Hair Pulling!!!!

My 8 month old loves hair, too. My husband is trying to teach him not to pull on his beard, and my hair is very long and easy to grab ahold of. It's actually been cut already - his feet were grabbing it down at my butt, so it's now just above elbow length. Anyway, I don't know how to help, but I wanted to tell you that you weren't alone. There have been times that the only way I could get him to calm down when he was really tired and upset was to let him hold onto a lock of my hair.

Hi M.,

It sounds like how my son acts with his blanket. Maybe you could try replacing your hair with a small, soft blankie. When he goes for your hair, tell him "no" and hand him the blankie instead. I'm sure it will take a little while, but once he figures out he can take his blankie anywhere, he may be happier (and you won't lose any more hair).

Good luck!

Hi M.,
Soon after she started teething and developed an obsession with tags (the fabric kind that are on stuffed toys or in clothing), my daughter became fixated on my hair as her favored comfort object. She needed to put my hair in her mouth and rub it in her small, warm, sticky hands, in order to soothe herself or get to sleep at night. This habit quickly lost its cuteness factor as her grip got stronger, and I tried giving her other soft things, and even cut my hair short, in my attempts to deter her. But she had made up her mind. How delighted I was when she grew out of this phase! But I still have some hilarious photographs of her heading for my hair... I hope your son will respond to a stern voice when he pulls too hard. Best of luck to you and your scalp!

My son did the exact same thing, and I bought him a stuffed horse. I told him it hurt to pull Mommy's hair, and gave him the horse whenever he wanted my hair. (It wasn't long before that poor horse had very little "hair" left in his mane and tail!) But, it was better it than me!

My son has had hair attachment since he gave up his pacifier at around six months, he is now 2. He likes to twist my hair in his hands and rub the ends on his cheeks. He only pulls my hair. I have been working with him for a long time to get him to stop. Whenever he puts his hands in my hair I remove his hands and tell him it's not nice to pull mommy's hair, it hurts. He has improved. Cutting your hair probably won't make a diierence to him and pulling short hair hurts too!

Good luck, I hope you find a solution.

I hate to state the obvious, but can't you just pull your hair back in a ponytail? If it won't all stay back you could also add a headband to hold back the loose ends. I know you may not want to wear your hair like that all the time, but just until you break him of the habit. I never had this problem, but my son's comfort object while nursing was twiddling with my other nipple - talk about ouch! When I would try to stop him, he would get really upset. He didn't stop until his baby sister was born and took over the other boob. I wish I had made him stop sooner.

I don't really have any advice, just wanted to say that my sister's 8 mo old has a similar hair attachment. She likes to fall asleep holding her mommy's hair, she plays with it when she is upset etc.

Both of my daughters used my hair as their comfort thingy...both twirled it, rubbed it on their cheeks to get to sleep. They were not pulling it out of my head though! Sounds like if he can't lighten his grip, it is a habbit he just needs to stop. Maybe you could pull your hair up or back out of the way so he cannot be grabbing it when you are holding him (at least for a while until he learns to stop). Another idea, is maybe getting him some sort of a doll that has longer hair he can play with instead. I am trying to wean my youngest from the need to do this, and sometimes I will just put her to bed with a doll with long hair for this purpose. It could be anything as simple as a barbie even. Good luck!
K.

Hi M.! I had a couple of kids who played with my hair while nursing. I have a friend whose son could not go to sleep without her hair. I think it is normal, but if it is causing you to feel frustrated with him you have to set some limits. It is amazing what a 9 month old can understand, and if you are consistent he will learn. You could let him hold your hair, but if he pulls you could make a loud noise like NA! and take his hand away while not even looking at him. Go on about your business because he might be doing it because he sees you react to him. Be very calm and matter of fact. Do not cut off your hair, he can learn. Another way would be to set him on the floor and walk away after he pulls. He knows what he is doing. I was able to train my last baby to stay away from our magazine basket in a similiar way. She was never spanked or screamed at we were just very consistent with her, in a few days our magazines were intact! I think we have to do all we can to avoid becoming frustrated, then we can enjoy our babies!