If you notice your baby pulling out their own hair, eyelashes, or eyebrows, the first thing to do is nothing – at least for the first week or two. Instead of reacting, observe your baby to see when and where they’re pulling their hair.

It’ll probably be during slow or quiet times, like in their crib or while nursing or taking a bottle. Pulling hair can be a form of self-soothing to cope with boredom or stress, and will likely improve or go away on its own.

There are a few reasons why your baby might pull their hair, including anxiety, age-appropriate exploration, or trichotillomania, a behavior disorder that causes people to repetitively pull out their own hair.

Trichotillomania is common in children, but typically isn’t seen until closer to age 12. Babies who pull their hair usually don’t have trichotillomania; it’s just a comforting, soothing activity like sucking on their thumb to help them cope with tiredness, fussiness, or stress.

Aside from self-soothing, pulling hair is what’s known as a body-focused repetitive behavior, or a grooming impulse that becomes a habit. Some kids get a release of dopamine, the “feel good” hormone, from pulling their hair, and may continue to seek out that feeling.

Other babies may simply pull their hair out of curiosity, as they try to work out cause and effect. Or they may have learned that they get a reaction out of you when they pull their hair, making it an easy way to get your attention.

In babies and young children, hair pulling often goes away on its own.

What to do when your baby pulls their hair

It may not be obvious right away if your baby’s hair pulling is a passing phase or a sign of a problem. Talk to your baby’s pediatrician if you notice other signs of trichotillomania, including:

• Prolonged hair pulling
• Bald patches
• Sucking on or eating hair

In older children, trichotillomania can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, habit reversal training, and stress management.

For babies and younger children, try these strategies to redirect their attention from pulling their hair:

• Cover your baby’s hands with mittens or socks, or put them in pajamas with built-in hand covers, so it’s harder for them to pull on individual strands of hair.
• Make lots of other sensory toys available for them to pinch, pull, and tug on, like textured stuffed animals, silky fabrics, and soft hair brushes.
• Tie your baby’s hair back, if it’s long enough, or keep it cut short.
• Avoid giving your baby negative attention when they pull their hair, like flicking their fingers, saying “no,” or becoming visibly upset. This can inadvertently reinforce the unwanted behavior.