2 Year Old Pulls on Own Hair

my daughter who is also 2 pulls her hair out and wraps it around her binky (pacifier) when the binky is in her mouth and then she ends up with a mouth full of hair i also dont know what to do about this she has done it since infancy. I know it is a comfort tool i just dont know how to replace this habit. She still has plenty of hair but i dont want hair loss to be an issue. I wish i had some advice to add but im in the same boat. good luck

At this point it's not a conscious thing, most likely, so reminding her of the consequences likely won't do much to stopping the behavior. The best way to change a behavior is to do something that's incompatible with the current behavior, so she *can't* twirl her hair and do the new thing at the same time. Try giving her something else to do with that hand - a toy to hold, blanket to twist, something that won't allow her to touch her hair, etc, and maybe something to cover her hair at the same time. Are there any hats she likes? A cool bandanna you can wrap over her head?

I hope you can figure it out! :-)

Does she have enough hair to make a pony tail or pig tails? If so, you could try that. Or try some pretty barretts or head bands that she picks out. If she starts pulling or twirling her hair, tell her to be careful of her barretts/head bands & that she doesn't want them to fall out or get lost while she's pulling or twirling her hair.

Hello E.,

Let me see if I can help put some light on this. I myself have had 4 children. 2girl, 2boys. I had 2 of my children, a boy and a girl, did this same thing when they were babies.While taking their bottle they would bring up their hand and pull or tap on their head. It didn't bother me. As my children grew up my youngest son who is now 28yrs. old still plays with his hair. He does have very short hair. He will take his fingers and tap on his hair. I asked him once why he still does it at his age. Do U know what he said? "I like the way it sounds when I mess with it".... Go Figure!!!!

So I just leave it alone because it is Not with fussing over.. I think it might be a hereditary fix-sation. Because I also have played with my hair in all of my 52yrs. of age. I hate and can't seem to stop it. I don't Know.. It just happens.
What I would do is either cut your daughters hair short, somewhat, Or, Keep it in a pony-tail, or pig-tails.
This way U won't have to try and untangle it everyday.
As she gets older she just might out grow it..

It's not a lot of information, but just some reinsurance that we all have problems...

I Wish U the best,for U and your family, God Bless, D. W.

2 years is a long time, so don't expect the habit to go away over night.

Giver her something else to pull and twist. Maybe a flannel blanket...the ones with strips she could pull/twist.

Stephanie

It could just be a comforting habit. I have a girl in one of my classes who rocks herself whenever she is bored or nervous. I also had a former student who had a very unheard of disorder: My spelling may be way off here, but it could be a form of trichotillomania (SP???) sounds like trick-o-tillo-mania. It is a form of OCD-like behavior that children get that causes them to uncontrollably pull on hair. More severe forms will pull out eyelashes and eyebrows, along with most of their hair. Check it out if nothing else seems to fit. Good Luck

Hi E.... my little girl, now an adult, had the same problem. She would get her hair wrapped around her finger so tight that the hair would eventually break, leaving bald spots, and yes, tangles. I finally cut her hair short. Good luck, Sincerely, CJ

This is her relaxing way to soothe herself. Try to show her and give her a doll with yarn hair to twist. It may or may not help.

E.,

Have you given her something else to hold? Like a blanket with textures or even a hairbrush? She could brush her hair while she is drinking her milk. I would just keep trying to remind her and distract her with other things.

Molly

Give her a replacement, maybe some yarn.

Hi E.,
Have you ever thought about getting her a really cute short haircut? We had a friend who pulled her hair so much that she had to wear a wig. She also pulled her eyelashes and eyebrows out. I forget what the name of the behavior was, but I believe she told us that had her parents gotten her help when she was a little girl it could have helped her overcome it before adulthood. another option might be getting some kind of knitted hat with a couple of strands she can twirl. There must be something you can give her to substitute her pulling.
You might try a google search on hair pulling disorder.
Blessings on you and your precious family.
D.

Hello E.,
The pulling of her hair sounds like a comfort thing. Have you tried putting her hair up in a bun when you know she is going to be pulling at it. If it is a comfort thing it might be hard to get her to stop without replacing the pulling of her hair for some thing else thats gives her comfort. Maybe you can give her a doll with hair she can pull and twist. Or maybe put her hair up and put a wig on her. Thats what I would do. Good luck.
A. Z.