Why would a 5 yo girl pull her hair out?

My neighbor has a 5yo girl. Recently they added a second child to the family. The other day I was walking with her and I noted this big spot of missing hair on her head. I asked her what happend and she said she pulled it out. I asked her if it hurt and she laughed and said no. Why would she do this? Is it rebellion?

Answer:
This is a disorder called Trichotillomania. My younger sister did it so much she was practically bald all through elementary school. It's a child's reaction to stress or anxiety. Like other self-injurious behavior, pain seems to be part of the need.
Someone obviously pulled her hair out. If i were you i would contact Social Services.
It could be stress or it could be caused by an inbalance in brain chemistry. Either way, it's treatable. My younger sister did this and was treated for it many years ago.
it could be she wanted something or unhappy with certain things like the new member of the family, she felt unwanted or she wanted attention from her parents and she doesn't know how to express herself.. Pulling her hair could be a form of showing her unhappiness..
I had a friend that use to do it when we were kids...she did it for years all through school..one little tiny strand at a time she would pull it out..she did it so much she was practically bald..i asked her why she did it she told me it was a habit like how some people bite their nails she pulls her hair...it took her a long time to stop she started when she was 2!! and we were about 17 when she was able to control it now her hair is down to her butt and she wont cut it lol !!
This is a response to the second child in the family. Yes she can do it herself, and she may well continue doing it untill she gets some help.

Have her parents take her to see a councelor!
she's extremely stressed out. something is going on behind closed doors in that household.

or perhaps that family has her doing to many things.. is she in gymnastics AND, skating, AND sports, AND whatever else they seem to think she should be in to keep her active.
she did it. i did when i was little. you dont feel it.
5 year olds do alot of "nutty" things. They cut their own hair...this usually happens just before some major event the child is going to be featured in or family portraits.
It could have been stress due to the new person in the family. If you were really concerened rather than nosey you would have asked her parents rather than a bunch of strangers on an internet message board though.

The answers post by the user, for information only, FeelBaby.com does not guarantee the right.

  • Attention !Creative parents! I need help with my daughters class project??
  • How should I punish my son for harassing girls?
  • how can my friend deal with pregnancy and education?
  • What's the best way to "age" regular paper for a child's report?
  • i told my mom?
  • 4 and a half doesnt like going to her dads?
  • My 9 yo wants an IPOD?
  • life/death situation and i need as much advice as i can get?
  • Young children in the movie theater?
  • do teachers [aged 40 and up] still date?