One of the most heartbreaking frustrations for new parents is that moment when you can’t figure out why your baby is crying. When he’s fed, rested, dry and healthy, what could possibly be wrong? It’s not like any of us would let a sharp object get near a baby, so a stinging object is out of the question – but he could be suffering for a more sneaky and surprising reason. As Mommyish and Today report, one of the most dangerous things for babies is… loose hair?
It sounds crazy, but it’s true. Stray hairs can wrap around your baby’s toes, forming what are called “hair tourniquets” that cut off the blood supply, slice the skin, and of course, cause immense pain that a baby can’t communicate. While the hair may look soft, it actually has a high tensile strength – the amount of force needed to pull something – and once it’s coiled and knotted, it’s difficult to undo and rarely comes undone naturally. Today develops:
Dr. Debi Gilboa, a child-rearing and youth development specialist, told TODAY.com that hair twirling is one of many risks young children face, but few parents know about it. “It’s something that all pediatric interns are taught to look for when the baby or young preverbal child is inconsolable,” she said. A hair twirl occurs because many parents have long hair and babies tend to grab it, or a piece of hair can get into places like their diaper or sock without you noticing. “If you feel like your child is behaving in an unusual way, pay attention. You’re usually right,” Gilboa said. “A hair tourniquet is a good thing to check for and it’s not hard to spot. There’s really no way to avoid it, but it’s not very difficult to remove. Use a thin, non-pointy hair pin, slip it between the hair and the skin and it will come off easily. If you don’t feel comfortable, call your doctor.”
Why are toes a particular problem? Because they are more often covered, especially in the colder months, and hair can easily get caught in the fibers of socks. (Diapers can also be a problem, so check these areas too, especially if your baby is a boy.) While you’d probably notice one around a finger, you wouldn’t see one around a toe – until your baby starts crying.
So when that crying doesn’t stop, you know what to do: go on hair patrol. Have any of you experienced a “hair tourniquet” before?
Have you heard about this syndrome from your pediatrician?
