pulling hair out!!!!

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

MagicalMay · 18/02/2007 14:20

Hello, sorry dont really know what to say -
Have you tried getting her to cuddle a teddy/dolly instead?
or
Is there a slightly older child who she is close to that can tell her she is being a baby each time? That worked with my DD with different things

I hope some1 else can help you better than me. Good Luck

ReluctantPubCleaner · 18/02/2007 17:42

Hi! I'd be slightly worried about this ... hair pulling can continue through childhood, and in some cases develop into something worse. At 22 months it can't yet be habit forming, so if she feels the need to have something in hands and mouth (hair/thumb), how about getting a dummy with a ring attached that she can pull or handle with her fingers. Failing that, tie her hair back or even consider getting it cut until the habit goes away. I'd consider a dummy though (sorry, assuming you don't use them because she's sucking her thumb). Some parents hate them, but let's face it ... I've never seen a kid go to college with a dummy in her mouth. They all grow out of them eventually, and if it helps, then go with it!

bobsyouruncle · 18/02/2007 17:49

My dd did this at around the same age. I was really worried about it at the time, and she looked strange with bald patches at one side of her head. It was a comfort thing for her too. I asked my hv about it and he advised ignoring it. So we did & sure enough she just stopped it herself. Sorry, no real tips just trying to reassure you!

Original poster

ldl72 · 18/02/2007 22:14

thank you magicalMay, ReluctantPubCleaner, and bobsyouruncle all your info useful....

OP posts:

Original poster

ldl72 · 18/02/2007 22:28

my 22 month old keeps pulling out her hair and making it thin-(wrapping it around her thumb and using it as a comforter while sucking her thumb!!)im hoping its just a phase any tips/advice please?????

OP posts:

Original poster

ldl72 · 18/02/2007 22:33

my 22 month old keeps pulling out her hair and making it thin-(wrapping it around her thumb and using it as a comforter while sucking her thumb!!)im hoping its just a phase any tips/advice please?????

OP posts:

MagicalMay · 19/02/2007 16:39

BumpBump

SparklyGothKat · 19/02/2007 16:49

This is called Trichotilomania, Generally a young child will outgrow it (my dd2 did) Dd2 pulled out every single hair on her head when she was 2, she now has a full head of hair. It can go into childhood, but normally they outgrow it. But watch her when she get to teenagehood as it can sometimes restart, and its harder to stop as you get older. I would ignore it and she should outgrow it

gegs73 · 19/02/2007 17:06

My ds did this for about 8 months until he was just over 2. He used to pull hair when he was going to sleep and had a massive bald patch at one side of his head.

In the end we managed to stop it by getting him a teddy with a wooly hat and encouraging him to pull little bits off the hat rather than the hair. I also told him it was naughty in the end but didnt punish him but that it was naughty. This seemed to stop it.

He did start again about a month ago (now 2.8) but it only lasted a week as I told him that Daddy would have to shave his hair off if he carried on doing it and he would have hair like Grandad Grandad is very bald He has stopped again now and hopefully won't happen again.

I'm sure it will get better but I know that it can be heartbreaking when it happens.

loopdl · 19/02/2007 22:41

thank you sparklygothkat and gegs73...

SlightlyMadScientist · 19/02/2007 22:52

DTDs did started this at around the same age. They are now nearly 6. - Sounds identical - it does have a medical name.

We were able to coax DTD1 off by giving her something else to rub her nose with. She started with a little lion which had a fluffy tail. When Cairo (the lion) went to soft toy heaven (covered in vomit) we replaced it with a cut up shawl which I frayed the edge of. She still uses it now.

It wasn't so easy with DTD2. We tried the frill & fur as with DTD1 but it didn't work. She only used to suck 1 thumb - hence only pulled hair out from 1 side. SHe then started on the other side of her head. She literally ended up bald on that side (you caan have photos if you don't believe me). We went to GP. He said it wouldn't hurt her (even tho hair was exiting the other end!!!) and didn't have any other advice. In the end we cave in an used a set of barbers clippers and gave her a number 2 all over (I have pics of that too). It was a bit of a shock - for everyone but it had to be done. Whilst she couldn't grip her hair we worked hard at getting her to accept the frilly 'blankie'. I thought we were going to have to maintain the Number 2 cut for 6m+ but just the one cut was enough to break hte habit - and she actually looked quite cute as it started to grow back. SHe also still has a blankie. She will also fiddle with hairs she finds around (but doesn't pull her own) - she looks for them on my pillow in the mornings.

It was very hard - and we had to go to the last resort - but it did work. Good luck and you have my sympathethies.

SlightlyMadScientist · 19/02/2007 22:54

oooh and they both have the longest hair un their class now

TrinityRhino · 19/02/2007 22:57

I could have written the OP
same age , same action of wrapping it round her thumb and sucking it

it was only today that my friend said I should stop her doing it but I have no idea how

SlightlyMadScientist · 20/02/2007 11:21

I should add that DTD1 stopped within a couple of weeks. DTD2 had been doing it for 12-18m before we reluctantly went for the barber clippers - but I really wish we had done that sooner. It was so worth it.

We also tried bribing her with pretty ponytails and flowers in her hair but that failed.

SlightlyMadScientist · 20/02/2007 11:23

oo (last one honest) and I would recommend the fringed blankie over the soft toy as you could have 2 (identical of course!!) which can be washed when required. We also made a point of showing them how they could use them to tickle their noses with teh their blankies whilst sucking their thumb - basically a replacement for the hair. We must have looked like silly!!!!

gegs73 · 20/02/2007 13:53

Has anyone else had 2 siblings doing the same thing other than SlightlyMadScientist? It is very odd. My cousins when they were young about 3 years apart both did it, but the younger one never saw the older one if you see what I mean. Just hoping I won't have to go through it again in a year or so with ds2.

SlightlyMadScientist · 20/02/2007 16:01

I have to say that we spotted what DTD1 was doing pretty quick and seemed to have stamped out the problem pretty quicky. It ws whilst we were working hard to stop her that DTD2s habit crept up on us. It was probably more 'established' habit before we acted upon it hence teh reason it was harder to stop. In my case DTD1 and DTD2 obviously saw each other doing it. Don't forget that because they are twins I don't know if that means they are more likely to do the same anyway????

At the moment DD3 is only pulling at her hair whilst feeding (and she isn't pulling it out at teh moment) - almost just for something to do with her hands - but she is much yonger. We are monitoring the situation closely and trying to discourage with a blankie.

loopdl · 21/02/2007 10:27

thank you slightlyMadScientist grateful for advice!! gonna cut her hair 2day,started on a dummy yesterday,my last resort will be hair shaved off!!(from ldl72-now changed name!!)

SlightlyMadScientist · 21/02/2007 14:13

No probs Loopdl. In my case hte dummy wouldn't have worked as that would have been a replacement for the thumb and not the hair IYSWIM (although it may take her hands away from her face I guess).

Do look at what she is actually doing with the strands of hair. If you can give her something that she can wrap around her thumb or tickle her nose with or whatever she is doing. We found that was the key for us. A straightfoward muslin didn't work as a comfortor as it didn't mimic the strands of hair - but the fringed blankie did.

Good luck. Do let us know how you get on - and try not to end up pulling your own hair out in teh process!!!! Shout if you need anything else

loopdl · 21/02/2007 20:58

thanks slightlymadscientist.. let u no how it goes..

loopdl · 19/06/2007 10:20

message for SlightlyMadScientest... you gave me advice in february to cut my daughters hair short to stop her pulling hair out,it worked apart from the v.odd time of pulling it out of habit..... thanks and please let me know if you recieve this...