Please don't beat yourself up and think that you've done something that damaged her in some way. Of course you haven't. This is NORMAL and I'd say she's just developed a bit of habit because it calms her down. My dd for example will always twiddle a strand of hair in the same spot on her head for example, most of the time when she's trying to relax. This isn't any different to that really.
Thank you, Loulabelle. That does make sense. I think it is hard for her to relax - that is just her personality, she was definitely born this way! i.e. Very alert from the get-go, always beady-eyed & never had the "blank" look that most babies have, didn't sleep, still fights sleep right down to the last second before she drifts off.... She has a lot of energy which normally manifests itself in hair pulling (my hair, that is!) and strange violent shaking etc... :\ (We tell her to clap her hands to expend the extra energy!)
So this is her way of calming herself.... Makes sense to me now.
As of this morning I have spoken to her every time she started doing it - once she wanted to be put in her cot to do it, but the other times she stopped straight away because she wanted to sit on my lap, watch tv etc.
I think she has worked out it is actually pretty boring being stuck in her room - she's much rather be out in the living area with me.
So it is working! Thank you.
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