Grandbaby's Pulling Out Her Hair & Eating It

I did this also when I was around two. I was one of
five children, all one year apart. I was 4th born
and the only one with this particular habit.
I had a perfectly healthy family life with "the perfect
family" intact. My head was shaved and by the time it
grew back, I was out of the habit. My mother put me in
very feminine clothes so that I would look like a girl.
Today, a grandmother, I am still very laid back,
no anxiety in my past. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Sounds like your DIL is a BITC... sorry, but anyone who would deprive their child of a willing grandparent is just sad! My dad died 2 years ago and now all 3 of my kiddos will never have the pleasure...

I too pulled my hair out at this age. Fussing doesn't help and sometimes it ramps up the anxiety, buyer beware. I really like the shaving idea, again beware that the DIL probably won't got for that and that sometimes without hair to pull the lashes go next and that's a serious bummer.

Ok, with a DIL like that and a son who won't stand up to her, it's really not a shock the kid is ripping her hair out. There is a whole lot of something going on in that family. That being said, some kids are simply more prone to hair-pulling behavior than others. The eating of the hair is a little uncommon, though. First thing to do is a blood workup to make sure there is no nutrient deficiency (iron is a common culprit) causing pica. You don't specify what type of doctor the DIL took your grandchild to with respect to the anxiety diagnoses. That kind of determination really needs to be made by a licensed child psychologist - while many pediatricians are fantastic, they simply do not have the extra training needed to make a mental health diagnosis. Your instincts are spot on in what you told your son - riding a two year old over compulsive behavior when you don't even know the reasons behind it yet is worse than useless and possibly counterproductive. Good luck!

The mother of the baby sounds like she has emotional issues. Talking about "rights" in a family setting indicates serious tension. Kids don't usually have a lot to be anxious about - she is probably bouncing of her mothers anxiety. Ask your son to suggest counseling to help them learn how to help the little girl without medication. Hopefully in the presence of a trained counselor - let her pick she'll be more likely to listen - the underlying issue of the mother's will be addressed.

You are good mother and grandparent. If you play this one right you just might get the respect and adoration of this woman and better your granddaughters well-being.

My sister-in-law's little girl, my neice, did the same thing when she was about 2. They were told it was because of anxiety. My sister-in-law had her daughter's (Nia)head shaved. Since Nia didn't have any hair to pull out she broke that habit. Nia will be 5 soon and she has beautiful long blonde hair.

I am someone who suffers from anxiety and while my anxiety started with my first pregnancy and not in childhood, I can tell you that she does have this behavior because of anxiety and nervousness. Just like some people bite their nails because they are nervous, she is pulling her hair. Yelling at her or nagging her when she does it will not stop it. The reason for the behavior needs to be treated and not the symptom. Her anxiety might be caused by issues at home. I have known children to have anxiety bouts because of poor hearing and other things that the parents might not be aware of. While I'm not someone who endorses medication, I definately have no other option but to be on it. I have developed coping skills that a therapist taught me and that helps me to have to only be on very light medication. So ultimately what I'm suggesting is that the child definately not be nagged about it but instead the family search to find the reason for it and what triggers it. Either fix the problem and/or teach her coping skills. Anxiety and depression are not a condition that someone can just "get over" or be snapped out of or can mosltly even be helped by the person suffering by it. She and the family need to visit a child psychologist and I know it will be understood better.
Good luck and hang in there with your daughter in law. Sounds like maturity is an issue with her. And I'm 27 so hopefully I can call her out on that!

My niece done this very same thing. Only she would also pull our hair out to eat and clean the brushes out. My sister-in-law took her to the doctor and she was lacking in nutrients. A real good multi vitamine and a boost of what she was lacking and she quit. She is almost 9 now and through the years she has done this off and on and started taking the suplimentsagin and quit. My daughter is 10 and from birth has suffered severe anxiety disorders. She pulled her hair out at times, but not to eat, she would do it when her anxiety levels were very high and then drop it on the floor once she calmed down. Don't rule anxiety out, but do as the other mom suggested and have her blood tested and get a second opinion. Best wishes.

possible PICA, does she eat other things?

Sorry that you and your family are going through this. There seems to be more, judging by the tone of the posting. You might look into talking with a counsler yourself about what you are going through with your daughter-in-law.
I googled "eating hair and got several results. This is what I have always heard. I hope this helps.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/ChildBehavior/messages/3233...
I hope this helps and I wish you luck.