Hair pulling in children often begins as a self-soothing habit, sometimes accompanied by thumb-sucking, reports the Kids Growth website. As a baby advances into toddlerhood, hair pulling may become an attention-getting maneuver, a symptom of frustration and anger or a response to anxiety. If hair pulling persists into late childhood and adolescence, it may become a compulsive habit with features similar to obsessive compulsive disorder. This condition, called trichotillomania, can lead to temporary hair loss, and can negatively affect self-esteem. By addressing this behavior early on, you can help your child overcome the hair-pulling habit.
Step 1
Work on hair pulling and thumb sucking at the same time. These two behaviors tend to be inextricably linked in young children and babies and often trigger each other, according to Kids Growth. Therefore, trying to address only one of these habits and not the other is often unsuccessful. The Trichotillomania Learning Center website advises that you introduce techniques that block hair pulling and thumb sucking when your child becomes a toddler.
Step 2
Distinguish between hair pulling that's tantrum-related and the kind that's prompted by anxiety. This is is an important factor in how you respond, according to Kids Growth. For example, ignoring tantrum-based or attention-getting hair pulling might be the right approach, while ignoring self-soothing hair pulling might cause it to become worse.
Step 3
Offer your child diversionary objects. Kids Growth suggests that you give your child objects that approximate the feel of hair. Pipe cleaners, satin ribbons or feathers are all reasonable substitutes. Kids Growth suggests rotating these objects to keep your child engaged.
Step 4
Use deterrents or obstructions. This might be gloves for high-risk situations, a hair cap or net for bedtime or a bandage on the thumb to make pulling hair more difficult. Kids Growth says these tools, along with your encouragement, can redirect your child toward verbally communicating her feelings.
Step 5
Seek cognitive behavioral therapy for a child or teen with persistent trichotillomania. Some children may need additional help to curb this compulsion, according to Kids Health. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a method of helping your child cope with the feelings of anxiety that prompt him to pull his hair. Your child may be asked to keep a journal of these feelings and find more constructive ways of handling them. For some children, medication may also be helpful or a combination of medication and therapy.
Tips and Warnings
- Try a short haircut, suggests Kids Growth. This will make the habit more difficult to practice.
Things You'll Need
- Satin ribbons, pipe cleaners or feathers
- Hair cap or net
- Bandages
- Gloves
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