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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Hair twisting

4 replies

mrsmacc · 12/08/2010 17:31

Does anyone have experience of dealing with hair twisting??
My DS is 16 months, and has been a thumb sucker since 6 months. Recently he has started twisting his gorgeous blonde hair with the other hand whilst sucking his thumb. It's turned into a complete habit, and both hands go to their appointed location instinctively when he is tired or upset.
The hair twisting is bad enough, but he twists it so tightly round his finger then pulls it out and ends up with a handful of hair.
It's driving me nuts, he's actually given himself a haircut down one side.
Any thoughts anyone??

OP posts:

lackenstrand · 12/08/2010 20:22

My husband is 46 and still sucks his thumb occasionally and twists his (very short) hair. He says his younger brother did the same and had a similar haircut until about 5. Both have a full head of hair now. No other peculiarities to report. DS will probably grow out of it - and if he has the occasional relapse, what harm........

mammabelleboo · 12/08/2010 20:34

My dd (5) has done this for the past 2 years and was prone to pulling out small wisps of knotty hair. I used to find them on the carpet and was alarmed to find that the hair on one side of her head was decidedly thinner than the other - she had lopsided ponytails for ages!

It was nigh on impossible to stop her doing it as I really believe she did it without thinking about it and would look quite surprised that she was doing it when we pulled her up on it! The 2 seem to go hand in hand, exactly as you describe when tired, upset or unsure of herself. She is still doing it, but not pulling out the knots now - detangler is my best friend!

I just think it's a phase you have to ride out - she has suffered no lasting damage and her hair is now equally thick on both sides! It's hard for me to advise as I never had it start so young and I've always been able to make her aware of what she is doing and it has improved. When it's a subconscious action, it's difficult to manage

Oblomov · 12/08/2010 20:45

i've been a hair twiddler for years. since mid teens i think. drives everyone mad but i love it.
have had hair cuts before. but when it gets long enough i just start again.

KnitterInTheNW · 12/08/2010 20:49

I've been a hair twiddler since I was little. I'm 35 and still do it when tired or bored, or just when I ave nothing else to do with my hands! I've never pulled it out though.

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