Jyssa

He's only 23mths old, but I catch him sitting there on the floor, pricking himself with a drawing pin, or pinching himself repetitively, and saying "ow" or making an "ooh" noise every time he does it...he pinches really hard, too! He bites other children, and hits them, and pinches and smacks adults and children.

Someone laughingly asked if he was into SM...but jokes aside, I am concerned about his relationship with pain. He doesn't avoid it - he even seeks it at his own hands.

Any ideas, anyone???

musicmom

sanjay

I was very pain insensitive when I was young (3 years and below) and it was a phase that I outgrew as soon as I realized that I wasn't indestructible. I agree with musicmom that he needs to separate his own relationship with pain from what he inflicts on others.

There is a rare condition called 'congenital pain indifference' where the person perceives the stimulus but does not have an appropriate response to it. It sounds like your son perceives some sensation, but perhaps not the right one? This might be an angle to look into as well.

Teresa

My almost 18 year old did this around that same age. Just to herself, though, not to others. She grew out of it in a pretty short time....just don't make a big issue out of what he is doing to himself, or you could give him the wrong idea, and make it last longer. I would DEFINITELY work on letting him know that what he's doing to others is wrong, though.

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SpitNCobra13

It sounds a little odd, but kids experiment with a lot of different things. Its normal!

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yulia

volatile

He's into stimulation, like everyone else at that age. It's manifesting a little differently than you might think, but it should clear up. If it's freaking you out you should make sure at least that he knows pinching others is bad, and that he shouldn't do it with anything that could REALLY hurt (i.e. hand on stove)

Gitti

I have to agree with those who said it's a stage he is going through.
It is probably important right now not to punish him when he bites or smacks but rather divert his attention. And if it does happen that he bites another child, take him away without much of a fuss (quietly appologize to the mom).

My grandson went through that and it lasted about 3 months then he stopped. We don't know what makes a child do that nor what makes him stop but if not too much fuss is made about it, he has the best chance of simply getting past that stage.