Comments on: Your Toddler’s Weird Self-Soothing Behaviors Explained

By: Danielle

Danielle — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 16:08:48 +0000

In reply to Kavita.

Hi Kavita,
Thank you for writing us about your daughter’s self-soothing. I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble with this! It sounds like you may be seeing a sleep association, from the hair-pulling, the breastfeeding to sleep, or both. We have an article about sleep associations that I highly recommend here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/sleep-association/
I hope this helps – good luck!

By: Kavita

Kavita — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 20:08:31 +0000

My 1 year old pulls my hair while breastfeeding. I didn’t mind at first but now she pulls it and it hurts (and I’m loosing hair too as she pulls it out). If I tie my hair up she pulls her own.
I want it to stop but without it she doesn’t fall asleep For hours and I don’t know what to do. Her little arms reach everywhere until she’s asleep.

She also wakes every 2 hours and can’t put herself back to sleep so feeding and my hair is the only way she goes back to sleep

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 18:03:15 +0000

In reply to ZZ.

Hi ZZ,
Thanks for visiting The Baby Sleep Site! It sounds like what you’re describing is some kind of sleep association. We have an article on those here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/sleep-association/
Hope this helps!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 18:02:22 +0000

In reply to mamatoone. Hi Miriam, Thanks for visiting The Baby Sleep Site! Many babies do have quirks likes this, and they can be completely normal, so I bet it's fine. If you do have concerns, though, we always recommend checking in with your pediatrician. Hope this helps!

By: mamatoone

mamatoone — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 06:40:12 +0000

My almost three-year-old pinches the skin on the top of my hand and my outer elbow. He strokes my arms sometimes too. Those things don’t really worry me but the thing that does worry me is when he pinches the skin on the top of his own hands. I ask him not to but think it makes him do it more. Is this normal? The skin has become a bit thicker on the hand he does it to the most.

By: ZZ

ZZ — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 20:24:35 +0000

My 17 month old son always needs to hold onto fingers before naps, at bed time, even while he is in his car seat. He wakes up in the middle of the night and will not be able to fall asleep until he has a hand/fingers to squish or rub. Any advice as to what this might be? it’s been happening since about 4 or 5 months.

By: Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site

Debbye @ The Baby Sleep Site — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 18:17:53 +0000

In reply to Eden. Hi @Eden - Thanks for sharing! We love to hear that your toddler has found something that soothes him and soothes you and your husband too! Thanks again for taking a minute to write Eden, and continue to cherish those special moments!

By: Eden

Eden — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 13:17:14 +0000

My son is 2 years old and he loves playing with my hair and his sister and fathers as well. It doesn’t hurt it’s actually soothing for me and his dad my daughter so much doesn’t like it. I’ve never thought it was an issue till I read this article. I see no signs of any issues he only does it when we’re cuddling and or sleeping. I don’t know I love it and so does my baby!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 15:24:14 +0000

In reply to Andrei. Hi Andrei, Thank you for checking out The Baby Sleep Site! Yes, this sounds like a relatively normal behavior for his age. If you have concerns, please do check in with your pediatrician!

By: Andrei

Andrei — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 01:13:09 +0000

Hi, im a stay at home dad with my 2 year old boy. As he falls asleep he is searching for my elbow and starts pitching at it. Often he climbs it and rubs his private parts on it. Same thing on some mornings. Is it a normal behavior? Sorry for the bad english, not my native language. Thank you