She pulls her hair to fall asleep. What can I do?
If your little one pulls her hair as she falls asleep, you are not alone. Children sometimes do this as a self-soothing mechanism. One thing you can do is give your little one something else to do with her hands as she falls asleep, such as a doll with long hair or a stuffed animal with fuzz on it. Some children respond well to having their hands covered – but make it fun with something like sock puppets. Also, consider a short haircut as it is harder to pull hair that is short.
If she pulls her hair more than just at sleep times or when she gets upset, contact your pediatrician or behavioral health provider.
About Dr. Kevin Smith
