My Son Is Pulling His Hair

Updated on April 10, 2007
E.M. asks from Lawton, OK
9 answers

I have a son, Kalub that is 20 months old. He has started pulling at his hair. And now he is getting clumsey. He will fall while walking or running around the house. I thought it was his new shoes so I put his old ones on him and he still did it. But he will just pull at his hair. He will whine but not really cry, let go for a min then pull at it again. Anyone run in to this before? Any suggestions will help. Thanks

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So What Happened?

Thanks. We went to the doc last night and she said it wasnt a ear infection but allergy migrains. I thought WHAT??? So he now has headaches and he got some meds and hopefully it will help. And his "Father" aka sperm donor(he calls himself that) hasnt seen him in over 3 months now. Thanks again

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M.B.

answers from Wichita on

Take him to the Dr. could be an ear infection. The being really clumsy sounds like my olest and he had quite a few ear infections.

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W.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Dr. Phil had a parenting show about children who are out of control. On that show a mom story was similiar to yours about her child pulling hair. The child had slept in the parent's bed since birth and at 8 months the husband wanted the child in his own crib. The mom noticed her child started pulling his hair. The child ended up with half his head balded. The expert said it was due to stress.
I know you are going though tough times right now. Maybe your child is feeling stress. Your child can feel your stress.
I was unhappy when we lived in Omaha because my in-laws treated me awful. I know my son can feel my stress. After we move here I am happy and my son just blossom.
Take care of your self.

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A.G.

answers from Tulsa on

Well, he's a toddler, and a lot of toddlers are a little clumsy. Are you sure he's pulling at his hair, or is he pulling at his ears? He might have an ear infection if he seems really clumsy. His ear could be hurting, so he might be trying to pull at them. When they get an ear infection, it messes with thier sense of balance as well. You might take him to his pediatrician to be safe and get him checked out. If everything seems to be in order, then it's just something he'll grow out of soon. You might try getting him a hat to wear. It might distract him from pulling at it. Good Luck!

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A.J.

answers from Kansas City on

I don't know about the falling. Maybe it's just because he's still a baby and getting in a hurry he loses his balance. Even if it's been a year he's been walking he isn't really an expert yet. But for the hair thing. My almost 7mo old little man plays with his hair on the top of his head. He does it mostly while eating his bottle, but I've seen him do it watching tv too. My three girls play with their's too. I guess my bad habit got passed down. So i'd say it's just habit right now. Once he's older and wanting it buzzed short he won't have anything to play with. But he's still young so I think just like a pacifier is a comfort thing this could be too. Once he gets older he could easily stop.

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M.

answers from Wichita on

Toddlers bodies are growing, and his clumsiness is probably his reaction of trying to adjust to his growing body. I wouldn't worry about his clumsiness too much although I would run it by his pediatrician. I'm not sure about the hair-pulling. Might want to mention that as well. Do you think it might be a behavioral reaction that has something to do with your divorce? Does your son see his father at all? Do you argue in front of your son? Sometimes tension in the family or a major change in their lives may cause children to adopt certain types of behaviors. You should speak to his pediatrician about it.

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A.T.

answers from Enid on

Have you thought about him having an ear infection? My daughter used to get a lot of ear infections and would not do any but pull at her ear and her hair. It might not be an ear infection, but it is worth a try.

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T.L.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My son did the same thing at that age. The doctor said the falling was probably from a growth spurt he may be experiencing. The hair pulling is soothing to them, crazy, I know. My son would pull his hair and bang is head against the floor or wall. The doctor told me that this was normal and that it was just a way he has to soothe himself. My son grew out of this phase by the time he turned 2, so hopefully it won't last long for your son either.

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T.D.

answers from Kansas City on

Sounds to me like classic signs of an inner ear infection or a double ear infection???? Out of 6 I have had 2 of them go through this type of behavior, one of them ended up with tubes WHICH I DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!!!! My son is now 12 and because of the holes caused by those tubes STILL has drainage come up and out of his ear it is not fun, but I will say he has not had an ear infection in the last 3 years! But had them taken out 9 years ago......weird huh? LOL! Well good luck, I hope this helps!

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T.S.

answers from Springfield on

My litrle girl used to do this. She would get upset and pull handfulls of her hair out. She eventually stopped. It is kind of like those kids who get upset and bang their heads on the floor. Just be thankful he is not doing this. As for the falling down alot have him checked for an ear infection. Alot of the times when a kid gets an ear infection it throws their equilibrium off. My son used to get those alot and he never would compain or pull at his ears. He would just start getting clumsy and not eat very well.

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