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Worried about hair pulling toddler

Posted By Brandi (Jacksonville, Florida) on 01/01/2014

I'm really worried about my son, Lucas. He's 18 months old and Hes got a really really weird obsession that started with him pulling my hair and putting it in his mouth when he was tired. Now he pulls his own and tonight in the bath I noticed a pretty huge bald spot starting in his head. My main concern is he actually EATS the hair after he pulls it out. He wraps it around his paci and sucks on it. (TMI) I can't tell you the amount of times I've found hair in his poop. What could this be?

Replied by Taram7 (Cincinnati, Oh) on 01/01/2014

A quick Google search turned up trichotillomania and Trichophagia. Both are supposed to be mental/emotional disorders.... but my question would be has the child been vaccinated? Sometimes other issues can manifest as disorders and are difficult to determine what the reason is. My good friend babysat an autistic girl that was much older but had a hair eating compulsion due to her autism.... I know that is a highly controversial subject and have no clue what the situation is with yours, but I believe most things are curable in the natural world.

Replied by Mike 62 (Denver, Colorado) on 01/01/2014

Brandi: I have 3 siblings. We ate the same food and were raised in the same environment. They all ended up with functional families and were able to hold jobs. I was not. I was always nervous and had stormy chaotic thoughts. Recently I've become more calm and cognizant eating raw organic produce and taking the superfoods.

Replied by Prioris (Fl) on 01/01/2014

Categorizing hair pulling as a mental disorder is just plain wrong. once you have had it and have been able to personally compare the mental states of when it IS happening and when it ISN'T happening, you would find out that the mental state is irrelevant. I think it is related to tourette syndrome but a borderline variety. I can't tell you why it physiologically happens but I think vaccines is one of the sources also.

Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 01/02/2014

Dear Brandi,

It is hard on a mama to see our little ones suffer! My first thoughts, like those who have already posted, would be diet and vaccines. I would avoid all processed foods, MSG, food dye, artificial sweetener. You really have to be a detective to find it all. Even children's medications and juices have food dye and artificial sweeteners!

If you have access to a juicer, I would try and get him to drink 1/3 cup fresh organic carrot juice twice a day. Also, have him take an activated charcoal tablet (my toddlers will just chew them up.) at bedtime too slowly detox of anything.

I would avoid TV and computer for him for a time. I recall a number of years ago that there was a children's cartoon that actually was causing children to have seizures. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under two, anyway.

Is his pulling still when he is tired or is it more now? You might try an epsom salt bath before bed. (1 cup per bath.) It is relaxing and the magnesium is healthy. You could also try rocking him to sleep. You could get a soft blanket or stuffed animal to hold when rocking and if he tries to pull, have him stroke the animal or blanket instead.

Do you live in an older house? I am wondering about lead paint exposure.

I will be praying for you to have wisdom and Lucas to have healing. Please keep us posted.

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Nanowriter (Hotspot, Texas) on 01/02/2014

Brandi, I remember reading about horse foals eating the tail hair off other horses and it was some sort of diet deficiency, fiber if I remember correctly.

Replied by Sharon (Tamp) on 08/11/2014

Dear Brandy, your son may be suffering from pica, a disorder that causes people to eat things with no nutrition. Pica is caused by a lack of certain important minerals, like zinc and iron. He may also be harboring parasites. Most doctors are able to treat this successfully.

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