My 2 1/2 year old daughter has sucked her thumb since she was in my stomach. We saw it it a lot of ultrasounds. The thumb sucking doesn't bother me that bad, though I wish she didn't do it. My problem is that she has very long hair and she has always got a section of her hair and twirled it and played with it while she sucked her thumb. Just recently she has been pulling hair out while she is doing this. I don't think she is doing it on purpose, but she is getting a bald spot on the top of her head from all the hair that is being pulled out. I don't know what to do to make her stop. Is there anything safe that you can put on her thumbs to make it taste bad to where she doesn't want to suck her thumb? I figure if she stops sucking her thumb she would stop playing with her hair. Does anyone have any suggestions or has anyone gone through this as well? I'm just concerned about her going bald in one spot and it looking funny and not growing back.
Cut her hair. Try a cute little bob, with or without bangs. I remember when I was a little older than that and loved long hair my mom would threaten to give me a pixie if I didn't stop chewing on the ends of my hair!
Sucking the thumb is hard to break my 17 year old daughter that is pretty, poplar a cheerleader still sucks her thumb and turns 18 in November will not stop sucking her thumb and she twittles her clothes. What i did was give her a blanket because she use too pull at her hair. I suggest give her a variety of things for her to latch on instead of her hair a blanket,doll and bear keep in mind they like the craziest things pretty has nothing to do with it LOL..........Good Luck
Stopping the thumb sucking wont stop the hair twirling. I didnt suck my thumb but i twirled my hair and i still do. My grandmother did it, my cousin does it and i do it. I know this isnt much help and im sorry but im not bald so thats good news..lol! When mom seen me start she would just give me something to do to get my mind on something else. I still do it just not alot usually when im at work and im doing something where im really having to think ill just do it. Good luck!
I'm with Holly - how about a ponytail or a hairstyle that keeps her hair back? Maybe then she will learn not to mess with it.
I also just thought, maybe some kind of activity that kept her hands busy would help. The first thing that comes to mind is piano - of course I know she is really a bit young to start something like that!! But anything that otherwise occupies her, some sort of craft or whatever.
My little boy always played with his hair when he was tired or nursing. If I kept his hair cut short he couldn't play with it and pull on it as you are describing your daughter does. With her, it might be a good idea to try pulling her hair back in a bun or a brade so she can't play with it. Maybe, that will help. Neither of my kids ever did suck their thumbs though. Good Luck :)
