My 17 Month Old Pulls My Hair!

This is a learned condition. I have three children (oldest is 8). My oldest pulled my hair, head-butt, and bit! The two younger children never did this, because I learned with the first ;) At this age (17 mos.) your child knows what "no" is -- it's not necessarily the word - but the tone. Try this (it worked for me) -- Voice a firm "NO" and sit the child down (out of your arms). He will cry, and climb back on you (probably). Take him in your arms again, but the next time he pulls - "NO", sit him down. Know that your children need your approval and they learn very quickly (providing you are consistent). Hang in there -- it will work ;)

Ahh T. - our sons must be twins! My 18 month old does the same exact thing. I have tried all sorts of replacements like fuzzy blankets, stuffed animals, etc and nothing has worked. I even tied my hair back and wrapped his blanket around my head thinking he would get used to the blanket and that way I could transition the blanket into his crib. Needless to say - that didn't work either. I've started to remove his hand and place it on his own head whenever he strokes and pulls my hair and he has started to stroke his own hair. We decided to let him into our bed after he was very ill with some sort of virus and croup a few weeks ago and it's been hard getting him to go back to his crib. The poor thing was traumatized at the hospital and he was so miserable that we felt so bad leaving him in his room alone. We couldn't do it - plus we were scared of his labored breathing with the croup. Now that he is over this we are going to try a simulated version for crying it out and he will need to learn to soothe himself somehow. I'll let you know if anything works. Good luck in the meantime!

Hi T. - I could have written your post! My daughter is 23 months old & she does the same thing!

I have been working on transitioning her to a doll with more life-like hair.

If I think of anything else, I will let you know. Hope some more of the Mom's have experience with this!

My son did the same thing to me. He would put pull my hair and head butt me. DO not let him in the bed with you. It is a bad habit and will get worse. I had my son in the bed with me because he was sick with the croup and a couple ear infections. it was a beast to get him to go back in his crib but we stuck to our guns and he is in his own bed again. When he talks more the hair pulling will stop. tell him no that is not nice and put him in time out when he does that. what about a blanket or a stuffed animal as a substitute? good luck

I had a similar problem. I cut my hair.

my son did that and still tries to. I started telling him if he did it I would put him down or move away from him. Then I would do it if he persisted. He started learning that I would not let him pull my hair and that it was not acceptable. Stay firm in your decision to not let him pull your hair and you will start to see changes in a few days to a week. Good luck.

Don't let him pull your hair. Teach him not to the same way you would teach anything, no hitting, no biting etc. Stand firm, and don't give in. Yes, you let him make it into a soothing thing, but now it's hard and hurting, and it's time for the habit to stop. He won't be happy at first. Just be firm. He will understand. Enforce what you say.

Substitute with a soft blanket or something else soft. Feed him more during the day if he is waking up at night, and do not EVER offer your hair to sooth him during the night (or ever). He is old enough to sleep on his own all night. Cry it out will work if you don't cave in and if his belly is full. Even if he seems fine, he can eat more during the day if he's not sleeping through. Should take 3 days to a week for the extra calories and message you're not coming with your hair to save him to sink in. Good luck! You want him feeling secure on his own without your help for his own good and happiness even if it's hard at first. You're too busy not to be sleeping!