by Jenn P.
Member since:
July 6, 2007

My daughter pulls her own hair HELP!

September 25, 2007 12:50 PM EDT
views: 261 | comments: 44

Hi all,

Ok this is driving me bonkers! Like two years ago..we noticed madison yanking at her hair when she was tired.  Just on one side..and it ended up bald.  so we cut her hair just a bit longer than a boys.. but a cute cut (her hair has never been very long)  but anyways this happened twice.  she stopped for a while.  well the other day i noticed on top is thinning out and theres bald spots!!  so what the heck..shes doing it again I guess.  she denies it.  I talked to her doctor about it before..she said security thing.  Ive read about a one year old doing it and their doctor told them .. its because something in her life changed..well we just moved almost a month ago.. maybe thats it? or starting school (she started kindergarten) 

but my question is.. is there a way i can stop it.. I dont wanna cut her hair again but i dont want her to keep doin it either!  it looks awful :(

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Comments: 44

Timothy S. Sep 25, 2007, 12:56pm EDT
Check this link out!

Trichotillomania
Timothy S. Sep 25, 2007, 12:57pm EDT
I hope this helps



If you like true stories, check out the high school Diaries
Birdee F. Sep 25, 2007, 12:59pm EDT
Dunno...my daughter will do it if she is done eating...she grabs on her hair...I always played with my hair & wrapped it in my fingers & one time my parents had to cut my finger out of my hair :os. Good luck!
Check out Timothys link & also look up the condition on webmd.com. It's more common than you would think & she's more than likely going to need therapy to help her figure out what is causing it & how to recover. Everytime I've heard or read about it, the person has a lot of anxiety, which causes all kinds of problems on its own.
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 1:08pm EDT
thanks all

timothy- I read that article. That helped a lot. I really believe thats her case. the first times she did it.. she did it in the open and it was her whole hand..but recently i noticed her playing with a strand of hair.. so thats probably whats shes doing.

we thought about getting one of those cocheted beanie hats..those girly ones and let her wear that through out the day and possibly until she falls asleep.. maybe that would distract it?
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 1:08pm EDT
wow ok I'll show her daddy the article too... see what he wants to do. what i dont understand is..it stopped for a while
Please read my post above. I doubt the hat will do anything.
That's common too for it to come & go. It's probably depending on her anxiety levels
Timothy S. Sep 25, 2007, 1:11pm EDT
It could be brought on by anxiety. Something stressing her at home or school, or anywhere else she goes. I wish you luck! I am glad the article helped...



If you like true stories, check out the high school Diaries
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 1:12pm EDT
my fiancee is gone all the time.. he's a truck driver... do you think that would bug her? i mean im sure it does.. but would cause it?
Good luck from me too! Please keep us posted
Yes, I think it could have a lot to do with it
Melanie S. Sep 25, 2007, 1:48pm EDT
I'm sure it could be a multitude of things... I'd personally guess (but I'm no Dr) that it is anxiety/stress induced. You mentioned you just moved a month ago, she just started school, and daddy is gone a lot... while unavoidable, that's a lot on a young child's plate.

I wish I had some advice on how to help her with possible anxiety.. I think I'd do a search on her age group and anxiety.
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 1:51pm EDT
Ok thanks Melanie :)
Julia *loves my baby girl chloe* M. Sep 25, 2007, 2:08pm EDT
it is weird because i have that problem and i do believe it is brought on my stress and anxiety.. it does stop for awhile and it comes back a have to fight hard to not pull on my hair it started when my parents got a divorce thats what got it started but so many things go on in my life that causes me to start again! its horrible.. I have had bald spots still do and it is very embrassing!! i hate it!! wish i could control it!! and im trying very hard to latley it has stopped soooo hope fully i can keep it that way and hopefully the hair will grow back!! it has before so im hoping it will still do the same!!
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 2:13pm EDT
wow good luck julia :)
June b. Sep 25, 2007, 2:15pm EDT
We do things out of habit sometimes and don't even realize it. She may very well have some anxiety about the new things happening around her, so every time you see her doing it, maybe you can nonchalantly take her hand away and do something with it, like start singing a song and clap hands with her or take her hand and say " Lets go outside and play" Anything so you can remove her hand but let it seem natural. Keep us posted !
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 2:17pm EDT
great idea June..

I will keep ya guys posted thanks all
Julia *loves my baby girl chloe* M. Sep 25, 2007, 2:20pm EDT
thank you and i wish you the best of luck with your daughter!!
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 2:22pm EDT
Thanks :)
Jae F. Sep 25, 2007, 2:56pm EDT
Oh, I feel for you. My nephew did this when his parent's were going through a divorce. He would pull it out and eat it. Plus he would stuff objects up his nose. My sister had his head shaved, but there were several more trips to the ER for hamburgere, cottonballs, etc. up the nose. We got him a big bear to snuggle with in the bed and it seemed to help.
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 3:00pm EDT
hmmm maybe ill make a special trip and buy her a doll with long pretty hair..a special gift from mommy.. (shes closer to daddy) maybe she'll cuddle with it..worth a shot
James B. Sep 25, 2007, 3:48pm EDT
Sorry, not sure what to do.
Danielle P. Sep 25, 2007, 4:48pm EDT
Try all that everyone has suggested and if it continues I would get the dr to help, maybe she needs to see a therapist to learn coping skills. Try and be patient with her.
Jenn P. Sep 25, 2007, 4:50pm EDT
Ok I will...

you guys have been so much help! I love this site
Sarah C. Sep 29, 2007, 11:37pm EDT
I feel for you, as a parent, thinking that we could be doing something to stress them out.
I've noticed my daughter grinding her teeth a lot in her sleep -- which to me seems stress related, but I remember doing that all the way up through college... so, whether it's really stress, or just a quirk...
I think if *you* aren't stressed about it that will help her not be stressed as much too.
Best of luck!
Dawn S. Sep 30, 2007, 10:36am EDT
I would watch her and see if it gets worse. If it does you might consider talking to another doctor. I have seen people with a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder on TV that do this. Probably just a bad habit but I would watch it closely.
Dena Straughn Oct 4, 2007, 10:23am EDT
Try giving her something to hold in her hand at night, a silky blanket, or somthing soft and comforting;
Jenn P. Oct 4, 2007, 10:26am EDT
maybe ill get her a stuffed animal.. or a soft dora (she likes dora) ill find something thanks :)
nicole g. Oct 5, 2007, 10:28pm EDT
good luck ! unfortunatley I have nothing that might help
Tiffany G. Oct 6, 2007, 1:43am EDT
aww thas s ad.. I have never heard of that! I hope it gets better!
Jenn P. Oct 6, 2007, 11:08am EDT
yeah me2
golds g. Oct 6, 2007, 8:06pm EDT
I guess you can try to reward her for not doing it for example if she goes 3 days without doing it she get a star and then when she gets 10 she gets a special treat ...you get the idea
Jenn P. Oct 7, 2007, 10:54am EDT
Thats a great idea! but one problem I found out the other day..that she said she does it at night nite..while shes falling asleep :( everyone told me to cover her hands
Jenn P. Oct 10, 2007, 9:49am EDT
thanks thats a great idea :)
bf v. Oct 11, 2007, 9:03am EDT
My oldest daughter pulled her hair to the point of crying. Iam a mother of three girls. I would jump to every cry my kids let out. It was very sad and drove me crazy when my daughter would pull her own hair. Now we look back and think that it is very funny. I have had many hair pulling fights between my girls ages 8,7,and 5. But only my oldest pulled her own hair. But never to the point of losing her hair. I wish you all the luck.
Jenn P. Oct 11, 2007, 9:47am EDT
thanks..not sure why she would pull it .. must hurt but she doesn't cry.. wierd to me
Bundy P Nov 12, 2007, 2:54pm EST
Good luck!
karen p. Jan 10, 2008, 9:10pm EST
let's get those points!!
edna r. Aug 6, 2008, 7:29pm EDT
sorry, i don't know
Jenn P. Aug 6, 2008, 8:52pm EDT
its ok
Ghostly Ghoul Dec 12, 2008, 5:40pm EST
sorry i can't help
aidiliy mizrachi Dec 24, 2008, 3:26pm EST
my daughter in 3 years old .. shes been puling her hair for about 2 years im going bannanas ive never been able to make a nice pony tail for her its very sad. shes my little girl and people mistake her for a boy all the time .. i have two other kids that are boys and they have full head of hair never had problems with them except people confused them for being girls ...:( hows ur daughter doing anyways?? did she stop or slow down yet?
anne ( way 2 crazy of a life ) c. Jan 10, 2009, 2:31pm EST
i dont know

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