My three-year-old keeps chewing her hair and I am not sure why

[Armck]

I just wanted some advice on if others have dealt with this.

I know it’s not the end of the world. My 3 year old is constantly chewing her hair. It only started recently. She’s always sort of soothed herself with her hair, we always knew she was tired when she was younger as she would twiddle the hair at the back of her head. But now she has started chewing it. Definitely when she’s tired, but also just any time it is down. I’m constantly putting it in French plaits to keep it out of her reach but as soon as it’s down it’s in her mouth. We have started ignoring it as she has started putting it in her mouth and laughing and coming in your face waiting for you to tell her to stop.

I'd cut it short until this phase has passed.

I did this as a child. Just liked the feel of it. Keep tying it back. It's a phase that'll pass

Cut her hair or soak it in nasty tasting Control It cream.

Also play card games, lego etc. with her to utilise her mind and take her thoughts off her hair.

Look up body focused repetitive behaviours
it is a self regulating habit behaviour
chewing / sucking hair is the most risky one though as you can get hair balls form in the stomach
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichophagia#:~:text=Trichophagia%20is%20a%20form%20of,emergency%20surgery%20to%20remove%20them.