toddler pulls out hair as a comforter Post Reply

[LKNorthcote]

Hi there,

My 16 month old has sucked his thumb since birth. He's also been fascinated by fluff, hair from my hairbrush etc for a long time too, and revoltingly, it often ends up in his mouth. However for the last week, possibly 2, he has started to pull out big clumps of his hair when he sucks his thumb. He'll often eat it or wind it round his thumb. It is clearly a comfort to him and he uses it to self - soothe however, I am worried this is going to become a habit and he will be bald before long.

I have read that the best method is to shave the head, however, I can't bring myself to do that yet. I will take him to get it cut though as that might help. I've also tied some thin ribbons together to see if he may find comfort in that.

If anyone has any experience of this or any advice on how to prevent him from pulling any more hair out, I'd really appreciate it.

x

[DearKitty]

My sister used to do that too. She always sucked her thumb at the same time so mum tried to stop the thumb sucking in order to stop the hair pulling. She tried painting her nails with stop n gro (she just got used to the taste) and putting mittens on her hands at night (she usually managed to get them off). Eventually she cut her hair quite short (not shaved) and that worked to break the habit.

[TFP]

Sixteen months is probably a smidgen too young for 'stop and grow'. It may distress him quite a bit.

A really short boy's haircut is probably in order. A couple of millimetres at the back and sides, a couple of centimetres on top, graduated inbetween, looks smart and refreshingly different to all the generic Ollie/Josh-etc NV toddler boys.

[LKNorthcote]

Thank you both.

We are off to get a haircut this afternoon!

x