tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post4251156530888887671..comments2024-02-28T04:07:10.479-05:00Comments on Sleep Education Blog: My Child Bangs His Head in Bed as He SleepsAASMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14562426176820434247noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-46839616673772767732012-07-22T19:26:53.969-04:002012-07-22T19:26:53.969-04:00When I was young, and I don't really remeber w...When I was young, and I don't really remeber when it all started, I head-banged while I was very much asleep. I did this until I was in my early 20's and even did it in basic training to my other roommates dismay. I am now 56 and I have not head-banged in a long time and, quite frankly, I never remembered the act and sleept very good all the time but I was told that I either got up n my hands and knees and banged my head against the pillow or I would lay on my stomach and do it. My Dad would be awakened in the wee hours of the night and come in and yell at me to stop it. He thought I did it on purpose to get attention but this was not the case. I was totally asleep. Even when I got first married, I did the head banging ritual to my new wife's dismay. But, eventually, I grew out of it and had a normal life in the USAF and so much more. Personally, if the child is asleep and not hurting himself, then let him be. Yelling at him only startles him and both parent and child lose sleep. I guess I am just lucky Dad did not get the belt out and wack me on the ass for waking him up squeaking the bed!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07819880146442525324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-39052181366373788982012-07-15T22:29:20.622-04:002012-07-15T22:29:20.622-04:00I can't believe I'm not the only one. I...I can't believe I'm not the only one. I'm 18 and I still do this but I'm trying to break the habit. Its really soothing and makes me fall asleep but it freaks everybody out.lalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14259462660068853927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-23502363261485157072012-06-21T16:08:31.851-04:002012-06-21T16:08:31.851-04:00Im 16 and i dig the back of my head during my slee...Im 16 and i dig the back of my head during my sleep and i wake up with blood on my pillow and scabs forming. Should i be alarmed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-84208493159566141982012-06-01T22:20:43.567-04:002012-06-01T22:20:43.567-04:00I am 12 years old, almost thirteen and have been d...I am 12 years old, almost thirteen and have been doing this since, well, I can't remember, but my parents talk about me doing it since a baby and they thought I was posessed or something.I lay on my side in a way kind of as if someone turned a chair on its side and I was sitting in it. I ball up a blanket or pillow and put it between my knees with my hands around it (if I don't do this I can't roll my head, not sure why). Then I just roll my head back and forth untill I eventually get tired, stop, and doze off. I do it every night before I go to sleep for about 30 min.-1 hour. I use this rolling to give me time to just think and think about the past, present, hopes and imaginations for the near future. I don't know why I do, it just happens. Also in the car I will bang my head against the back of my seat to the beat of the music. Sometimes when there isn't music playing I will "bounce", as my parents call it, to whatever song is in my head. I don't "Bounce very much anymore, now that I think about it, Nobody but my family knows about it and nobody knows why I do it.Brendan Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03340607771821391977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-57492920262739103032012-05-12T00:40:00.880-04:002012-05-12T00:40:00.880-04:00I'm a 57 year old male who has bounced his hea...I'm a 57 year old male who has bounced his head and legs at night since early childhood. I've always wanted to control it, but I can't seem to. Even when I consciously try, I'm told I still do it when I doze off. Other than a few embarrassing incidents with it, and the fact that my wife gets annoyed with it, it's just something I've lived with. Its the subject of family stories as well. Rhythmic movement syndrome.....now I have a name for it.RMSboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10282110718444818548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-61178854600416152952012-05-05T11:11:19.205-04:002012-05-05T11:11:19.205-04:00I am now 55 and stopped rocking when I was 18/19 o...I am now 55 and stopped rocking when I was 18/19 or so because I began living with my boyfriend and would have been mortified if he had seen me rocking. I was told I began rocking on all fours as a baby - damaged the wall. I progressed to sideways rocking (don't know why). I remember the rocking was very soothing and helped me get to sleep, and if I woke up I would rock myself back to sleep again. I would get yelled at to stop, dumped out of bed, but never was there a trip to the doctor to try and figure it out. Basically, I just learned to think there was something wrong with me. When young, I often shared a bed with my sister and my rocking was very bothersome to her, so I evolved to foot banging when I couldn't rock. When I got a little older and discovered music, I would sit on the sofa and bang myself back and forth to the rythme. I have an idea of why I may have started in the first place. My father had a violent temper and there would have been "fights" going on at night or loud arguing. When one rocks, the sounds are muffled by the motion and for me it put me into a trance like state. Once the young child I was discovered that this technique worked to quiet the environment around me and help me relax then it became a coping mechanism and later a habit. I also remember my mother working nights and so I was left to look after my brothers and sisters - I was 11 years old and with a very active imagination. We lived in an old house in the city with doors that didn't really lock - we'd stick butter knives in the door jams. Anyway old houses creak at night and I would not hear the noises as much if I rocked myself to sleep. I have not rocked in years, no one else in my family was a rocker, foot banger or a head/body banger. I have 2 older children and neither of them rocked or wet their beds. So for me I think it all began as a coping mechanism against unwanted sounds. I am very happy I don't "need" to do this any more. I've tried just to see what it feels like now, but don't get anything out of it anymore. Anyone else share this story?next time maybehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08924879796747261049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-33426931861888160372012-03-29T18:07:50.548-04:002012-03-29T18:07:50.548-04:00i have 'head banged' for as long as i can ...i have 'head banged' for as long as i can remember, i have no problems with learning, or communication so its not autism, i do it in a rhythmic movement and hum, also if im listening to music in my bed i have to head bang, i do it for hours until i get tired and fall asleep and i have been told i do it while i am asleep, i am really worried as alot of reports say it stops at a young age, and i am nearly 14, is there anyway to stop as it is a really embarrassing thing to be doing at my age, please get back to me.ashleighwoodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12744383040050341953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-77011311550773668442012-03-29T08:24:29.377-04:002012-03-29T08:24:29.377-04:00Haha I think that's just because people know t...Haha I think that's just because people know to lie about it beyond age 5. I don't think I've told many people. Like above, I just googled this because I was bored and curious. There aren't many studies on this, its true. But that's the case for a lot of things in medicine. I wouldn't recommend pharmacotherapy in a young child, like the author did above- but that's a personal opinion. I do still have difficulty sleeping as an adult.billjones721https://www.blogger.com/profile/05464561454257543492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-39480564029636337102012-03-29T08:16:15.938-04:002012-03-29T08:16:15.938-04:00When I did it it as indeed very relaxing. Its har...When I did it it as indeed very relaxing. Its hard to explain now but it helped me to feel sleepy. It is a bit paradoxical, you would think that al that movement would preclude you from falling asleep, but for most my life it helped me fall asleep. While I still have trouble falling asleep (so I don't doubt there may be something there about him not sleeping well), I turned out normal and successful, so there is nothing wrong with your children. The body is a fantastically quirky thing. I would also stop if other people were in the room etc. as I got older and realized it was a strange habit. I finally had to break the habit when I got a roomate at 18, it was a tough habit to break, but it went away just fine.billjones721https://www.blogger.com/profile/05464561454257543492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-27029139938033636832012-03-29T08:06:23.649-04:002012-03-29T08:06:23.649-04:00Haha *I* did this until I was nearly 18, embarassi...Haha *I* did this until I was nearly 18, embarassingly enough. It started when I was really young, my parents tell me it used to freak out baby sitters when I was younger. While I can't say I'm 100% normal (that's a joke) I did graduate honors at a major university and sit at the top of my medical school class, so at least I didn't get any brain damage.billjones721https://www.blogger.com/profile/05464561454257543492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-91806703934285758462012-03-23T17:10:41.934-04:002012-03-23T17:10:41.934-04:00I am wondering if we should begin to search for th...I am wondering if we should begin to search for the cause. If all of us can post their thoughts, I am certain we will find a pattern. For example, our son a little premature and was vacuum extracted at birth. He also never crawled and took a while to walk. <br />We can rule out vaccinations because he had none.hbillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07722734579593299056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-56964602931707761492012-03-23T01:09:38.607-04:002012-03-23T01:09:38.607-04:00I banged my head into my pillow to fall asleep eve...I banged my head into my pillow to fall asleep every night until I was about 10. Then I did it less and less through my teens. By the time I went to college, I didn't do it anymore. However, I am 37 now, and still feel the urge to do it when I can't go to sleep. Unless your child is hurting himself, or shows other behavioral problems, do not worry. I am completely "normal." In fact, I had above average intelligence and social skills as a child. In fact, sometimes I wonder if that is why I needed to bang my head - to wind down my thoughts. I can tell parents that you should not make a big deal about this. Your child will still do it, but will feel shame if you are critical. My parents just ignored it. I knew it was not normal behavior on my own, and appreciated that they did not add to things by makIng me embarrassed.ChangingMyLife2012https://www.blogger.com/profile/03140633515197232990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-44073681246914127882012-02-26T03:30:19.058-05:002012-02-26T03:30:19.058-05:00Shock i do this too and ive been doing it from as ...Shock i do this too and ive been doing it from as long as i can remember its use to make my fam mad that i did it but now they dont care im 15 first it started with rocking my leg slowly back and forth then head rolling now the body movement and rapid leg shaking when i would stop i can feel the urge in my body to rock it my mom said i was hyper active which i believed because i always moved around but im glad i found thisRo21andhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11836019555877042362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-48009379785945368852012-02-07T22:55:58.657-05:002012-02-07T22:55:58.657-05:00Does anyone have a solution to this at all? We ha...Does anyone have a solution to this at all? We haven't slept for a year and a half because our son wakes up 4-5 times a night banging his head against the crib, it is so loud. I have tried leaving him alone, but he will do it for over an hour, and have bruises all over his forehead. Now we are doing the opposite, by going in there right away everytime he starts banging his head. That causes us to have no sleep at all. The only thing I can think of is as a last resort is to pad the heck out of the entire crib and just deal with the noise. We need a solution, it is so hard to function without any sleep ever.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16636930305892628907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-38153363836825582992012-01-17T03:13:14.012-05:002012-01-17T03:13:14.012-05:00Hi. I am certain I have the answer for some of you...Hi. I am certain I have the answer for some of you. I am your children....grown. I began rocking as an infant on knees to forearms, head into the pillow. Not sure at what age, but as a young child I switched to body rocking back and forth....while humming. Hummed "the Little Drummer Boy" for over 16 years (my mother has PTSD when hearing that song now, sorry mom). I bounced (bounce) my leg when seated, chew gum, chatter non-stop, and occasionally-rarely-still catch myself rocking back and forth when seated and alone, bored at home. I am 44, and was diagnosed with ADHD at 32. <br />My rocking, humming and general inability to be still, is due to the almost 'torture' I feel when faced with having to fall asleep.....with a racing mind....and restless body.<br />Think about it-in order to not have thought after interrupting thought preventing you from sleep, you hopefully reach a coping mechanism to prevent the thoughts to allow sleep. Rocking rhythmically, and humming in my case, satisfies the physical restlessness-without thought. And humming disengaged my brain from actively processing every thought, sound I hear, or physical sensation (position of the blanket, pillow, light, feeling an itch, hair move, temperature in the room).<br />I am NOT saying your children have ADHD. I am saying, however, that if these behaviors persist past the usual age they disappear......it is worth thinking about.Marlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17123504243769844301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-40002303857817469802012-01-08T23:01:13.654-05:002012-01-08T23:01:13.654-05:00Just a follow up to my above post for clarificatio...Just a follow up to my above post for clarification. I rocked on all fours as an infant. That changed as I got older to rocking my leg back and forth with my knee bent while I slept/sleep. (I switch legs too). I only do this when I sleep. From my post above it seemed as though I was still rocking on my hands and knees! Good luck all. I hope you find resolve.Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987807891615608986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-62889750436609948872012-01-04T16:02:19.759-05:002012-01-04T16:02:19.759-05:00I'm 39 yo Female with this disorder -though I ...I'm 39 yo Female with this disorder -though I didn't know it was one until now. I just looked this up because I was having a conversation with my husband about his snoring when he brought up "my stupid leg banging". He tells me that he just hooks my foot with his and pulls my leg straight to stop it. He says that works. So, with that conversation I googled it and ended up reading through these posts. So, my story... I've always done it. When I was an infant, I used to rock on all fours. I do it in my sleep then and now. I am not aware of doing it for the most part unless it has caused me to wake up. However it mostly doesn't. I don't know if this is related, but when I was a child I used to sit cross-legged on the couch and rock into the back of the couch when I watched TV. (I didn't have ADHD or any learning disabilities. I am now a Ph.D.). My brother used to bang his head on his pillow -so perhaps there is a genetic/familial component. I know he did this into his teen years -but I haven't asked him if he banged his head lately, lol. I have 2 other siblings that do not have RMD. My parents never made any note of it other than the family would joke occasionally about it when we had to share quarters, i.e., camping, hotels. It was just me. No one was upset -hence I didn't realize it was a disorder. So, I suppose that if households aren't getting sleep because of their child's RMD, address the physical elements that are keeping you up (just a thought). If the bed makes noise, put the mattress on the floor. Put extra padding in the bed to buffer the noise, etc. The condition itself doesn't seem to harm the child and they can't just stop it -so noise barriers for everyone else seems like the only option. (Sound buffer his/her bedroom). I suppose if that's not physically possible, ear plugs may help. Sorry. I apparently had it easy.Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987807891615608986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-80504584598578897472011-12-03T03:20:39.794-05:002011-12-03T03:20:39.794-05:00my son is now 10 years old & a big lad for his...my son is now 10 years old & a big lad for his age with special needs & is overweight so when he rocks we hear about it. His bedroom is right next to ours & often wakes us up. We are also at our wits end as like this article states it can last up to 15mins. It drives me and his dad mad & makes my heart race & body tense up. He body rolls with his elbows out to the side with his hands pressed tightly agaisnt his ears.<br /><br />I appreciate the fact that this article is outlining the point that its more common then we think, but is there anything WE can do to STOP IT!!!.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08772423607824787745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-43923923643347697532011-10-25T23:53:39.524-04:002011-10-25T23:53:39.524-04:00Wow ...I agree with another poster. Reading all of...Wow ...I agree with another poster. Reading all of these posts do not make me feel better. I have 4 boys and my 15 and 12 year old never had issues like this. My 6 year old has been doing it his whole life and has been diagnosed with sensory integration disorder. Then my 3 year old came along and listened to his brother rock and hum himself to sleep, or back and forth in the car seat, and banging the sofa so hard we had to make him move to the loveseat, and now he does it. He's louder than the 6 year old. <br /><br />I try to be understanding and patient but it keeps the house up and I can't even go to sleep. We have tried everything. I will tell him over and over to stop b/c he keeps the 6 year old awake, who has to get up for kindergarten. I just lose my patience sometimes and yell at him to stop. It's so frustrating for everyone. We can't have one night's worth of peace. Anyone sitting and saying their parents just had this "that's nice honey...keep rocking and banging your head" attitude...I'd like to know how they did that. We are really at our wits end. Another night with no sleep here. Not sure how everyone stays so positive about it.<br /><br />I wonder how his future relationships will be or it he will ever come out of it. The 6 year old's rocking too. I have not told his pediatrician yet but I plan too. I thought he would come out of it by now. He will be 4 years old in January.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18266223542267242812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-1978688648408867602011-10-18T12:44:24.108-04:002011-10-18T12:44:24.108-04:00To the concerned parents,
I'm 33 and was a he...To the concerned parents,<br /><br />I'm 33 and was a head banger until I was in my teens. I used to hum and sing while doing it. My parents like to tell this story about leaving me at daycare and doing it when I was a year or so old. Someone called my dad at work and asked if I had a mental disorder. He said "No, he just does that when he goes to sleep." I vividly remember doing it while singing the twelve days of Christmas on repeat around 7 or 8 years old. My parents never really seemed bothered by it. Or they didn't let on to me that they were anyway.<br /><br />It was sort of a conscious effort to stop over time. Mostly when I would spend the night at a friends house I would make myself go to sleep without doing it. Once or twice I would wake myself up doing subconsciously. Eventually I just stopped altogether. I remember my grandmother talking about a coworker she once had that said her child did it too so I've always kind of assumed it was a fairly common thing.<br /><br />I had not really given it much thought until recently I had my first child and I started wondering if maybe he would do it too. (Not that he is showing any signs yet, in fact he is a very good sleeper and has been good about self soothing since just a few weeks old.) It's nice to read this and get a little understanding for a symptom I experienced. It makes so much sense now too. Like others I like to rock, twist, or tap my foot while sitting in a chair as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-89888977769434542372011-10-03T15:18:55.738-04:002011-10-03T15:18:55.738-04:00SOLUTION: My daughter bangs her head since she was...SOLUTION: My daughter bangs her head since she was born. she's now 15 and still doing it in the car and when trying to go to sleep or when sitting bored and there is nothing to do. I was observing her for sometime and noticed that she never does it when she's focused on something. so for my daughter, she's fine when she falls asleep while watching TV in a dark room ( focused on something). Same thing in the car ( watch DVD in the back). hope this helps, and if you discover other ways of keeping the person focused before falling asleep or when they're bored then please share..dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08639296135595075533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-8397390355257977132011-06-21T03:22:14.140-04:002011-06-21T03:22:14.140-04:00i am rocking in the computer chair as we speak. so...i am rocking in the computer chair as we speak. so.... ya...unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02228722215448095003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-57226497789256122072011-06-21T00:58:07.000-04:002011-06-21T00:58:07.000-04:00ALEXIS SAYS:
well i am 12 almost 13 years old. and...ALEXIS SAYS:<br />well i am 12 almost 13 years old. and i bang my head in the car. not as often anymore. but every now and then. I dont bang my head to go to sleep. i bang my head when im sitting on the sofa. Is this bad? should i ask my parents to take me to a doctor? i have been looking up websites to find some information on head banging. but its all just about head banging for babies and to go to sleep.. im glade that im not the only one that bangs there head in the car sometimes. PLEASE give me some information. Am i autistic? Should i be worried? I bang my head when ever im mad, happy, or listen to music that makes me rock. and my parents yell at me cuz when i bang my head on the sofa. the neighbors can hear and it leaves a mark on the wall from the sofa rubbing against the wall. :D PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02228722215448095003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-86147851934014689392011-06-19T00:23:01.592-04:002011-06-19T00:23:01.592-04:00Im a 16 year old female and i still bang my head a...Im a 16 year old female and i still bang my head and hum to fall asleep. My parents told me I have been doing it since I was a few months old. When I was maybe around 4 or 5, my mom took me to the doctors to see if she could get some answers as to why I do it. The doctor simply stated that it was a comfort thing and I would grow out of it...Though I dont do it as often as I did when I was little, I still catch myslef doing it to help fall asleep faster and I also wake up in the middle of the night from "bouncing" (as my parents would call it)and the sounds of myslef humming; or sometimes I move my foot or leg...but I think thats because I have restless legs because of sports.hmm.i dont really know. But if I catch myself in the middle of the night, I stop and lay down and fall asleep for the rest of the night normally and silently. I do remember when I was little I would stop when I heard my parents' voices coming in to my room to stop me and/or when they would pat me on my back. Now, I think they've gotten so use to it they dont hear it anymore when I do it or im just more quiet about it..not sure lol. But for the parents who are worried about their kids not outgrowing it by the age of 3 or whatever, dont worry too much about...or just dont worry at all. If they out grow it- they out grow it..if not- then maybe someday. They cant help that they do it, and if they are really young talk to them about it because I was embarresed about it when I was little. I would be nervous to stay at my friends' houses; but I would warn them before we would sleep and they understood which was a relief. But I had come to find that if I stay over somewhere or my friends stay at my house - i dont do it at all. But remember not to pressure your child about stopping; it caused stress on me because I didnt know how to stop. My family had to learn not to do it with me because Im the first in the family to do it that anyone knows of. My entire family knows I do it and its a big joke which everyone teases me about. But I dont mind, its funny to hear the storries of how people first reacted when they saw me do it when I was little and the things I would do or say while doing it. Im really glad I found this article because before today Ive never really thought of looking this up...I kinda thought I was alone.lol. But though I've been doing this all my life, Im still a normal healthy teenager. I do hope that one day I do grow out of it completely, but im not too worried about it because there is bigger things to worry about. I hope my comment was helpful to the worried parents; it will be okay.promise. :)birdy22https://www.blogger.com/profile/16640254992714419618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865120441831183299.post-89627494666726121152011-05-25T23:49:21.637-04:002011-05-25T23:49:21.637-04:00My son is 2 years old. He has been banging his hea...My son is 2 years old. He has been banging his head since he has been old enoufgh to lift it. It never much bothered me because I could see that it was his way of puting himself to sleep. I found this sight mainly because I wanted to know if he will ever grow out of it because I can't imangine him doing this next to his wife one day. Lol. These articles say he will grow out of it around 3 years old but I don't know. If he is not in his bed, like if we are riding in the car or something he will bang his head against his carseat or bang his leg. My best friends dad is 40 and still bangs his head to go to sleep. I h ope my son grows out of it.irenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365903228080211481noreply@blogger.com