to hit themselves because we don't understand each other. Pay careful attention to anything that may be occuring at the time and try to make active efforts to communicate your child's needs in simple terms and help her through it...

The nurse, said it can go on for a while before you pin point the issue, but to be consistent with the love and affection.

Good luck and I think you've gotten a pretty good set of advice so far!

Hi Sarah,

I think it is normal for some children. My daughter started to doing the same thing at around the same age. She is 2 yrs. now and doesn't do it anymore, but it seems like she did it for a very long time. I would just ignore my daughter or I would make a game out of it. Do you remember the old V-8 commercials? I would tap her on the head and say POP! She thought it was funny at first, then she decided she didn't like the game anymore and that's basically when she quit.
Good Luck!