Toddler haircut nightmare

Furny

My son of the same age hated the barbers & would just cry hysterically almost making himself sick & i would come out so stressed as there where normally other people waiting & watching:eek:.
In the end we bought clippers too & i do it now, he is a lot better the things that calm him seem to be sitting him front of his favourite cartoons whilst cutting if he does get upset we persistantly talk to him & take his mind off it or try having a second person talking to him like his dad, saying things like eg. " Tom (or sons best friend) loves having his hair cut"! what a good boy, show me if you are a big boy now & can have your hair cut without crying".
He still has some tears sometimes but is so much better, it is hard i can't wait to take him to the barbers & have a lovely scissor cut instead of my "custom convict look grade 3":o only problem is i've made a rod for my own back now because DH has stopped going too so i have to do his although he is an easier customer;).

loopy_lass

have a little nibble round it when they are asleep, tell them the hair fairies did it... worked for me when mine were little... x

loops

DON79

thanks for all the suggestions, I just need to convince my OH to maybe let us try the barber/hairdresser - he thinks we should just keep going as we are and that he will just have to "get over it". did suggest getting him to cut his dads or brothers hair too but that idea got the thumbs down right off as well!

have tried the cartoons to distract him and he doesn't seem to have sensory issues at all. and he is a light sleeper so would be awake once we started trimming his hair in his sleep.

whatatwit

Have you tried letting your son see and hold the clippers when there is only you and him, without the 'helpful' comment from dad and brother.

Maybe running them up your arm and his without them being plugged in first so he can get used to them.
Even letting him slide them on his head, again unplugged.

bylromarha

DS used to scream - he grew out of it around 4. He calmed a little if we sat him in front of a mirror.

I agree that you have to power through it and long hair isn't an option, it wasn't an option for DS either.

Have you tried putting an audio book on an ipod and plugging him into that? Agree that letting him have a go himself, or pick up a girls world from a charity shop or something, so he can see what is happening.

If its any consolation, DS is fine with it now at age 6. Hope it works out for you too.

heretolearn_2

Have you asked him what he doesn't like about it? Could just be something silly you can find a way round.

My son didn't mind getting his hair cut but he was a bit superstitious about losing his hair - he was ok if we let him collect it up from the barber's floor into a bag and take it home again! I suppose it was a bit worrying having part of himself cut off and left behind...he grew out of this when he was about 8. We'd keep the hair for a day or so and then throw it away and he didn't mind then. Kids are just weird about things sometimes!

It might be something simple like this that keeps the peace.

Savvy_Sue

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

The only way to find out whether it would make any difference taking him to a hairdresser or barber is to take him!

Absolutely, and sometimes I think we have to agree to disagree with our partners about things.

alm721 wrote: »

Its not a sensory thing is it? My son has sensory issues had has a real problem with his head being touched generally so hairdressers is a nightmare. I find massaging his head before hand sort of desensitises his head a bit and he is able to cope a lot better. Also plenty of breaks and making sure the clippers are oiled etc so they don't tug is great advice, as it letting him try it on his dad.
Do you think it really is hurting him or hem just says it is? As I said my son has sensory issues so will tell you it hurts if you brush his arm then can take all the skin off his knees and not notice. I guess the issue is if it really is hurting him or if he just thinks it is. If the former check the clippers, if the later then massaging/touching his head a lot before hand may help. Good luck

Could well be sensory: also DS2 used to complain that they were 'hot' when I did the bits rounds his ears.

Another thing is that it's much faster, and I get a better cut, if their hair isn't 6" long when I get round to doing it. So might be worth taking a tiny bit off every week, if he'll let you, until he gets used to it.

But do try the professionals first!

kitttyk

Can you trim it a little at a time while he is asleep?
son was fine with having his cut,til the hairdresser cut his ear when he was 4,freaked out every time for years after that.
He started using the clippers when he was 9 ,under supervision

Bangerchick

I used to have the same problem as the OP with my DS when he was little and what worked for me was putting him in front of the tv to watch his favourite tv along with some sweets (I know bribery sucks!)

But in all honesty I'd take him to the barbers, they are usually pretty patient and it shouldn't cost much, under a fiver if that.

squibbs25

You poor thing, i know how you feel as my ds was exactly the same!!!!!!
He said it hurt and he itched (and a thousand other excuses too - some totally unrelated :rotfl:).
One day to combat the itching, we used to have the hoover pipe to suck up the hair that was coming off, it stopped the screaming and hysterics but he still cried then slowly after a time he grew out of it.

We could never do it single handedly both me and his dad had to do it together, mummy would hold the hoover while dad had the clippers.

He almost 13 and if i do his hair he cant stand or sit still, he fidgets constantly (and it drives me mad) so my answer now is he goes to the barbers in our village

I have know contsructive advice that will help, all i can say from experience is it will get better but mabye not for a few years yet.