While head- banging is not known to produce serious injuries to the brain, it is nevertheless distressing to parents. The very act of striking his or her own head against a bed or mattress or on the floor indicates that a child is being aggressive against himself. The head- banging we are talking about is not the kind that is associated with autism or severe disturbances. It is the kind that occurs with many children that are developing normally. We have found that children often begin head- banging after some change in their usual routine.
Parents often report that head- banging starts after a change in caretaker or the environment.
In other situations, it may start when a child goes through a normal developmental change like learning to walk. Sometimes head-banging can be traced to the loss of a familiar person or even a familiar object. One baby started banging his head at night after a favorite music box was lost. Children become strongly attached to certain objects, sounds, and toys, especially if these things are part of their bedtime routines. It's always important to try to figure out what may be setting your child off.