I think my DD was a cat in a former life - She eats own hair

[sparksey]

Any advice please, My 2yr old DD pulls her hair out then eats it, I'm not talking a couple of hairs she grabs a handfull, pulls from the roots chews it up and spits out a hair ball. This mainly happens when she's upset and she stops if I pick her up but it also happens at night - if she wakes and I don't go in straight away (I try and leave it a few minutes) there's a hair ball waiting for me or she then pulls strands out from her mouth.
It's really distressing to watch and it certainly must be painfull for her altough she doesn't show it.
We have tried ignoring her but I can't sit and watch her doing that and getting so upset , I realise it's probably an attention/frustration thing (she is only saying a few words at the moment) and will probably grow out of it but she has been doing it for a 2-3 months now. Has anyone else had this problem ? or can anyone offer any advice please

I recently read an article about a teenage girl who ate hair (her own and also hair from jumpers by regulalry chewing them) and her family thought she was anorexic. She physically was due to the fact there was no room in her stomach and intestines and after an operation, she was okay. However, the article did say that it could have been worse.

I don't know what your DDs general behaviour is like but I would perhaps take her to the GP; you don't know how much she's ingesting and if it's a lot, it could be dangerous or they might say whether it's a common thing and not to worry etc.

I would get her to the doctor on Monday first thing

Lucie is right this can be really serious - eventually. Im sure she will be ok for now but she needs to stop!

I have no suggestions as to how though

Dont leave it

There is a condition called Pica where children eat non-food items,such as soil, toothpaste, hair, and so it's important that you get your DD checked out at GP to rule this out but as your DD stops when you walk in means it is probably more likely to be anxiety related.
Try not to worry though.

I spent ages trying to word that post properly!

Dont worry - but do take her to the doctor on Monday!

Hmm Mine also sounded a bit serious. The Pica thing came up when I googled 'children eating hair' so I'm not implying it is that; just saying that going to GP is the right thing to do to rule out anything serious.

Laura - it's always hard to get the right emotions in text isn't it? I think some MNs take my posts the wrong way somtimes!

Thanks for all your comments will take her to GP on monday, was a bit concerned after watching that Doc Martin eating hair episode, but DH said I was over reacting (men hey !!!). Her behaviour otherwise is typical 2 yr old tantrums etc. Just want her to stop, I keep getting told just ignore her but you can't can you ????

My friend used to do this as a child following the death of her mother. It progressed from hair sucking and eating to her pulling strands out of the top of her head until she had a bald patch. She's 32 now and no longer does this but does absentmindedly pull out her eyelashes when she's a bit stressed

www.brainphysics.com/hair-pulling.php

Sparksey - its true you do need to ignore that she does it because if you draw attention to it a lot she may well do it more

But equally you mustnt ignore it either as over time this is a really serious problem

Please post tommorrow and let us know what the doc says

Will do Laura, Thanks

Hi Quick update, went to GP about this and he said it was definately an attention thing as it only happens when she gets upset/frustrated, He didn't seem too bothered (at the moment) about the eating the hair and said she wouldnt have ingested that much in the few months she's been doing it.Best thing was to try distracting her when she starts and not make too much of a deal of it.
Hopefully she will stop on her own when she starts to talk more and can tell us whats wrong make herself understood etc. If it continues or gets worse to go back.
Thanks all for your support.

Hopefully it'll sort itself out then and your DD will be fine. At least the GP gave you peace of mind and you won't worry as much now.