does my 1 year old son have a problem?

Question

He squeels like a banchee constantly its piercing and goes right thru me,
he has started going ridgid and holding his breath and shaking when something doesnt go his way or something gets the better of him
and he has started headbutting the wall. he just stands on the sofa banging his head on the wall for no reason. He finds the highest things and climbs up on them and cant sit still for 2 seconds.
Doesnt respond when you talk to him, it like he just blanking me
It really worrying me, people say oh he's a right boy, but im not sure

apart from the above he can be loving at times but only when he wants to, he has just started to say a few words and has always been on target for his milestones altho he isnt very good with speech

as for the change the diet remark, he eats only fresh food as he is allergic to milk and soya and therefor can only have foods i have made for him and doesnt have sweets

Answer 1

If he's been reaching his milestones up till now things may well be fine with him - other than he's getting more aware of his ability to protest and trying to get his own way and pushing your patience to its limits! Speech as this age is a hit or miss as it's unique to every child how they develop.
You have to take charge and let him know you're the boss and you mean business! There's a huge amount he has still to learn but he has learnt how to push the right buttons with you. My middle son used to bang his head off the ground in temper and it's done him no harm no matter how I used to panic first seeing and hearing it. I learnt quickly to ignore him and it soon stopped. He was 2. You've a faster learner!
Time out will work with a baby, so have a safe place you can put him - the cot will be good - and let him simmer for a minute or two every time he throws a wobbler. Spend as much time as you can in the house for about a week so you always have that same place to put him. I didn't always like to use the cot beause I didn't want his place of rest to become attached to a place of punishment either, but it's a good place for that age. He will soon learn that if you do this every time while not losing your own temper with him that he can't get the better of you. Let him know it's not on with whatever words you know he'll understand and repeat your procedure without fail and he'll cotton on. Give him a cuddle after and say something like let's go and be good and enjoy a story. Discipline has to be part of life and the best discipline is when you child still knows that they're loved in it all.
Breath holding is another temper technique. Nothing better to get you worked up!
Scream back at him the next time - see how he likes it!(Probably get a few thumbs down for that!)
How occupied is he? Do you play with him a lot? Is there a lot of competition in his life? Try to set aside time when you can sit quietly with him and play or read with him.Limit the number of toys he can play with at one time. If he has too much lying around then he'll not know what to play with. The less that is out then the more he can concentrate on one thing and then replace with another couple of toys that will take his attention. Even if it's an old toy - if he hasn't seen it for a couple of weeks it'll be like an exciting new toy to him.
Get into a routine with him for feeding and bedtime so he's rested and not overtired. That too can help a lot with behaviour as a child, no matter what age, does need the discipline of routine as well.
As for autism - this doesn't usually manifest itself this early so don't be panicked into worrying about that. Try to settle his bahaviour with constant behaviour from the adults in his life. Anyone else that he has contact with - get them to agree to what is and isn't acceptable so he learns that it's not just you but everyone that won't stand for it and he can't play up. I have no qualms with any of my family or friends bringing my children into line if they need it.
It sounds drastic but he is going to be learing new things quickly and behaviour has to part of that.

And climbing is normal!

Answer 2

Sometimes the terrible twos start at one. Time to step into gear. Your son is learning his voice and how it sounds in different locations. You may think he's crazy, but its just part of his growing experience. You may be able to redirect his attention by making up a song that has his name in it and sing it to him every time he starts the squeeling. As for the ridgid, holding his breath scene....ignore it. If you react, he know he's got the power over you. Do something like fake a yawn and a big arm stretch, then walk over to the frig and crab a drink, pick up a book or magazine, etc. Once he see's that behavior is not working, it will fade away. As for the headbutting...I'd put a stop to that quick. Be stern and consistent. Move him to another location that has different activities. Banging on pots and pans work best. Building blocks that only come out when he bangs his head on the wall. After a couple of days of doing this, bring out the pots, pans and building blocks before he starts that behavior. Hopefully with enough repetition, he'll learn that fun stuff comes without the need to get your attention by banging his head against the wall.

Answer 3

Go to an ENT. Fluid in the ears can make things sound muffled, delay speech, and even hurt enough to cause head banging.

If his ears and hearing check out perfect I would call early intervention, and request a full evaluation. I read that a few people already mentioned autism, but the only behaviors you're describing are hyperactivity, screeching and ignoring. Yes autism fits that, but so does so much more.

My son used to screech and it turned out that the screeching (for him) would pop his ears and he could hear "normally" for a few moments.

As far as him holding his breath; Ignore that totally. If he holds it long enough, he'll pass out...And start breathing again. Just walk over him, and ignore him. And expect it to get worse before he stops doing it, all behaviors escalate then go away, but only if you can get past that escalating part.

Answer 4

It does sound concerning. Do you have him on a schedule or routine? Sometimes children need parents to be consistent on a daily basis this is with his feedings, snacks, meals, activities naps & bedtime. Make it to where its always at the same time each day. Im not saying you are not.. but if you dont have a daily routine for the day you might can try and get him started on one. This way he will will start expecting what happens next without feeling overwhemled like hes not in control of the situation which makes him act uncontrollably. I would definately share your concern with his pedriatician. I hope everything works out well for you and your little one.

Answer 5

Boys often take longer to develop speech than girls. Just a thought but have you thought about his diet? If not already avoid foods with additives. Difficult when you are exhuasted but try keeping a diary of when he is worst - you may be able to make a connection this way. Or else set the cam corder up in the corner of a room (if you have one). You may pick up on something that is frustrasting him.
Try to develop a routine that you try and keep to - make sure you offer both stimulation and times to rest.
I would ask your health visitor for further advice.

Answer 6

I have experienced some of these things myself and have heard of and seen them from friends children. Without seeing I wouldnt say for definate because again it a mixture of both normal and not. I know children who kick scream and headbutt things if it not going their way, and it just for attention, ignore it and they stop. Wash up, turn the tv up, go into the garden. I also know of children who have done the same, sometimes worse, but have got problems, the parents are partly to blame, lack of discipline, but they do have behavioural problems too, ie ADHD. Try a few things out then if you still worried get it checked. Sort it asap before he gets older, tantrums look so much worse from a toddler and school child. Good Luck

Answer 7

What you are describing is falure to communicate and he is getting frustrated what you don't understand. I would recommend talking with you peds dr about it...then ask for referals to speech therapy, occupational therapy, and I would also get him into a play group. Being with children his age can help with the temper tantrums. When he does have these temper tantrums don't respond to them. I know that is easier said than done I have an 18 month old who throws herself also. But if you don't respond then he isn't getting any reenforcement positive or negative. Just make sure that he is safe. If he starts banging his head then you need to intervine and stop the behavior. Try times outs, sitting in the corner. I hope that you get the answers that you need. I would start with your peds dr and ask for referals. At worst case it could be autism...but I wouldn't just let them give that diagnosis with out proper testing.

Good luck

Answer 8

Hello there

It would sound to me that his hearing may need to be tested. Banging of head is usually from fustration and going by that he blanks you maybe hes not picking up tones of your voice?

meaning it has no pitch to it sound muffled hence why he may can make a loud noise himself but he does that and his hearing is not as it should be then it would be scary to him to hear himself.

If this is not the case then you may just have a wounderful son who has the potential to be very bright for he maybe bored even at 1 year of age a good routine and some play stimulating things to do for him for example place him in a high chair tape paper to the table of it and put paint on there for him to have a good mess around. It does sound messy but thats have the fun of it bright colours and texture are always good too like a soft book to touch and feel.

Answer 9

All those things put together sure seem alarming. But in fact, they are all very normal. Some kids (my son included) take to screaming at that age, just to hear their voice. Not a fun phase! A lot of toddlers turn to hitting themselves or holding their breath as a way of getting their way (since they’re not allowed to hit others). And I’ve heard of hand-banging both as a tantrum technique and as an odd way of soothing themselves.

As for not being able to sit still and ignoring you – those are the hallmarks of toddlerhood! Remember that your son is going through a rough time – he is becoming aware of his limitations in terms of speech and ability to do things for himself and it is frustrating for him!

I would mention these things to your pediatrician (and if you truly sense something “wrong” don’t hesitate to make an appointment, regardless of what anyone on Yahoo thinks).

Hang in there!

Answer 10

Whenever you feel something is weird call your Dr but this sounds perfectly normal. Both my does do most of these things. When I asked out OT about the head banging she said he was probably trying to create a beat. Now I play music all the time and he loves it.
The squeeling drives me nuts but she said its a phase and if I don't reward him for it hopefully it will go away soon.