evelyn's hair

Evelyn had no hair when she was born.  When Ethan was born he had more hair than her and she was 17 months old.  When Evelyn finally got hair, it was thin and scraggly.  Right as it was starting to thicken up, she cut it off.  It actually turned out pretty cute, after I fixed it, and I had been thinking about cutting it short anyway.  For a long time, she asked if I would shave it like Ethan's.  No.  No.  Finally, she quit cutting little pieces here and there and I was getting excited that I wouldn't keep having to look at that one little piece that was bugging me.  A few months ago, I started noticing that she had a short piece of hair up front.  I asked about it and she swore she never cut it.  It turns out that she chewed it off and it keeps getting shorter.  Also, a few months ago, I found a handful of hair in her room.  She had been pulling hair out when she was bored.  I started finding little balls of hair here and there.  I started noticing when I blow dry her hair on Sundays, that the front part of her hair around her face is getting thinner and thinner.  So, not only is she pulling out her hair but she's doing it all in the same area.  The hair around her face has gotten pretty sparse.  Maybe I am the only one who notices it, but it is very thin.  It really upsets me.  It makes me feel anxious and my stomach churns.  She could care less.  She's not doing it to upset anyone, just for something to do before she falls asleep.  She has started asking to grow her hair out and be able to have pony tails, pig tails, braids and more.  I keep telling her she has to stop pulling her hair first.  In fact it is so bad, I'm going to have to cut it as short as I can with out changing the style.  I know it bothers me because I can't control it, but it's kind of a hair dressers worst nightmare to get a kid who doesn't have any respect for hair.  Oh well!  I guess the laugh is on me!

Comments

[Tiffany]

That is no fun. My niece does that and they had to cut her hair super short. Aparently it's a medical condition, I'd never heard about it before. You might want to talk to her doctor about it. Good luck.

[Wendy R.]

Maggie, she's not doing this to just bug you. It's an actual condition. I've known a couple of kids that have done this. One was a little girl and her parents actual buzzed her head to get her to stop. Same with a little boy. If not taken care of when they are young it can become a life long habit. Recommendations I've heard for treating it include giving her a stuffed animal or something like it that is very furry or hairy so that she can pull on that. Or, other people just cut it off super short so they can't pull on it. By the time it grows back in they’ve hopefully kicked the habit. That’s probably the last thing a hair dresser would want to consider doing to her child, especially once she’s a little older. Ask around, I’m sure you’ll find other people who have had kids with the same issue. I’m sure there is more advice out there than I can give. Good luck!!

[maggie]

Thanks for the info! Ben & I did some more research and we don't think that's what Evelyn has, but we are going to keep a close eye on it. She doesn't do it all the time and it's not an uncontrollable urge. If we have to we will take more drastic measures, but for right now we will just watch her! Thanks!

[Wendy R.]

So good to hear! What a great mom she has! ;)