stressed out baby!

Any ideas how to help my girl relax? She's a very very active baby. Always on the move, walking all over the place and playing. She does nap ok in the morning- maybe about an hour- and sleeps 12-13 hours at night. it seems though that she's developed a habit of pulling her hair out especially while she's falling asleep. I haven't seen her do this any other time. I know that hair pulling is a sign of stress but I have no idea how to relax this child. She is happy but I guess her energy level overwhelms her. any suggestions?

 

Wow....I know my girls sometimes pull at their own hair, but more in amazement like, "what is this?" If she's pulling it out, it obviously has to stop, but if she finds it soothing to tug at her hair, maybe it's not so bad? Have you told your pediatrician? Do you use pacifiers...I'm wondering because they help with the self soothing.

My girls gnaw on the sides of their cribs when they are refusing naps and getting overtired and cranky. My dr said that it was just a phase and to just keep an eye on them. I hope that this is a phase for your baby too...

 

Thanks for your post. We talked to the pedi about it and also saw a dermatologist. Neither had any suggestions except they clarified that it's not a fungus or alopecia but rather something she's doing to herself. She's never used pacifiers so I don't think I would introduce them at this age. I'm hoping it's a phase but I'd like it to finish soon. She is looking balder than she did a month ago

 

My dd does this. She is very active also and the hair pulling is a preoccupation. She does it most in the carseat or crib and it's just because she's bored or winding down and it's something to do. She pulls it out then rubs the soft hair on her lips. That sounds crazy I know but she likes the feeling of soft things on her mouth. It's a self soothing technique. To break her out of it I put a hat on her head and only took it off when she went in the crib. We went to Walmart and picked out a special toy, a stuffed My Little Pony, that has wild fuzzy hair she can play with. I also got her attached to a special blanket, her "baba", so she has something else to keep her occupied other than her hair. She lost a lot of hair from this habit but thankfully much of it has grown back. She still does it sometimes but not as much. If we keep her occupied, show dvds in the car, give her the baba, her special toys, etc, she won't do it. Hope that helps!

 

Thanks! that's a great idea. Will look for a wild haired toy for her. Maybe that will help. I thought it was the slight pain that was soothing her but you might be right- it might be the feel of soft hair.

 

I thought it was the pain too at first, but now I don't think so. It's the softness of hair, and nothing else is really quite like your own hair. There's lint, blanket fibers, and doll hair, but human hair has a unique softness. I play with my hair too, and this has been a lifelong habit, so I guess I understand, LOL! It seems extreme to us that a baby would pull her own hair, but I don't think they understand what they are doing.

This is the hat I got -

http://www.hannaandersson.com/Style.asp?fr...styleRef=22733y

It's good because it fits close to the head so she doesn't notice it as much, and it ties under her chin so she can't pull it off.

This is the toy she got -

http://www.hasbro.com/mylittlepony/default...roduct_id=19045

She also likes the Strawberry Shortcake dolls that come with McDs happy meals right now. Those have good hair. Good luck!