How Do I Stop My Baby From Pulling Hair? - What To Expect

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by Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. checked mark

Fact-Checked by Kathleen Felton

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What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and relies on credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, highly respected health organizations and experts in various fields. All content is fact-checked by professional journalists prior to publishing.

We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. | October 12, 2021 Latest update: See moreiStock Ask Heidi Murkoff If your baby loves to pull your hair — hard! — try these strategies to teach him to stop.

"My 11-month-old baby likes to pull my hair hard. How can I teach him to stop doing this?"

Your baby's hair-pulling high jinks probably started innocently enough. He yanked your hair by accident, you let out a yelp, he giggled, you couldn't help but laugh back (it was so cute the first time!), and, voilà, a game of cause and effect was born.

Keep these tips in mind if you want to end baby hair pulling:

Stay calm. Any kind of reaction from you yields the effect he's looking for; aim for a no-nonsense "no."
Show and tell. Back up your words by prying your hair out of your son's fist. Words, as valuable a teaching tool as they are, can still be lost on a young child.
Offer a positive with the negative. Teaching your son what is acceptable behavior is as important as teaching him what isn't. Take his hand and stroke your hair or cheek gently, saying, "Mommy likes this."
Distract and conquer. Divert his attention with a song or toy — eventually he'll get bored with the hair-pulling game.
Be consistent. Say no each time he pulls your hair, since mixed messages are confusing to little ones.
Say it again. You can't expect him to learn a lesson the first time it's taught — or the tenth. Repeat the message "No pulling Mom's hair" every time until it finally sinks in.

Sooner or later your son's fascination with hair pulling will end, likely only to be replaced by another unpleasant habit (hitting or biting or pinching, for instance). These tips can help nip these newfound behaviors in the bud too.

Welcome to the toddler years!

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