My DD will not quit twirling her freaking hair! How can I get her to stop? (updated)

[Arlyah]

My DD (3 years old) will not quit twirling her hair. It's cute to a point, but she keeps getting her fingers stuck in it and making knots! When we are driving somewhere she'll be sucking her thumb, twirling her hair, and end up getting stuck and her little finger will be turning purple! I can't count how many times I've had to pull over to help her get her finger out. She's fallen asleep like this before as well.

I've talked to her about it countless times, she just doesn't get it. What should I do? Is there anything, or do I just have to deal with it?

ETA: She will not keep any bows, headbands or anything of that sort in her hair for more than about 1 minute if I try to do her hair. I wish she would. I'd love to do her hair. Her hair is a little longer than shoulder length and curly. I've been trying for a long time to get her to let me do it.

Also she uses her Monkey a lot of the time for comfort and she will hold him under her arm, suck a thumb and still twirl.

I wouldn't have ANY problem with the twirling if she didn't get stuck and hurt her little fingers. I think it's cute. (It is not however cute when she is hollering  and crying "Mama, I'm stuck, It huuuurts!!! Help meee!" )

[MommaBunch84]

I would just deal with it. But you could try putting her hair in a pony tail, a braid or something that is back.

[BrandonsMom1000]

It is probably a comfort to her, she may not even know that she is doing it.  When my son was that age he would rub my hair when he sat with me.  I think it was a comfort thing for him too.

[Jeiao]

Braid it and pull it away from her face. 

[Pnukey]

It's her comfort mechanism. You can try replacing that with maybe a soft toy or something that she can run her fingers over. You could cut her hair (GASP, noooo) or like the others said, put a ponytail or braid. My girl does this, too. She's 9 and still twirls her hair. It's still cute.  

[crysjuls]

my aunt is 30 something and she still twirls her hair!  lol  maybe it comforts her to do it?

[myfoursonsks]

I think the only way to get her to stop is shave her head...lol.  It is just like thumbsucking, she isn't going to stop until she is ready.

[FooLynRoo]

Im 37 and I STILL do it, to my own hair andanyone one else who will let me.

[gulfcoastmom4]

Sorry I don't see the big deal so I will bump for you.

[MelaniesMama]

Im going to have to tell you.....Im a hair twirler! lol
Im 20 & still twirl my hair, apperrently Ive done it since I was a toddler.......I dont even realize Im doing it.  Its just a habit

My DD does the same thing yours does, gets her fingers stuck, makes knots, & her fingers turn purple.  Shes actually gotten to the point where she will just rip her finger out of her hair....it caused a slight bald spot!
But I can put her hair in a pony tail & that has been fixing the problem, her hair is growing back & we havent had any twirling in a looong time. lol

[prayingforsnow]

I was a hair twirler, from age 3 to 5, until I went bald...later in life, I learned that hair twirling can be a manifestation of trauma and OCD in children of that age. I used to twirl my hair and then break it off to hear the snapping noise...looking back, I was very troubled by my parents divorce, but back then it wasn't as common to take a child to a psychologist for OCD behaviors. So they just cut my hair short and that made me have gender identity issues (I would cry if I couldn't wear dresses every single day).

I am not saying that your DD is troubled, but I would be amiss to not share what I know about hair twirling in toddlers. Good luck, momma!