Hello!

My 16 month old is constantly pulling her sister’s hair. How do I stop this? We don’t believe in smacking but I am not sure how to make her understand. She is not one to take no for an answer. It actually just seems to make her cranky and more aggressive. Does anyone have any tips on how to stop her pulling hair?


Want more real mum questions sent to you?

You'll need to check this email to complete your signup.
  • My cousin’s best advice is with kids, it is stages not ages…


  • Smacking would teach her nothing except to smack back. You just have to be firm and tell her no. Show her alternative acceptable behavior and just keep repeating.


  • Thanks mums. My 3 year old doesn’t always like her hair in a ponytail. She does often say “No ….., we don’t pull my hair” but the little one actually does it when she is not getting her own way. As Shay said, she doesn’t necessarily know it is naughty and I don’t like the idea of turning our backs to her. The hairbrush is a good suggestion. We have also tried stroking my 3 year old’s hair and saying gentle and then stroking her hair and saying gentle to her. It is starting to work now.


  • You have to remember she is only 16 mths old and to her this isn’t a naughty thing. Try giving her a brush and show her what she should be doing with hair. Hopefully this will take over


  • I agree with J’S MUMMY SAID: put your daughter on the floor and turn your backs. We had a neighbours daughter who did this with my kids. So I told my girls to tie their hair back into a pony tail. That seem to work.


  • When she does it next time try putting her away from everyone or in a seat with her back to you so that she knows she has done wrong and each time leave her a bit longer.


  • Winter is coming up perhaps put beanies or hats on to try and get her out of the habit?


  • For any kid that age its a big thing to try and stop, all i could suggest that if your daugter is older than her she turns around and says stop i dont like it. With my kids we have a you been a space invader saying where if someone does some thing that hurts or is just annoying them, they say stop invading my space and they move away. Its only just started to work and we have been doing it for two months now. But my kids are 2,4 and six and the two year old thinks its funny so it will take a little longer for him to get it.


Post your reply
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your answer and join MoM:

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join