My ds has discovered the art of tantrums. My big concern is that he does it differently than most. He throw himself BACKWARDS onto the floor and the back of his head smacks the floor with an ugly thud, and occasionally the wall or the desk depending on where he starts at. He doesn't get bruises on the outside when he hits the floor but should i be worried about brain damage like with shaken baby syndrome? I don't mind the tantrum stage usually, but i am very concerned with him. Anyone have a child that does this or has done it? Should i call the dr and make an appt even though nothing is wrong so far that i know of.

By Emily7 on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 02:18 pm:

My son bangs his head even when he is not throwing a tantrum. It amazes me that he hasn't knocked himself out yet! He will spin around & around & then fall down. I have worried about brain damage too.

By Pamt on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 02:20 pm:

I have several kids that I see for therapy that throw these kinds of tantrums. First of all, are you pretty good at predicting when he will throw a tantrum. For my speech therapy kids I have learned their "tantrum triggers" and can be ready. I have one little girl that tantrums any time I switch from one activity to another. Another little boy (he's autistic) tantrums when we sing or do fingerplays. In preparation if we are sitting on the floor I either have them in my lap or have one of my legs behind them with my knee bent, so they'll just hit my leg and not the floor. If we are sitting at the table then I have a leg wrapped around their chair leg. Once the tantrum starts I then gently lay them on the ground, let them have at it, and ignore (while obviously keeping an eye on them for safety). I don't think it warrants a doctor's appt and kids' heads are pretty tough, but he could really hurt his head, esp if he throws himself from higher up. Just try to catch him at the beginning and put him on the floor.

By Ladypeacek on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 02:45 pm:

Well his tantrums are caused by ice cream right now, thats the only thing he gets mad about, he wants them all day long, lol! The thing is when you tell him no he runs across the room and does it. I have caught him a few times but normally its dh that gets the brunt of it for some reason. He doesn't start it until evening lately. I guess i will keep watching...are there any signs i should watch for in case he did hurt himself?

By Coopaveryben on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 04:18 pm:

My son does the same thing, I cringe to say no because I know what is coming. But if you could catch his arm or catch him and just lay him on his stomach and then you can proceed to ignore him. Does Dad respond different than you? Also, He is probably just sleepy in the evening...don't they all get this way when you are trying to fix dinner? I hate the 6 o'clock hour, I swear my husband is going to find me in the corner rocking back and forth in a fetal position just mumbling their names.

It is so strange this question came up, I had to take my middle to the ER last night because he fell and hit his head. The reason I took him was because he started screaming of a headache about 15 minutes after it happened, he screamed for about 45 minutes and I called the doctor. They said the rule of thumb is if they cry over 20 minutes because of the pain. He also fell asleep on the way to the hospital, it is less than a mile away so that bothered me and then when we get to the ER he threw up. Fortunately nothing was wrong, they ran a CT scan on him.....I am dreading the bill from that. Signs of a hurt head include sleepiness or difficulty in waking up(of course it seems they only hurt they heads when they are tired so this one is hard to judge), throwing up, bleading through the ear or nose, incoherent-unable to respond to questions they would normally be able to answer, or staggering.

It takes a lot for them to really hurt there heads, bumping heads seems to be a family trait in my house.

By Ladypeacek on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 12:47 am:

well, dad is a big pushover, he tends to give in which i really get onto him about. He never seems to cry out of pain from this, i swear the boy is gonna be a stunt man when he is older cuz he sure can take a lickin from all his stunts and he is only 22 months. I am trying to get dh to ignore him better so that it will stop in the evenings as well. He just knows it doesn't work on mom.

Oh and i know what you mean about being in the corner rocking...i have felt that way alot lately with both kids all day driving me insane!

By Feona on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 06:22 am:

I wouldn't keep ice cream in the house, if he gets so upset. I would give him ice cream out of the house if he doesn't get upset, else I wouldn't give him ice cream.


Or I would tell him the next time( or soon after) he has a tantrum about ice cream there will be no more ice cream in the house.

If you want ice cream in the house, I would ask him in a week or two if he can not have tantrums then you will get alitte ice cream for the house.

By Children03 on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 09:00 am:

Yes, my 15 month old dd will get mad when she doesn't get her way and throw her head backwards and hit whatever it is behind her, the hard floor, wall, or table. She has been doing this since she was about 7 months old. I would be holding her and she would just throw her head back and hit the wall. Ughh, it is scary. I have just gotten to where I take my little switch and pop her on the back of the thighs as soon as she starts the whining that she does right before throwing herself back on the floor and she immediately stops. I am worried that she will really hurt her head doing this. My first two children would cry, but they NEVER got on the floor and pitched a tantrum like my youngest, so it really shocks me. I am trying to teach her that her fits are not allowed and she is finally starting to come around. The funny thing is she will still cry, get upset, and then she will sit down on the floor, look behind her and then slowly lay down and then start getting upset. She has started to realize that it hurts when she throws her head back like that.

By Mommierenee on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 03:01 pm:

I agree with Feona! No more ice cream! No more whatever he throws himself on the floor from! I would tell him "I love you and I don't want you hurt & if you're going to hurt yourself over... then we won't have it anymore". It will work if you're stronger willed about it than he is!

By Vicki on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 06:40 pm:

Well, part of your problem is that dad gives in!! I agree NO more ice cream in the house and if it ever does get back in the house, you and dad need to BOTH decide on the rules for it and stick to them!! Giving in just once can cause you weeks for problems!!

By Coopaveryben on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 - 09:11 pm:

If your baby is like mine it could be over anything mundane. I could kiss him if he is in the wrong mood and that will provoke him to throw a tantrum.