Pulling hair out and pulling skin.

[Beauchamp]

My DD regularly pulls her hair out. She looks straight at me, reaches back behind her head, and yanks. Then she looks at the hairs in her fist, and does it again. She also has recently started pulling the skin on her neck. (She also really yanks MY hair out, by the roots.)

My mom says when she does this I should say NO in a loud, disapproving voice. I've tried distracting her, but she keeps doing it. Can she hurt herself? I wonder if it's because she needs even *more* attention from me? It's got me kind of worried.

[Icehockey18]

Ds does something similiar, but doesn't actually pull any hair out (he doesn't really have much to grab). I thought it had something to do with teething, but I could be wrong. I know teething sometimes has 'referred' pain, some kids pull at their ears, etc... Ds does yank the heck out of my hair though!!! I tell him, 'ouch, that hurts mommy, please be gentle', and move his hand away, but for some reason that is funny and he laughs and keeps trying.... So then we find another game to play which does not involve beating up mommy.... So, not sure how to 'stop' the behaivor, but maybe it's due to teething??....

[midnightmommy]

Does she respond to the pain of yanking it out?

[Beauchamp]

Originally Posted by Icehockey18

I tell him, 'ouch, that hurts mommy, please be gentle', and move his hand away, but for some reason that is funny and he laughs and keeps trying...

Same here! Also, she will do it when she doesn't get what she wants (usually she is reaching for something off limits and gets mad)

Originally Posted by midnightmommy

Does she respond to the pain of yanking it out?

No. She just looks at it. And repeats. She doesn't always get hairs out, but she pulls.

[Jayray]

My DS (11 mo) also pulls at his hair, although I've never seen him actually pull it out. I have some how managed to get him to respond to "gentle" when he tries to pull my hair. If he pulls, I take his hand away, open it up, and stroke my hair with his open hand saying, "gentle." He pulls a lot less often now.

He also has been pinching me more lately, but I've never seen him pinch himself!

I guess if she doesn't seem to be in pain, it's probably okay? You could call your ped and ask?