Baby tugging ears. :-(

[aPixie]

When he gets tired or is BF he tugs at his ears. And I mean really tug. He has scratch and nail marks all over the backs of them and his head behind and as even made himself bleed on occasions.

When he's bf, I keep one of his arms tucked under me and try to hold his other hand so he doesn't go for his ears but he gets frustrated until I let him play with them, then ends up crying because he's hurt himself. He also does it to self soothe at night.

Any idea's what to do? I keep his nails as short as possible and have tried a number of other things (teddies, blankies) for him to have in his hands but nothing is working and watching him hurt himself when he's just trying to settle is really upsetting. As well as the bright red deep marks on his ears and head.

Mine does the same - well more clawing at his head and ears rather than tug. I put a pair of socks on his arms, pulled right up like evening gloves! He is too big for normal scratch mits. Just put them on at naptimes and sleep times though and rest of time use distraction. Just hoping he will grow out of it.

have you had his ears checked by the GP? he might have a bit of fluid build up that's uncomfortable when he's lying down.

Or does he have any eczema or anything? My DS is prone to picking at the nape of his neck as it gets really itchy there. Some aqeous cream applied daily keeps the scratching at bay. You could try some E45 cream and see if that helps?

Also, how old is he? Next sleepsuits have turn back cuffs, but not sure what age they go up to? or get some scratch mitts that can tie around his wrist to stop him from rubbing them off.

Wow, quick replies thank-you.

He's 5months (ish ) now and has done it since birth but before it was more stroking the ears rather than tugging and scratching.

Can't get him to keep scratch mitts on but will certainly try the sock idea.

He doesn't have eczema or anything but I could always put some cream on anyway and see if it helps.

He's at the docs on Thursday for something else but will mention it and see what they say.

Thanks again.

I use his sisters socks - she's 5. They need to be nice and long!

I'm sure the Next sleepsuits have turnover cuffs at that age, but socks are just as good.

I got a pair of scratchmitts sent to me that fitted my 2 year old DD. I think they were Mamas and Papas.

or try these

Haha, they look so funny.

We get sainsbury's sleepsuits usually (cheap and cheerful) which have the turn over mitts but he somehow gets his hands out of them.

Have just gone in and put socks over his hands and folded the mitts on the sleepsuit over the top. If that doesn't work I'll try it the other way round. Lol.

they do look funny, but the testimonials are good. I'm tempted to get some for my DD, but at 3.5, I think she would wriggle out of them in no time.

Good Luck for tonight; let us know how he gets on over the next day or two

Mamas and papas do sleepsuits with foldover cuffs up to 12 months. I use them for dd as she rubs her ears & eyes when unsettled.