D.G. asks from Rockford, IL on October 22, 2009
Suggestions to Stop 2 Year Old from Pulling Out Her Hair
Hi Moms - I have gotten NO where with my pediatrician regarding my 2 year old pulling out her hair & eating it. She has been doing this since she was about 18 months, and is getting bald spots on her head as a result. A little background, she does have sensory problems and has been receiving occupational & speech therapy. They insist she is 'sensory seeking' and does this as a soothing mechanism. She has NEVER taken a pacifier, won't sleep with a blanket, we've tried a doll w/hair, nothing has helped & I am truely worried she will end up having to go to the emergency room due to ingesting her hair. HELP!! Any parents that have gone through this with your child, if you found something that worked, please share. Thanks!!
1 mom found this helpful
More Answers
M.B. answers from Chicago on October 22, 2009
I would be looking for a new pediatrician!
S.G. answers from Chicago on October 24, 2009
Hi, D.. I understand your frustration. I loved Beverly's answer. There are so many great pediatric resources out there. I guess that's what MamaSource is all about - finding them :) ....Anyway, my reason for writing you is to tell you about a pediatrician - Dr. Beth Walsh. If you are looking for another pediatric resource who is informed in this area, she may be a good resource to contact. She has a few offices-one is in Arlington Hts. and I think the other is in Glenview. It is always nice to have a resource you can go to for the tough questions. Sounds like Beverly is coming up with a name for you also. Good luck.
B.Z. answers from Chicago on October 22, 2009
The hair pulling completely sounds like sensory-seeking behavior, but the eating part does not. Does she have other strange eating habits?
What do you do on your own with her (i.e. sensory diet)? Are some days better than others, and can you draw any conclusions about what makes one day better than the next?
Perhaps you can reach out to other moms who have a pediatrician who seems to be sensitive and experienced with the kind of issues that your daughter has. I will message you with my son's pediatrician from Streamwood, who seems more aware of sensory issues than others. By the way, when I first read the title of your post, I thought it was about a 2 year old pulling other people's hair... you may attract more experienced moms and their responses by explaining that it's sensory related.
Good luck!
M.W. answers from Chicago on October 25, 2009
If your doctor didn't mention this, the official name for the condition is trichotillomania. You may want to check out www.trich.org. Is her hair long enough to keep in braids? Will she keep a hat on?
J.L. answers from Chicago on October 22, 2009
I would definitely seek a more informed pediatrician, but for a quick immediate fix you can do a couple of things, 1. put a tie down hat on her or
2. put some non-toxic yucky tasting something in her hair to help break her of the habit. (I don't mean to sound weird, but if I was as concerned as you sound I would rather her have pickle juice or something on her head for a few days, than to lose her hair).
The eating would be a major concern for me-have you googled this habit?
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