DD2 has a HUGE bald patch - advice please

[bratnav]

I saw it today, luckily it is halfway up her head on one side so is covered at the moment by hair on top. It's about 7-8cm square

Why does this happen? Will more fall out? What can I do to help if anything? AFAIK she is unaware of it, do I tell her?

Any idea how she got it? Does she 'twiddle' her hair there? My ds has had 3 such episodes due to twiddling it too much and generally did it during lessons when he didn't understand.

No idea, but she is definitely not a hair twirler I am so upset and not sure what to do.

My DD had a v big clump pulled out when she was about 3, and I remember trying various hairstyles to cover it. It didn't really hurt her when it was pulled out. Could this have happened to your DD?

DD2 is 6 and I did ask her if anyone had pulled her hair or if she had hurt her head in any way but she said no. Can children get stress related alopecia?

My DN has this and it is stress related alopecia, for him, new baby has just arrived in his family so we are thinking that this is what has triggered it. He is totally unaware of it! maybe go to your GP without your DD and ask about what it could be and talk through your concerns about telling DD2, then you can decide what to do next.

So DH being in hospital for weeks (home now) might be a cause? She internalises everything, you never know she is ill or hurt either. She fell in the shower and broke her arm, but she didn't say it hurt so I only took her to A&E the next morning because it looked a bit swollen

It may be, but only time will tell. My DN is 4 and he is a happy well-adjusted little thing, the stress thing seemed quite surprising, but he is rather circumspect, so it sort of makes sense. He is having a little bit of play therapy to work through his feelings. He is in France.

Don't be too hard on yourself, talk to your GP.

Thanks monkey

You must definitely go to the GP about this.