When to Worry About Childhood Habits

Instead، the Sleep Foundation encourages the following:

• Ensure the crib meets safety guidelines and is not becoming weakened from the rocking behavior.
• Move the crib away from the wall a bit so the rocking is less disturbing.
• Keep an eye on your baby through the night with a baby monitor.

Hair Twirling

Hair twirling is a quirky childhood behavior with a purpose—children do it to soothe themselves and to concentrate. Some kids do it as a way to relax themselves when they are tired or bored.

When it's a problem

Talk to a health care provider if your child goes beyond hair twirling to pulling out their hair (or eyebrows or eyelashes). This is a psychological condition called trichotillomania and it involves hair pulling to the point of noticeable hair loss، which can lead to being teased and problems with self-esteem and depression.

What you can do

Hair twirling generally isn't a problem. So، unless your child wants help stopping the habit، you don't need to do anything. On the other hand، if your child exhibits hair pulling tendencies، psychological treatments may help.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry، treatments for trichotillomania include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Medication for anxiety، depression، or obsessive-compulsive symptoms
• Family therapy
• Support groups

When it's a problem

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA)، chronic nail biting can injure the skin around your nails، causing soreness، and result in nails that grow abnormally. It's also a way that kids transmit germs from their hands to their mouths. If your child bites their nails، it's a good idea to try to help them stop.

What you can do

The AADA recommends the following to quit nail-biting:

• Keep nails cut short so there's less to bite.
• Apply over-the-counter bitter-tasting nail polish.
• Try using fidget items، like stress balls or fidget spinners as an alternative.
• Identify triggers، like hangnails، boredom، or stress، and avoid them.

Some kids will need a more gradual approach. In that case، you can help your child eliminate biting one fingernail at a time، until eventually they've stopped chewing their nails on both hands. In addition، have them wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water to ward off infection.