Hey Mamas,
Ok, this may seem like kind of a non problem, I am guess I looking for feedback! My third son who is three is absolutely obsessed with something on his head all the time. It can be anything, usually it's a blanket and he will use a hat to hold it on his head or a T-shirt and he might use some form of headband to keep on his head, at this very moment he's got a T-shirt on his head held on by these wolf ears we have. Sometimes it will be a Tupperware container yesterday it was paper towels held on with the wolf ears but almost every moment he wants something on his head. It gets to the point if he can't wear it on his head like to sleep there's a tantrum or when we go somewhere and we want him to take it off to go in a place tantrum city etc. as a mom that raises a red flag it's like it's turning into something he needs to function which doesn't sit quite right with me. I will say of all my children he is such a character he can sing every song on the radio, he dances, entertains, is so verbally articulate it's just crazy, so he does march to his own little beat. I guess I'm just wondering if this stuff on the head is just a normal thing some young children do or is it a sign of needing security in someway? Anyone ever experienced this or have any thoughts? Thanks for your time!
Thanks ladies :) I am inclined to think it's normal. I am working with him to pick something funky but hat like for the outside world bc sometimes his head covering choices are just very impractical. Yesterday when I took my older boys to martial arts he rocked a ninja turtle slouchy winter cap, he did look adorable :)
Maybe he'll be really into hats when he's older.
If the worst thing he ever does is put things on his head his whole life, he will have a great life. Don't worry about it. It's his head.
I'm not sure what it is. But a lot of kids do it, and the reason probably varies from child to child. My kid always had his underwear or a half-removed shirt on his head, and he often wore a bucket (with the bucket handle under his chin like a strap). Did people look at us? Sure, but usually it was with a smile. I can't remember any place that we went where it was a problem having something on his head - I don't recall ever asking him to remove it. I would suggest that he be given choice at bedtime to wear something soft that won't interfere with his sleep - a hat would be better than hard Tupperware or a large blanket that can slip over his nose (although he could extricate himself from most smaller ones I suppose). On the plus side, there was never a problem getting my son to wear a bike helmet because he was so used to riding his kiddie car with a bucket on his head!
My kid turned out fine. My advice is not to turn this into a battle of how it looks - just make sure it's safe (no plastic bags). My guess is, he'll outgrow it.
One of mine did that with capes. He had to be a super hero. In his preschool class, he was a superhero, a little girl wore a full princess costume (gown and tiara) every.single.day.
How long has it been going on? I wouldn't worry. It's likely a phase. Those are the characters :) Mine still is.
I think it's fine. He's still so little. Just watch it but I'm sure it's just feels good or is fun for him. I doubt its anything serious to fret over. Sounds adorable to me!
he's only 3.
remember the little fellow in the old steve martin movie 'parenthood'?
'he likes to butt things with his head.'
'how proud you must be.'
he'll be fine.
:) khairete
S.
Kids go through phases with security objects. He will grow out of it.
I think you should talk to an Occupational Therapist about this. This very well may be a sensory issue. Sensory defensiveness manifests itself in a lot of different ways. If having some OT would help him with this, it would make your lives a whole lot easier. The earlier you get OT if there are sensory problems, the easier it is to help. The older the child gets, the harder it is to deal with.
I had OT for my own son and it made a HUGE difference. Please at least get him evaluated. Be very honest with the OT - tell her everything, but not in front of your son. If she hasn't seen this particular thing before, ask her to give him a couple of sessions after the eval, because subtle issues don't always show up on the evaluation. That's what happened to my son. His speech therapist told the OT that something was off, and to please just trust her that my son needed some help. So we went for a first session where she did things that were not part of the evaluation. She was floored with what my son could NOT do, apologized for not realizing it in the eval, and worked with him for 6 months. Thank goodness for it.
Have you asked him why?
Some kids need more sensory input than others. The feeling of pressure may be comforting for him. There are those soft, stretchy flannel-type winter hats of many colors. He could wear them anywhere and they give a nice feeling of soft and pressure. He needs a non-wolf-ear option. :)
Most likely O. of many phases to follow!
(Just make sure he doesn't put anything around his neck or anything over his nose/mouth--safety reasons.)
Kids are learning about the world. They do things over and over until they stop. Perhaps you could suggest he wear a more acceptable hat for the public. Make wearing the "acceptable" hat a silly game.
In and of itself wanting to wear a hat isn't a big thing...but if he obsessive about it. .or fights you about other things I personally would want help sooner than later..unless you don't mind that you could possibly be dealing with stuff like this when he is 14 and it isn't so cute anymore that he has compulsions and .. just open your eyes to the whole picture and trust your gut if this is his only quirk then OK but if there is more have it checked.
