[*Lena*]

My four year old son is pulling his hair out. He does is sub consciously especially if he is watching tv or doing something. I really don't think its a nervous etc thing. How do I stop it? I have tried telling him to stop, trying to divert his attention, cut his hair short as we dared (he has a REALLY bad cowlick right where he is pulling his hair so it is sooo noticeable). I really don't want to clip his hair that short so any idea on what I can do to try and avoid that?

DH is at me to clip it bc he is scared the hair won't grow back.

[Jenno]

Dd2 did this in her sleep when she was 18 months old.

I ended up cutting all her hair off, she looked different for a bit. It cut the habit cause she had nothing to pull. There is a term for it, google hair pulling disorder and there are lots of references and ideas.

Dd2 stopped pretty much straight away, and hasn't done it since and now has nice long hair.

Good luck.

[Mo2k]

Could have Trichotillomania? Sadly I still do it though don't have any bald patches. I did get one once (right above my fringe line) however I was in my early 20's so vain enough to nip in the bud. I now know to spread the love about so to speak. I thought I was the only person who did it until I met another in my early 30's and then read a bit about it. I know I do it when watching TV, i.e. absent mindedly. I agree with the above post but also giving his hands something to do? Stroke a cat, play with a squeezy ball?

[gettheetoanunner...]

Hey Lena
Poor little fellow, eh?

It may just be an phase/age thing, but I would suggest seeking some info and speaking to your GP.
At least this will put your mind at easeor give you some management technques to help your lad.

I'm just a psych student and have done a little work on trichtotillomania as an impulse-control disorder.
I found some literature from a research paper I completed and remembered this website which may give you some relevant basic information. There is a section on children/teens.

http://www.trich.org/

Good luck

This post has been edited by gettheetoanunnery: 04/12/2012, 12:59 PM

[niksia]

DD did it as a sensory, thumb sucking thing, she would twist the hair and it would tickle her nose. She had random bald patches and we used to put her hair up. She did it while watching TV and going to sleep, so I made some cotton mittens for her to slip on which helped break the habit. DD could spot a single strand of hair on the carpet from several meters away. It really was impressive.

For a boy, I would be in favour of clippering it, I am afraid. I was so worried that it would damage the hair follicles. Doesn't seem to have but she has a ridiculous amount of hair anyway.

I do know a lady that randomly plucks at her eyebrows and eye lashes though. It is not uncommon but I do think as a child it is a stage and perhaps a sensory thing.

[anasam]

DS used to do this, shaving his hair right down did break the cycle at the time but he eventually started up again. By about age 9 he was more aware of what he was doing and made a conscious choice not to do it as the bald patches were quite obvious and he was embarrassed. I have read that you shouldn't make a big deal of it, just gently move his hand away whenever you see him touching his head.

[Chongololo]

I did this (now I just play with it, trained myself to not pull it out)

For me it's something I do when concentrating OR drifting.. For a boy short short is probably an answer, as is not making a big deal of it. I will still catch myself pulling out eyelashes sometimes (WHY?? whhhhyyyyy? *sob*)

overall, treat it like a habit to break gently. good luck!

[~Mo+Moosh~]

My DS pulled his hair out from about 16 months until he turned 2. We clipped his hair short and that helped.

He only ever pulled one side and at the time he stopped 2 significant things happened, 1 being he had grommets put in and he cut his 2 year old molars. I personally believe he was pulling his hair in response to either pain from his ears or teething.

He's almost 6 now and hasn't had any more issues but it was stressful at the time trying to isolate the cause.