Self harm during tantrums is quite common. Head banging, biting- even drawing blood- kicking and punching the floor and furniture are all seen in perfectly normal toddlers. The best way to deal with self harming tantrums is to put on a poker face and body (so you show no emotion, worry or concern in your face or your posture) pick up your son and hold him firmly against your chest so he cannot easily move. Either look him in they eye without showing emotion or turn your face away. Hold on tight until he calms down and then welcome back your darling boy with a kiss and a hug. i.e you ignore the tantrum, make it impossible to self harm and reward him for stopping. Another alternative is to pick him up (stoney face and stance ofcourse) and put him somewhere soft so he cannot hurt himself and leave. Children rarely have tantrums when we are not their to watch. Nor do children have tantrums with those they do not love best in the world.
Dorothy Einon
Dorothy Einon

Help!! My son has just turned one and he has started having tantrums when he can't get his own way, I could cope with them except that he bangs his head on the floor, or hits his head with his fists. I do talk to him to calm him down and put my hand in the way so he is headbutting my palm and not the floor but I'm worried that he'll really hurt himself