Nervous habit - hair twisting?

care99 · March 2011

Hi ladies! I need some advice about a nervous habit that Colin has developed. For the last month or so, he will twist his hair (on top, towards the back) around his finger and pull on it. We noticed it initially, and our nanny and his preschool teachers have also pointed it out to us. We've talked to him about not doing it, but I have tried not to draw too much attention to it, for fear that would make him do it more. I haven't really thought it was a big deal until today-just a nervous habit that would go away with time.

DH and I got back tonight from our trip to the Caymans (fabulous, by the way!), and when we were talking with our nanny, she told us that he has twisted it so hard and so much that his hair has fallen out. Sure enough, he has a bald spot! My parents kept them part of the time we were gone and my mom said that he had twisted it into a big knot on Friday and when she was trying to brush out the knots, it fell out! I am so upset over it and will be calling our pedi tomorrow, but has anyone else's kid done this or something similar? Aside from putting him in a hat all the time, I'm not sure how to keep him from doing it.

K&P414 · March 2011

If he's doing it because he's nervous or upset putting him in timeout for it seems like to me it would make him more upset. Just my thoughts, I'm certainly no psychiatrist. Matter fact, I'm not even sure how to spell psychiatrist...

But anyway, is he old enough for you to talk it out with him? Have you asked him why he does it? Maybe you can give him something to keep in his pocket that he can fiddle with if he gets stressed out or upset?

Let us know what the pedi says. I actually do know a girl that pulls her eyelashes out but I'm pretty sure that's a story for another day

LaruC27 · March 2011

Oh boy. Addison does this too! She twirls her hair awake, asleep, when she is tired etc. it knots, clumps and falls out by the chunk full. I keep trimming it to keep it healthy but its awful. one side is super short compared to the other. I have no clue what to do to make her stop. When I catch her doing it I ask her to quit and she does but that doesn't stop the damage she does in her sleep. I figure its just a habit she will outgrow. I can't wait to hear any suggestions.

care99 · March 2011

Oh, we haven't put him in timeout for it! I was going to put him in a HAT

The only thing I can think of is that it is somehow comforting to him? Both boys play with my hair constantly and when it's in a ponytail, which is a lot, they will twist it around or play with my hair when I hold them. So maybe he associates it with that? Who knows? He'll do it when he's watching TV, in the car, when we read so I'm don't think he's scared or nervous necessarily. Just a habit that now he does constantly. That's a good idea to give him something else to play with. I'll let you know what the pedi says.

ebearwife · March 2011

DH's adult cousin has this "tick". He has tiny bald spots all over his head. He does it when he is thinking hard or when he is nervous, which is a lot since he goes to Tech and is constantly worried about his grades since he works full time on top of it. I don't know what to do about it except just make him aware when he is doing it and try to get him to stop when you remind him.

almostanO · March 2011

my son has done this from the time he had hair. he doesn't pull his hair out but he twirls his curls around his finger and sucks his fingers to sooth himself. I know plenty of kids that do things like this ( one rubs her ears or even her parents ears.) I plan on asking the pedi about this again since we are getting to the age that we need to work on the finger sucking but I definitely wouldn't worry about it being something that will continue to adulthood!!!!

maykat · March 2011

Carrie--we've gone through the nervous tick thing with Alec for the past 2 months. He was blinking and then developed a nervous habit of clearing his throat. When we took him to the pedi, she said at this age, the nervous tick/habits are very common and the best thing is to have all adults ignore it. Alec's habits have gone away for now.

I would talk to Colin to see if anything is bothering him-- little kids can be stressed out about the craziest things.

K&P414 · March 2011

care99:
Oh, we haven't put him in timeout for it! I was going to put him in a HAT
The only thing I can think of is that it is somehow comforting to him? Both boys play with my hair constantly and when it's in a ponytail, which is a lot, they will twist it around or play with my hair when I hold them. So maybe he associates it with that? Who knows? He'll do it when he's watching TV, in the car, when we read so I'm don't think he's scared or nervous necessarily. Just a habit that now he does constantly. That's a good idea to give him something else to play with. I'll let you know what the pedi says.

lol, and i was sober last night. i totally misread that, haha.

Pecswife · March 2011

Amiri did the same... first it was with my hair as I gave him a bottle or held him. Then as he had hair he would do the same. When I started seeing clumps of hair in the crib I took him to get a major haircut. He stopped... but instead found a blanket that I had with a fringe. Its been a year and he carries this blanket around the house and it frustrates me but at least it doesn't leave the house. He doesn't suck his thumb but you can see he sucks his tongue or teeth or something inside his mouth as a pacifer. We have told the dentist but at this point it is not too concerning and she will check at his next visit.

Anyway, the blanket fringe gets caught and tangled around his fingers and I am generally sick of it around my house... and the fights when I wash the dang thing.. but glad its not hair anymore.

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