Just recently, I believe that my six month old daughter just found her ears and her hair. She LOVES pulling my hair and holding on to it while I hold her--as with anyone else that holds her. So obviously, she's fascinated with hair.
Everytime I feed her (and only when I feed her, not anytime else), she grabbs at her ears and her hair. I know that she does not have an ear infection, she only grabs it occaisionally and she's not in pain or have a fever. She does not have head lice either.
Does anyone else think she just discovered her ears and hair? Please suggest some things you think may be going on. Thank you!
2007-01-21 14:00:18 · 11 answers · asked by Tasha 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Correction: This is when I breastfeed her. There is not any skin flakes or any signs of cradle cap.
2007-01-21 14:37:15 · update #1
I think it is probably a sign of contentment. My son would flip his fingers up and down the side of his ear everytime he was tired. At first I thought ear infection. But in time I realized that he was headed for a nap on his own. I just payed attention to the series of things that followed or that happened at that time. No matter what he was doing if he all of a sudden started going at his ears in this manner, within about a 1/2 hour he was asleep on the floor or something. Never missed. Yours is probably contentment with eating. I wouldn't worry unless a runny nose or crying or whining or even a shrill outburst happens. Kids are funny like that. It's cute though.
2007-01-21 14:07:47 · answer #1 · answered by Me2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a girlfriend that would grab on to anyone's hair and almost suck on it. Not really putting it in her mouth but holding it to her lips and sucking on her tongue. As she got older, her mother put her to bed with a doll with artificial human hair. Her playing with her hair has become a part of the comforting nursing experience for her. Try a dolly with very soft hair and maneuver it near the back of her head when you feed her. She may start fussing with the doll hair and stop scratching the back of her head.
2007-01-21 14:17:06 · answer #2 · answered by sheepinarowboat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she is only doing it when she is feeding, perhaps she is doing it because eating and playing with her hair at the same time is pleasurable and relaxing. I like to read while I eat.
Other than being messy, it doesn't seem like it would cause any harm. Let her enjoy!
If you want to discourage it, perhaps you could give her something to do with her hands, if you are controlling the spoon. An extra spoon to play with, plastic washable toy or cup?
No dry skin or rash...eczema?
2007-01-21 14:13:14 · answer #3 · answered by purple 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds pretty normal to me, just something else to play with. The only other thing I would check for would be maybe cradle cap (dry skin on the scalp)
2007-01-21 14:06:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds perfectly normal. My daughter pulls at her ears when it is bottle time. I talked to her doctor about it and he said it was nothing to worry about. Some babies just go through this. It is a way for them to comfort themselves. In time she will notice other things and not need them as a security any more..
2007-01-21 14:09:46 · answer #5 · answered by auntietawnie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter started to do the same thing at that age. I realized that it was a sign that she was tired. She is 9 1/2 months now, and still does this when whe is tired.
2007-01-21 14:33:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes when she is teething it can cause pressure on her ear canal causing her to react to it as she would to an earache. Is she teething? If so just step up the remedy you are using for teething. (This happened to my youmgest child ) Also, with my youngest child he pulls on his ear when I rock him while I am feeding him. This is a way he helps put himself to sleep. Just make notes of when your child pulls on ears and it could be just something as simple and nothing to worry about as teething or a habit she picked up to help comfort herself.
2007-01-21 14:05:46 · answer #7 · answered by wow1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
may be a mushy alergy to her shampoo, or headlice or in basic terms cradle cap. any way i had all 3 at one factor or yet another, examine for nits or lice (bites depart scalp purple/flaky/itchy) attempt utilising an all organic shampoo and notice if it is going away if its relatively flaky, T-gel is a tar based shampoo that works, my mom used it on me using fact i've got been given cradle undesirable as a youngin
2016-10-31 23:11:08 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like she is using that to comfort herself. As long as there is no redness, bumps, sores, etc....everything is probably fine....double check with the doc at her next appointment though, just to be sure.,
2007-01-21 14:04:29 · answer #9 · answered by been_there_done_that 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if you are nursing her, then she has found another way to latch onto mommy time. Its her way of relaxing. She's not hurting herself correct? Then I would not worry about it. Its a phase!
2007-01-21 14:08:30 · answer #10 · answered by ebay_convert 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋