A 33-year-old female asked:

My son has head banging off his mattress since about 6 months to go to sleep. he's 17 mths. i didn't think anything of it just as a soothing technique..my daughter never did this though and people are telling me it's a sign of autism. true?

2 doctor answers3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Trager
Dentistry 56 years experience
Don't listen to other people. Consult your pediatrician.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Yvette Kratzberg
Pediatrics 26 years experience
Head banging can be a sign of autism. But anywhere from 5-15% of infants who do not have autism still engage in head banging as a self soothing technique. Talk to your Pediatrician for a full exam. Autistic kids will show other symptoms along with the Head Banging.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Sep 30, 2022

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