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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
5 year old boy who eats hair!
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
5 year old boy who eats hair!
by NICOLE, Nov 15, 1999 12:00AM
I have a 5 year old boy who constantly is putting hair into his mouth and swallowing it. My daughter and I both have long hair and he will find them a put them in his mouth and swallow them. He has done this for as long as I can remember. How can I stop him from doing this and can it cause him harm? I have never heard of another child who does this, is there a name for it? Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Nov 15, 1999 12:00AM
, Nov 15, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Nicole,
The ingestion of non-nutritive substances is called pica, and ingestion of hair is one example of this.
Is your son basically a healthy, happy youngster? Do you have any other worries about him? If not, you probably don't have to worry, but I'd discuss this with his pediatrician, particularly to rule out any deficiency in nutrition that sometimes prompts pica.
In terms of management, simply tell him to stop this behavior, and use brief time out periods in a chair when it does occur.
The ingestion of non-nutritive substances is called pica, and ingestion of hair is one example of this.
Is your son basically a healthy, happy youngster? Do you have any other worries about him? If not, you probably don't have to worry, but I'd discuss this with his pediatrician, particularly to rule out any deficiency in nutrition that sometimes prompts pica.
In terms of management, simply tell him to stop this behavior, and use brief time out periods in a chair when it does occur.
Member Comments (2)
by Jeb Hack, May 26, 2000 12:00AM
HOWDY!!
