Ok my son who will be 3 later this month has developed an odd habit over the last 6 months or so. He has started sucking on hair. Ok maybe not that strange if it were his own hair but he will go get a piece of hair out of my brush, pick it up off the floor or anywhere else he can find it. He wraps it around his thumb and sucks on it tangles it around his hand and runs it in his mouth. I think its disgusting esspecially when he gets it off the floor cause its not just at home he will do this anywhere. Has anyone else ever delt with this? He will have a total meltdown if i take a piece off his hand its like he is really loving the feel of it in his mouth. I will be talking to his pediatrican about this but thought i would see if any other moms have delt with this issue.
Can you give him something that would feel similar but be less gross. like a doll with silky hair, or a satin edged blanket??
Well kids go through weird phases. So it is probably a phase. But this one I would discourage because if it gets in his throat, it could cause problems. He is 3 and do the substitution/diversion technique. And if that doesn't work, you may just have to tolerate a few TT's. If nothing else is going on with him, it probably is just a weird phase...
My friend's son has sensory issues, and he used to walk around with one of those ponytail holders with fake hair on it. (He actually had about 5 in case they couldn't find one. Kind of like some kids have pacifiers... he had hair.) Might try that if you're just worried about the cleanliness of the hair.
Just sounds like he's enjoying a sensation...as much as it grosses you out, this probably isn't something he's going to continue for too long. Probably just a phase, or an experiment, let's say...unless you start to notice other odd sensory issues...but I wouldn't worry about it. Just ignore it and see what happens over a few months?
Sounds like it could be a sensory issue. Does he have a particular interest or aversion to any other sensory experiences?
Or he could just be experimenting with something new, albeit gross. :)
My son went through a phase at 3 of picking fuzz off of things..... Blankets, floor, sweaters, etc.... And chewing on it. I would ask what he was chewing and he would always say "mouse gum".....um, OK ?????
My daughter, also 3, is currently in a phase of putting everything and anything in her mouth. She never did anything like that as a baby but suddenly anything she picks up immediately goes in. Yuck!
I don't know why, but it seems like kids go through weird phases.... Nit much you can do but discourage it when you see it happening and praise him a ton for not doing it.
No advice, but it amazes me how kids come up with this stuff to begin with. Hopefully just a phase. Good Luck!
One way to stop behavior is to totally ignore it. If he's discovered he gets attention when he does it, this might work.
I too think it's a sensory issue and he'll stop before too long. Be sure he has more acceptable textured items that he can put in his mouth.
If he is simply sucking it then it is probably a sensory/comfort thing for him. However if he is eating it or chewing it/swallowing it then you may want to speak to your doctor about it as it could be a serious disease. I can't remember the name of it but I have read articles where people have had lifethreatening issues from large amounts of hair they had eaten over time.
Good Luck!
I remember as a kid sucking on my own hair... my dad used to tell me that he was going to cut it off and then I could eat it. I also used to chew on thread and twine, but that's a whole nother issue. I don't remember picking it up from other places though. Can you get him to replace the hair that he picks up with something else, maybe a favorite snack or something? Even if it's a little M&M, if you can get him to trade maybe he'll quit the habit.. Good Luck
