How to Stop a Child From Hair Pulling

Children are often fascinated by hair. It's when the touching and playing becomes pulling -- and on a regular basis -- that parents start to become concerned. In severe cases, you might begin to notice bald spots. Or, perhaps your child may be ashamed or embarrassed of her hair-pulling. Don't put off addressing this behavior, even in its early stages. You won't likely stop your child overnight, but with commitment on your part to keep watch and reward your child, you can help her stop this bad habit.

Things You'll Need

  • Lollipop, stress ball, finger puppets, stuffed animal or blanket
  • Gloves, bandages or rubber finger tips
  • Stickers, rewards, toys or tickets

Instructions

    • 1

      Identify when and where your child is pulling her hair. Common places and times include in the car, during story times, during timeout and while watching television. According the the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, some children pull their hair when they're stressed.

    • 2

      Give your child a replacement object, such as a lollipop, gum, building blocks, a squishy stress ball or finger puppets, during those times when he is most likely to pull hair. A stuffed animal with long fur or a blanket with different textures might be good options for your child. You don't need to give him the same thing each time.

    • 3

      Put gloves on your child during those hair-pulling times to make hair-pulling more difficult. Bandages and rubber finger tips, such as those worn by cashiers, can also help reduce the likelihood of hair-pulling.

    • 4

      Set goals and a reward system for your child. If, for example, your child does not pull her hair for the 10-minute ride to school, give her a reward. If she keeps her gloves on during a television show, give her a reward. The reward could be a sticker, toy or lollipop. You could go to the dollar or toy store with your child so she can pick out some of her own rewards. In general, younger children will need shorter, smaller goals with immediate rewards for this strategy to work. For older children, you could give out tickets, which they can later trade in for rewards. Bigger rewards could be worth more tickets than smaller rewards. Find what works best for your child; you will likely need to make some changes, especially if her interests change.

    • 5

      See your child's doctor if your efforts to help the hair-pulling fail. Sometimes, children who obsessively pull hair have a biological brain disorder called trichotillomania. It is usually something they just can't stop completely without cognitive behavioral therapy or medication.

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