How to Stop a Child from Hitting Themselves (Autism Support Guide)

To stop a child from hitting themselves, we first understand WHY the behavior happens, then teach safer ways to communicate needs, and support them with consistent, evidence-based strategies that reduce that behavior over time.

What Self-Hitting Is and Why It Occurs

When a child hits themselves, professionals call it self-injurious behavior (SIB). This includes hitting body parts, head banging, biting, or scratching.
In autism, SIB is more common than in children without developmental differences and may occur when a child is overwhelmed, cannot express needs, or tries to escape stressful situations.

Step 1: Identify Triggers and Patterns

Before stopping the behavior, caregivers should note when and where it happens. What happened right before the hitting? What happened after? This data helps professionals understand the function of the behavior — what the child gets or avoids by doing it.

Step 2: Teach Safer Communication

Many children hit themselves because they lack words or tools to communicate frustration, pain, or needs. Teaching functional communication (like simple signs, pictures, or a communication device) can reduce hitting by giving an alternate way to say what they want.

Step 3: Use Positive Behavior Strategies

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)-based strategies help children learn new skills. This can include:

• Reinforcing alternative behaviors that serve the same purpose but don’t harm themselves.
• Teaching self-regulation skills to manage overwhelm.
• Creating predictable routines and sensory-friendly environments that lower stress and reduce triggers.

Step 4: Safety and Support

Sometimes the first priority is physical safety. This does not mean punishment but adjusting the environment so the child can’t injure themselves (soft surfaces, supervision, calming activities) while long-term strategies are put in place.

Wrap-Up & Next Step

Knowing how to stop a child from hitting themselves starts with understanding the WHY behind the behavior and using proven strategies to replace it with safe communication and coping skills. 

At Apex ABA Therapy, we use functional behavior assessment and personalized intervention plans to reduce self-hitting and help your child thrive. Schedule a behavior consultation today to build a plan tailored to your child’s needs.

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Sources:

1. https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/behaviour/self-injurious-behaviour/all-audiences
2. https://www.thewatsoninstitute.org/watson-life-resources/situation/decreasing-self-injurious-behaviors/‍
3. https://autism.org/self-regulation-for-self-injury/