Ubuntu Black Family Wellness Collective

Does your baby pull their own hair? There are several reasons why this may be the case, most perfectly normal. Sometimes your baby will find the sensation comforting and pleasurable - and other times not so much. As we discussed recently, newborns enter the world equipped with a strong grasping reflex (the palmar grasp), which causes them to close their fists tightly around objects placed inside. Newborns who accidentally grab ahold of their own hair can find themselves in a real conundrum here - pulling their hair to the point of discomfort, but reflexively disinclined to let go. Keep an eye out for this and be ready to help them disentangle as needed. And note BTW that it’s not just their own hair that can get pulled… as new mothers often learn the hard way. (If you find this happens a lot, you may wish to try mittens during feeding times, for example.) As your baby ages, they will often grab ahold of their hair as a form of self-comfort. It’s often a sign they are ready for sleep - and may even continue to do so while napping, as shown in the video here. As with a whole collection of normal behaviors, if you find your baby pulling their hair in excess this can sometimes be a sign of a larger concern such as anxiety or autism. You know my advice by now: if you have a concern, you can never go wrong by seeking the advice of your pediatrician. This little one was shared to IG by happyfamilypicture.