My daughter cant get to sleep without holding my hair. She has been like this since birth and its getting old. I just moved her to a toddler bed so I lay my head on her pillow until she falls asleep, then get up as gently as i can. It doesnt usually take very long at first but when she wakes up in the middle of the night and my hair isnt there, she freaks out. I have to do the same thing as often as she needs or she ends up in bed with me, which i really dont want. I am 5 months pregnant and its getting hard to crouch down in the floor now. If anyone has any suggestions on what to do PLEASE HELP!!
C.
My daughter done the same thing and I felt the same way you did. She will out grow it just give it time. Take my advice and don't rush it. My daughter is 5 now and I only wish I could get her to do the little things like this. She just loves you and this is her way of letting you know she needs you. Be patient okay!
Just an idea to try out if you want.
I would try to find a lovey that is soft and satiny (whatever feels like your hair!), and begin to have that next to her at the same time as you are laying down with her. After a few nights of both together, then begin to move away from her sooner than you usually would (every day or two, shrinking the time you spend by her pillow), until she is just falling asleep holding the lovey/blanket. When she reaches for your hair, move her hand to the lovey/blanket, and say "good night" or 'night night' or whatever you say to her at night.
Good luck!
get her a blankie let her hold that instead of your hair and if she wakes up shell find her blankey and go back to sleep on her own. I have a blankey baby she will outgrow it they sell blankeys at wal mart with an animal head and rattle one side is satin and one is just blanket material. hope this works
My oldest did the same thing i bought a pony tail hair extension and attached it to a stuffed bear and she used that until she out grew it. good luck
lol that is really funny! I have to admit, never heard anything like that.. but i'm sure you've considered, chopping off a chunk of hair, having it tied or bound together so she could hold it?
Honestly, remember that everything is just a phase and can pass quickly. Perhaps you could find a cute/safe doll that has real-ish hair and see if she adores it and could grow attached to her? Or any other special bear/kitty etc. Whatever you do.. try to avoid the 'okay you can come to my bed' because its a bad, hard habit to break.
My son has a lil radio and I play CD's or classical radio station for him to sleep with...
Mom, daughter might be feeling seperation issues from you, especially if she isn't sure about haveing a new born in the family, where will that leave her? Make sure she feels part of the process, include her in talks about the baby to be and see what she says, make sure she knows nomatter what she is still important to you, her spot in your world is solid. Put her to bed with a low light and soft music, just sit in the room and talk to her, to the point where she is relaxing, give her something else to focus on, good luck, May God bless and keep you and yours.
My brother used to twirl my moms hair when he was little, she soon discovered my life size barbie doll was perfect to sneak in next to him and he started twirling the barbie's hair. He soon grew out of it and began to twirl his own hair. I would suggest runmama's idea. A lovey is much better to help wean though. Good luck.
Read Night Time Parenting by Dr. Sears or go to askdrsears.com. Dr. Sears has never failed me! Meanwhile, can you get her interested in a doll with realistic hair? It is because she wants you nearby, but this could be a good transition. Remember, too, that as soon as you have this figured out, she will be on to other things and this will be old news. Nothing like parenthood to make you embrace change!
Good luck and enjoy this fleeting time in your child's life.
J.
I am so happy that someone else's child has the same "fettish" as my two sons!!! I have a 2 and a 3 year old and they both have played with my hair since birth as a way to go to sleep or just relax. My older child even did it to the teacher at his mothers day out program because I wasn't around! My younger one is way more attached! He found a lion with a mane that he feels his mane in his bed. I have also taught him to play with his own hair when I am not around. I don't know if that was proper but it helped when I was driving and he was sleepy. I did not encourage the behavior and was shocked when my second son started almost immediatly after birth!
Good luck and hope you can find a substitution fast!
