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Every baby is different, and if you’re a new parent, you find that some of the things that they do are quite bizarre. No matter how much you read about babies and want to be prepared when the time comes, you are left with a ton of surprises. Babies’ behaviors are hard to understand. They are not like kids who know how to talk and tell you what they need or want. With babies, some actions are cute, but some others are outright strange. As new parents, you might be worried about certain things that they do. Like hitting themselves. If you are worried about your baby hitting themselves, we’re here to tell you, fret not. Read this article to know more about this behavior in your baby.
What To Do When Babies Hit Themselves?
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While it is quite a common behavior among infants, you must know why your baby is hitting themselves. It might not be a big deal, and you may not have anything to worry about. But it could be that your baby is trying to communicate that there is a pain in some part of their body. Or they would want to be held or cuddled. When you pay attention to why and when they do it, you will have a better idea of dealing with it.
When Does It Stop?
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Babies tend to bang their head or hit themselves as a way to soothe themselves. These behaviors are often seen in children around the age of 6 to 9 months. In some cases, it even continues until the age of 5, but eventually, it goes away (1).
While it is nothing to worry about, when babies start to injure themselves with hitting, it could indicate developmental disorders. Autism, developmental delay, physiological and neurological disorders lead to injury (2). Therefore, it is crucial to keep a close watch on their behavior and assess if your baby needs medical attention or are just typical signs of growing up.
What Are The Most Common Reasons?
It might be quite disturbing to see your baby hitting themselves and it may worry you. But it’s not always something that you should break your head about. Babies might hit themselves just as a means of expressing themselves and their emotions. So here are some of the most common reasons why babies hit themselves:
1. Anger And Frustration
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Kids scream, yell, and throw tantrums when they are angry or frustrated. Adults get into fights, verbal or physical, to express their anger. But since babies cannot do either of these things, they hit themselves. They cannot verbally express themselves yet. Therefore, they express their anger by hitting themselves. While it might worry you, it could be one of the reasons for hitting themselves.
2. Pain-Relief
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Hitting can also point to pain in certain areas. For example, if your baby keeps hitting one side of their head, it most likely points to an ear infection, and it’s best to get them checked by the pediatrician. Sometimes, they even hit their chest or tummy to indicate that they are feeling uneasy. It could be an upset stomach, acid reflux, or simply gas.
3. Self-Soothing Technique
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It is a known fact that babies need a lot of attention. When your baby feels lonely or understimulated, they tend to hit themselves to soothe themselves. Babies hit themselves even when they are tired or overwhelmed.
4. Body Control
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Babies may also hit themselves as a way to exercise control over their bodies. When babies slap their tummy or thighs, it might just be because they can. It does not necessarily mean anything, and you have no reason to worry. Unless your baby is hurting themselves. If so, please consult your doctor and get your baby checked.
Several common factors like anger, frustration, and a lot of emotions may result in babies hitting themselves because they do not know any other way of expressing their emotions. Therefore, even though it might be troubling to watch your baby hit themselves, do not worry about it if it doesn’t cause any harm. However, if you’re worried about your baby, consult your doctor to be assured of your baby’s safety. We hope we helped you ease your worry with this article. Share it with your friends who are new parents to help them too.
