Help! - West Paris,ME

This is not uncommon. Here is a website that will help:
http://www.kidsdr.com/daily-dose/why-kids-bang-their-heads

Yep, my two year old used to do the same thing. Haven't you ever been so mad you want to hit something? Same thing. It's a phase. Mine finally hit her head hard enough she decided it wasn't worth it. However, in the mean time, try telling him to stop (firmly) then get his attention on something else. Luckily at this age they are pretty easy to distract.

You could always try telling him, if he acts like that to go to his room & do it.
Or you could do time-outs for that kind of behavior.
IT really all depends on your son.
But it sounds like he figured you out ;)
He now knows is he acts this way he will get an effect out of you. So he continues to do it.

You tell him to stop or such & such will happen.
Or tell him, "I understand you are mad. you have a right to be mad, Why don't you go into your room and calm down"

I do that with my son, who is about 2 1/2, and he will yell "no mommy" as he is running into his room. He goes in, screams for a lil bit, then comes out and says "i'm all better mommy"

Distract him and get him involved in something else that he might like. If not, put him in a place where he won't hurt himself...Pack n' play, crib etc..and let him have his tantrum. This behavior is very normal and will come and go with their development. The key is making sure he is in a safe place to have his tantrum. If you give into his demands the behavior will continue. Kids are smart and will take every opportunity to manipulate to have their way.

You need to help him find a better way to get what he wants. Pointing or if he has any words using them. Try avoiding these episodes by anticipating (when possible) and moving the things he wants but can't have out of his sight before he wants them. If he does do something he shouldn't distract him with something fun or playful. Being a toddler without language must be incredibly frustrating and that is what he is expressing. When I want something and am frustrated, I do NOT want to be ignored, I want the thing, commiseration or distraction with something better. And I am a grown up.

That's not a common behavior and it is something you should talk with the pediatrician about. How is his language development? Is he starting to express himself verbally or with gestures? Very often when children struggle to verbalize, they engage in these behaviors to express their frustration.

Either way, call the doctor and see what he/she thinks!

Try using sign language with him. Get a 'baby signs' book, or look up some common words/things he wants & needs and put them on flashcards for yourself and teach him. Be consistant and use them all the time! Speak the word while you sign it. It is really easy to do. All three of mine learned the basics: more, all done, milk, water, juice, thank you, please, yes, no, mommy, daddy, etc...
To start, pick 2 of them and just work for a week on those, then add 2 more. Before long your little guy will be using them too.

American Sign Language has a website and a section for ASL for Babies:
http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi

Once he can start communicating with you he will be less frustrated and probably not feel like he has to bang his head.

I'm sorry I don't have any advice but I take care of a 1 year old boy and he does the same thing! I told mom yesterday she might need to send him in a helmet! LOL It is scary when they do it and I hope this is a short faze. I'm looking forward to all the answers you get and know you are not alone and this is not uncommon! Good luck

My son used to do that - usually banged his head against the wall. I just put him in his crib so he would be safe (and I told him so). Then I left the room. If necessary, I pulled the crib away from the wall so he couldn't bang his head there. If we were out, I left the store I was in (or someone else's house, whatever) and put him in the car seat so he would be safe. And I stood outside the car where I couldn't talk to him or hear his tantrum but could be sure he was watched. He got bored very very quickly and learned, without me saying much, that this sort of tantrum got him nowhere. It's very hard to do - to leave your grocery cart in the middle of the store when he's upset that he can't have that balloon or this toy, or to walk out of a playdate, or to turn off what's on the stove and scoop him up to march off to his room. But it works. Be extremely consistent and don't use a whole lot of words - whatever you use, be consistent and simple. It's a really annoying phase but it will end - faster if you work at it. You can try to give him some words to use when he is frustrated - often kids use their bodies when their vocabularies fail them. Validate his feelings but not his head-butting.

My son used to do that. It was because of frustration. We worked with him on baby sign language, and gave him words to describe his emotions. However, he was a late talker, so he did this for about 8 months or so. Once he started talking, though, it got much better, because then he could express what he wanted more clearly.

Move him to a safe place where he can't get hurt, and try not to react too much (because if you do, then they will start doing for the reaction, as well as a way of expressing their frustration/anger).

My daughter used to do that. I had a playpen set up in a spare room and I put her in there until she stopped. I didn't want to use her crib for discipline and she was safe in the playpen.

My son often did this. If he's waiting for you to do something for him, do it (i.ei his food, etc). Otherwise, simply distract him. Pick him up and move him if necessary. Once he has calmed down, talk to him about it. Even if his communication is not very vocal right now, it's not too early to show him you are open to listening. And to tell him he shouldn't bang his head because he'll hurt himself. Simply add that you don't want him to do that because you love him. He just needs to know you are there for him.
By the way, my son is now four and is fine.
Good luck.

It's a "good" habit from HIS perspective b/c he's eventually getting what he wants! Bang head=get my way!
If he does NOT get what he wants a time or two, he'll figure out that it won't work anymore. Good luck!