Self-inflicted bald patch

[cocococo]

My friend is at the end of her tether, her 2 year old has got into the habit of twisting her hair around her fingers when she is drinking her milk from her cup. She twists so hard the hair comes out and she now has a large bald patch.

This has been going on for about 6 months. She used to eat the hair she pulled out but seems to have grown out of this but still twist her hair which results in her pulling it out.

She is a perfectly well adjusted and very happy child, her progression is normal in every other way - its just this bizarre habit she has developed.

She has a haircut going on at the moment and her parents are desperate for some advice on getting her to stop.

cocococo - no advice really. I'm 37 and still a hair twister! No bald patches though. I'm trying to think of something I do when I can't reach my hair (eg durng an interview) Nope, it has to be the hair. I can do very elaborate knots with one hand.

My daughter used to like the feel of labels, especially the satin type ones. I think your friends can only experiment with other comforters but, ultimately, if the litle girl has chosen lovely, satisfying hair twisting, nothing else will do.

"Bizarre habit"?

Hi cocococo!

Yep a bizarre habit but not that uncommon. Some kids suck thumb, twiddle belly button, pick nose...or all three at once...instead! It's a comfort thing. How long is the rest of her hair? Would a shorter haircut help?

Maybe you or your friend could buy her a very furry or woolly soft toy, to give her while she drinks her milk? Maybe (I know it's a longshot!) she will pull on/play with the toy's "hair" instead?

If it's any comfort, most kids grow out of these habits by age 3 (says the mum of a thumb-sucking 5 year old ) HTH

Hi cocococo, my friends little girl used to pull out her hair and not exactly eat it but would wrap it around her thumb before she sucked her thumb. if she couldn't get at her own hair anybody elses hair would do even off the hair brush, I know yeuch. She too sported a friar tuck bald patch. eventually my friend cut her daughters hair really short so she couldn't grasp it. and just removed any other hairs lara found. the worst time for her was at night as she used it to get herself off to sleep so at night time her hands were bandaged. she eventually just grew out of it. (continued to suck her thumb though) and is now a healthy happy nine year old with beautiful long hair

Hiya
My friend has just cut her DD's hair short and this made her stop for a few months but she has started doing it again recently, this time twisting and pulling the hair out in a different place on her head.

It's more noticeable now as it is at the back of her head now (Friar Tuck-like). Bandaging her hand is a good idea Shiv, I'll suggest that to her. Mollipops, she's tried dollies with long hair but it just has to be her own hair!

Tinker you are right - it's not bizarre at all, realised this when my DD pointed out that I twist my hair (so subconsiously I dont realise I am doing it).

I really feel for my friend as other people can't help but point out the fact that their DD has a bald patch (as if they hadn't noticed!!)

it seems like this is a very common thing... my 8 month old dd has started to really enjoy pulling my hair.. i don't mind! but now i think she has started to enjoy pulling hers too! none has come out yet... but i'm not worrying until clumps start to come out... also she loves labels too! she can be occupied by a nice label for a lengthy time... i keep thinking i'm going to sew a whole row of labels and sparkley buttons onto a strip of material for those wriggley nappy moments!

How bizarre, was going to post same message today. My ds is definitely thinning on top as a resulting of twirling his hair around his fingers - seems to be a comfort thing - but don't really want to give him a crop or bandage his hands. Any more advice appreciated!

bea my DS is a label junkie too! LOL! He loves fleece and labels so I AM going to sew a variety of lovely long silky labels onto a nice cuddly bit of fleece for him!
At 7 months his pincer grip is fantastic, not due to eating finger food or playing with toys but soley down to his label fiddling. He will turn a soft toy around and around until he discovers the label!
His hair is very short so he hasnt discovered the joys of pulling his own yet, he has to make do with mine!

we maybe onto a winner here, why hasn't anyone invented a label twiddler activity strip! (hey hands off! my idea first.... well to my knowledge anyway!) right i'm off to patent my idea... see you all when i make my millions!