My dd katie (who is almost 2) sucks on her fingers and likes to have hair wrapped around it for some odd reason. She has done this since she started crawling...

Okay, I thought katies hair pulling out thing was getting better b/c her bawled spot had hair growing back. Then the other day I realized that she is now pulling hair from the back side of her head at the bottom... I have spoke with the ped about this and she doesn't think it's a stress issue (katie was all smiles when we went) b/c katie is doing great in reaching mildstones, weight is great, that she seems fine! She said that she agree's it's a habit.


Now I don't know know how to break it and the ped didn't really either she said most kids grow out of it???? She mentioned putting yucky stuff on her figures so she won't want to suck on them but lets face it my child eats anything, she eats dirt for heavens sake! LOL and even LOVES hot sauce! she's a strange child hehehe! For now though she said to keep an eye on it and we will just watch her and go from there though.

Well today I had a thought, though I would HATE to do it,but what about cutting her hair??????? IF I do this she won't be able to pull it to suck on (though she will look like a boy) she already doesn't have much hair as it is so I don't really know how to cut it LOL....I figure having her hair cut short is better then bawled spots????


What do you think????? Katie seems fine, bright and a happy child.... It really bugs me for the most part. I try to tell her not to pull her hair b/c it's pretty, which works for that moment, she'll pet her hair and say peety LOL.... Do you think cutting her hair might work???
Misty

By Kate on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 - 01:15 pm:

I don't know, but if it does, let me know!! My 3.5 year old pulls TONS of her hair right out, runs it through her mouth and lips, and then drops it. She's been doing it for a year now, although a few months ago she had stopped for awhile, and these past few weeks she's back at again worse than ever. You can FEEL the spots where hair is growing back in; it feels like she was shaved in some areas. She's always been very oral, always puts things in her mouth. Loves to chew on ANYthing. Drives me crazy!! I don't think her problem began as stress, but I'm wondering if her recent frenzy at it is stress. She also had a potty accident last week, and two yesterday. Very unusual for her. We've been discussing going to Disney World and we would fly. She is VERY against the whole idea (not that she truly understands) but that's the only stress I can put my finger on. Any suggestions?? I hate to cut her hair because I would have to go super short to stop her from actually pulling it out. If your daughter only wraps her hands around it, maybe you wouldn't have to go so short. Sigh....good luck to you!

By Dmom on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 - 04:05 pm:

My younger child went through a phase of pulling her hair out and eating it (if she could get it in her mouth before I could grab it from her) I thought it was because we used one of those kid shampoos that smells like fruit, so I started washing her hair with just a tiny, tiny, tad of Head and Shoulders or spraying a tiny, tiny tad of perfume on her hair, when her hair tasted like perfume or a shampoo that didn't taste like fruit, she stopped.

By Coopaveryben on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 - 11:41 pm:

What if you kept it pulled back in pig tails or a little pony tail. I know a lot of kids won't keep it on but what about a hat?

I also don't think she would look like a boy if you decided to cut it. My niece has hers in a little bob and it is so cute, I don't think it will reach her mouth.