odd question, hope to get answers about hair pulling

pharmer78

Hello all!  My daughter (14 months) has a habit of grabbing a fistfull of her hair and ripping it out then sucking on it when she's tired or bored.  I've tried ignoring it, I've tried stopping her, I've tried putting her hair in pigtails but nothing seems to work.  Anyone else have a child with this behavior?   I made the mistake of googling this and read everything from "normal soothing mechanism which they grow out of" to "early stages of trichillomania"...

PS I am planning to ask the pediatrician about this at her next appointment soon but hoping to hear some other experiences from you all

Cheekie4

I understand your concern.  DH has an anxiety problem & pulls out his hair.  I shave his head every couple of weeks to keep it too short to pull out.  It's just something he does & doesn't even realize it.  Also, he bites his fingernails & skin surrounding his nail when he gets nervous/anxious.  I'm scared that he'll pass this on to our kids.  It's easier it hide w/ a boy; I can't shave my DD's head.

Have you tried a lovey or something like that?  DD has a blanket that someone made for her.  It has fleece on one side & long, silky "furry" fabric on the other.  Do you think your DD may feel that fabric to soothe herself?

TSD

Try this site- I don't have this problem with my son but I do know at least 3 adults with this who started as children.

https://www.trich.org/

diana.filipi

We've had DDs hair cute twice now because she runs her fingers through it and pulls it out when there are any tangles or anything that stops her fingers running through.  It's bad enough that she has a really thin spot on the left side.  I try to give her a little towel or cloth to hold while she drinks her bottle because that's when she does it the most.  When she's tired or frustrated it is worse.  I think she'll just grow out of it.

pharmer78

Thank you everyone who has responded...I will definitely check out that website.  I hope she grows out of it, and soon!