DD and my hair

[MommytoHHH]

I have posted for advice before - I think in the toddler section about DD and my hair. I am not sure if this post will get to stay here, but I thought that maybe I could get some advice from the mamas here. My DD is almost 21 months old and she is obsessed with my hair. It is her lovey. She has to pull on it to go to sleep, she wants to hold it in the car, if she can get within reach of it during the day, her hands are in my hair. Aside from the fact that it is REALLY driving me nuts, I feel like it is to the point where her obsession really isn't healthy. If she asks to hold my hair and I say no, she has a complete meltdown. I mean complete and utter breakdown - sobbing, screaming, crying, big tears - it breaks my heart. I have tried to help her find other lovies. I've bought a doll with hair similar to mine (long and very curly). My hair constantly looks like a small animal is nesting in it and I am not comfortable with that. I have tried putting my hair up and she just rips at it until she pulls enough down to hold onto and play with. Can anyone help me with her addiction? Please? I am totally desperate...

[allgirls]

My youngest started doing this so I did the pony tail and it worked. She does have a fascination with elbows though ..she strokes/rubs my elbow until she falls asleep and I dont' mind bu tth ehair thing drove me nuts.

I don't know what to suggest but I would stick with redirection. Maybe a wig or some of those clip on extensions you can get in the stores?

Good luck

[liliaceae]

Well I have a son the same age, and if I were in your shoes I just wouldn't let him play with my hair. Explain to her that you don't like it when she plays with your hair, so she can't do it anymore. If she screams and cries when you don't let her, act the same way you would if she threw a fit for any other reason--be there for her, comfort her, try to redirect her. I know it's hard sometimes to let them cry, but she really needs to learn to respect your personal boundaries, and to realize that she can't do whatever she wants to your body. How would you react if instead of playing with your hair, she liked to bite you all the time? (Not saying it's the same thing, just an analogy). You obviously wouldn't let her bite you, you'd tell her that it hurts you so she can't do it. Give her your honest reasons for not wanting her to play with your hair (you don't like it, it's constantly messy, etc.)

[pink gal]

My youngest DD had the hair as lovey thing also, especially when nursing. As she got older she started holding my hair with one hand and her own with the other. I gradually let less and less of my hair be accessible and she continued to hold and twist her own around her finger. I was able to gradually offer her less and less hair by putting more of mine in a clip and only letting a little hang down.

The only problem we encountered is that she then began twisting her won hair around her finger to put herself to sleep and whe would wake up with hair twisted around her finger and start screaming "stuck" until I could get her untwisted!

[Sunmommy]

This post brings back memories!!

My dd was constantly playing w/my hair...when she was a toddler she would even say "I want mommy's hair"...she would rub it between her fingers..I can totally relate to your hair looking like a nest

We tried buying her a doll w/long hair...it didn't work. She really didn't like to do it to anyone elses hair..occasionally she would try it w/grandma or an aunt but it was really was just my hair she wanted. It actually did frustrate me at the time but I kind of miss it now..she's 9. She actually will do it every so often if we are sitting together or when I am putting her to bed but it is usually just for a second.

So, no suggestions but I had to chime in here b/c it was a big issue for us from about 12 months-4 years.