Toddler self-harm during tantrum
I wanted to see if any other moms experience a toddler who will get upset and during a tantrum, hit their head on purpose? Not too hard, but will purposefully cause a "boo boo" to immediately seek love/kiss for after and then it's over? If so, what techniques did you use to get them to stop the "self harm" part when they get mad or upset. The actions are not repetitive or consistent with causing actual hurtful pain. It's a series of gets upset, flings self to the ground, purposefully bumps head on ground or wall, then cries for a kiss or hug, then it's over and moves on with their day. But I'd prefer to get the head hits to stop and nothing I've tried works.
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Thank you! He is not on the spectrum. I have tried both of those techniques and neither have worked.... we've ignored, stopped the actions (best we can) before they start or stopped mid action, we've tried telling him "please don't hurt "his name".. I do believe he does it for a reaction. He only has tantrums when he is being told no he can't have or do something. We even tried changing our language to no longer say "no" to avoid a tantrum. No luck. He is also very lovable and affectionate otherwise. I just haven't been able to pin down something that works to stop the action. His tantrums are usually quick too, lasting a minute or less. I appreciate any help
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Just asking the child isn’t on a spectrum are they?..It can also be an attention thing as well as you might be reinforcing the behavior unknowingly because you instantly give the reaction there expecting might have to take a different approach as well as. The child may also have turned this into something that they’ve set expectation to caused these actions so it results in the same result afterwards and they end up getting what it is they want. -I would give zero reaction -I would even outweigh the tantrum? If so, of course, only if they aren’t harming themselves or even interject before it gets to that point of headbanging -Even present emotion cards or a physical chart the child can see describing what a calm body is in nice hands or even listening Trust me, there are a ton of things you can actually try. I hope something I said was helpful. - I am a behavioral therapist. I do work with children on a spectrum as well. ♥️