11 month old pulling 5 year olds hair what do i do?

Question

my 11 months old ( my 3rd child) keeping jerking out my 5 year olds hair not just pulling she grabs and jerks and when she does it she looks straight at me. Waiting for me to do something? Its like she knows its something she is not supposed to do. I'll be prying her hand out of 5 year olds hair and she will grab with the other hand. I know part of it is shes a baby and will out grow but I think she also recognizes that she is not supposed to do this or i wouldnt get that stare down when she does it. Also she rarely pulls my hair or other peoples hair. I need some advise before my 5 year old becomes bald!!!!!

Answer 1

Your 11 mouth old is getting exactly what she wants: ATTENTION.

Answer 2

Personally. I'd pull her hair or pop that hand. I know it sounds cruel, but you cannot reason with an 11 month old. Feeling the consequences will help her stop. She'll learn that if she pulls her sibling's hair, she'll get her's pulled too. Hair pulling hurts enough that she should stop after a few times.
I read all the other answers and I just don't think time out or ignoring will work. I'd definately cuddle the 5 yr old that is being hurt by a baby, but I wouldn't expect that to change her behavior. Children are very self centered. She doesn't realize she hurt the 5 year old. She just knows it gets a reaction. Ignoring a baby will only get a more drastic acting out, it won't teach her anything. To me this is like the little kids (under 2) that bite. Biting back works, time out doesn't.

Answer 3

You're are right. She is doing it for attention. The best way to handle this is when she pulls your older daughters hair, get her hands out of the childs hair, and then completely ignore the 11 month and tend to the 5 year old. Giving the 5 year old the attention that the 11 month old is looking for. When she sees that she is not getting attention (positive or negative). She'll get bored with it and go on to something new.

Answer 4

Child psych 101. Stop it =anti-attention. Hold down her hands gently but do not look her in her eyes. Count to 10 and let go. Do this every time she tries to pull hair WHILE she is still doing it. A few fits later [little ones ALWAYS hate when they don't get looked at in the eye OR not being able to move!!!] and she will stop it

Answer 5

At 6-9 months old it's time to or ok to begin teaching the baby what no means. My 10 month old knows what NO means. He also pulls 3yr old hair but only when they are rolling on carpet and I tell him no. sometimes it works, sometimes not. but he definitely knows the meaning. He tried to get into trash can in kitchen and when I holler NO at him he turns and crawls away, so I know I have gotten the meaning of No across to him at about 9 months old. Good Luck and start now it will be harder later.

Answer 6

Perhaps she is trying to seek your attention by doing this negative behavior? It occurs to me that if you praise your baby more for positive things she does and pay more attention to her she might not seek it in this way. Then when she does pull hair, you should consistently allow her to experience the consequences by putting her in time out, for example.

Answer 7

Take her hands out of the other's hair, tell her no, and then don't give her any more attention. Just take your 5 year old out of the room and play with him/her for awhile. Your 11 month old will get the hint--she's young, but she's not stupid!

Answer 8

This is the time to teach what is acceptable behavior and what's not.

You should start by saying NO! with the tone of your voice, and do something that's not very pleasant to him or her.

You can spread something sticky like mayonaisse on her cheek when he/she does it, and strongly say no at the same time.

She/he will let go and will learn that that behavior isn't giving pleasant results. Try peanut butter!