2 Yr Old Pulling Hair!

Hi J.,

It sounds like she is having problems sleeping at night. That is one of the signs, banging the head, rocking and other little signs.

If you are interested in learning how to help her get good rest and balance out what is missing email me and I will share.

Have a great weekend.

N. Marie

Sometimes hair pulling can be due to the scalp being irritated by fungus or demodex (invisible)mites in the root.

Use 3 T boraxo and 2 qts warm water (mix together) on the hair,massage, don't rinse out.

Cod liver oil has high amounts of vit D which help with mood and calmness.

I would try b complex vitamin drops (walmart) as they help the central nervous system.

Aggitation can be caused by calcium deficiency.
It can also be caused by parasites. Check out this site:
http://www.appliedozone.com/parasites.html

I did this as a child. I don't remember why...probably just a coping mechanism as I did it when I was going to sleep. My Mom said the Dr recommended leaving it alone, just like thumb suckers it will stop! I did stop...don't remember how old or why, but be patient! This to shall pass!!

hi
sounds like she does it out of habit and as a way of coping and or getting attention.
She will probably out grow it. My son did it for a short while then all of a sudden stopped.
For now, I would cut her hair super short. Long hair isn't as important to a kid at this age as it is to the parent. She won't miss it and will give her less to pull out.
You can always grow her longer when she is a bit older.
good luck!

You might want to research something called trichitilimania. It is on the OCD Spectrum. OCD is a thought process based behavior. Obsessive thoughts, or in the case of a child, boredom or maybe nervousness, lead to compulsive behaviors which to them, help alleviate the related stress. In trichitilimania, someone pulls their hair out when nervous or bored. My husband has a different form of OCD.
I learned about Trich when I was researching the disorder. Behavioral Modification would be a good place to start. Maybe you could speak to someone who specializes in it. I hope it gets easier for you both.

Have you already read about Trichotillomania? You may want to search it online and you may want to add the word "children" to your search.

Here is one article: http://www.healthofchildren.com/T/Trichotillomania.html

Take care.

J.,

This is usually a way to deal with stress and anxiety. Try to keep a very regular routine and make sure she does not get overtired. Try putting her to bed earlier than you have been to see if more sleep helps.

Other things to try:

*lots of physical activity in the day - fresh air and exercise

*teach her to blow bubbles - it takes calm and measured breathing to blow bubbles and breathing is an excellent coping skill

*if communication is an issue, start using some basic sign language so she can communicate desires - there are great books and videos in the library about this. Signing time is a tv program (also available on dvd) that teaches sign language to kids. There are even baby sign classes you can take.

*try to give her a special blanket, toy, or other object to hold instead. Especially if you can find something with long strings or hair to hold to

*play some kind of soft, soothing music at bedtime. It could be lullabyes or instrumental - whatever she seems to respond best to. Use the same music for quiet time and bedtime everyday

That's what comes to me off the top of my head. If I think of others, I will post again.

Good luck!

My daughter was also a hair puller at 2, almost always on her left side so she had exactly the asymmetrical hair style you describe for yours. The doctor recomended a doll with long hair and teaching her to pet/pull on the doll's hair instead of her own. Sounded good but it didn't really work for her.
What I did was to make the hair very hard to pull out. I used a deep conditioner every day (the kind they say to use once a week) and I put in a leave-in conditioner as well. It kept her hair so soft and slick that she couldn't grasp it well enough to pull out the hair. For a while she still twirled but the hair would not knot up. Eventually it stopped.
Good luck!

This makes me think of when my mom told me I would do the very same thing (funny). Until my father spanked me and I never did it again she said. I don't advocate spanking at all. I just thought it was kind of funny ....
Maybe try showing her other ways to show she's angry.

Definately sounds like frustration. Have you considered teaching her some basic sign language so she can communicate with you? Sometimes they are developmentally unable to speak and sign language can help her communicate so she isn't so frustrated. Try to reward her for using her "words" (sign or otherwise) and ignoring when she pulls her hair so she gets the attention for doing the behavior you prefer.

Hi J.,
I gave my daughter a hand-made doll that looks to be fourteen when she was four. The eyes are embroidered. Of course she had stuffed animals; it's just that the doll became a real favorite, even now at twelve. A special friend can help keep your daughter occupied using her imagination. Hospice shops have kinestic toys/activities that can help keep her happy! Be ware of scissors in the house and don't let her know where you hide them. On the frig is never good, as she could climb to get them!! My daughter pulled/twirled her hair mostly at bedtime, cut her bangs area off during preschool, and cut her hair in later times as well. She is a highly kinesthetic girl.
Good luck!
G.

if she's doing this when she's tired or upset, sounds like a coping mechanism, like some kids bang their heads.

i would try introducing another way for her to deal with stress. also, try to be more careful about regular naps and bedtime, to minimize the fatigue. try to anticipate what makes her upset so you have ways to deflect the stress.

my son makes a little fist and hits when he gets upset. he doesn't give an all out wallop, but it's his thing. we tell him to hit pillows or something soft. as he talks more, we try to get him to use words instead of hitting.

I love the advice given by the hand in hand parenting group. Here is an article on hair pulling and aggression

http://www.handinhandparenting.org/csArticles/articles/00...

While it covers aggression towards others you may find its sentiments and other articles there helpful.

C.