Hair cutting refusal in 2.7 year old

[SaltyandSweet]

Has anyone else had this and how did you get round it? For the last 8 months or so, my DS2 (2.7) has refused a haircut - goes into full blown tantrums at the barbers despite us trying everything from him sitting on me, him sitting on DH, iPad with Peppa Pig on, sweet bribery, watching DH and DS1 have their hair cut first, etc. He gets so stressed out, the poor kid. The last time he threw himself around so much he gave himself a nosebleed so I've not taken him back. I bought a haircut kit, thinking we'd try at home. He refuses, point blank. Surreptitious snips are met with full blown screaming. He has lots and lots of hair so is really looking very very messy. I have resorted to cutting his hair whilst he slept! Which results in, er, interesting results .

Any tips on how to help him get over his fear would be much appreciated as well as any tips on cutting hair whilst the kid is fast asleep

[tess73]

DD2 was like this. The best result we has was the hairdresser pretending to blow the hair away as she snipped, so not cutting it, but blowing it (hiding the scissors).
It was a pain but she grew out of it. I'd leave it for now, try again in a few months otherwise it might grow into a bigger and bigger thing. He might just forget about it. Dd is fine now by the way (but is 8 and vain )

[Fairylea]

No real advice but the only way I can get my ds 19 months to sit still (he has a similar hatred of haircuts) is to feed him a whole greggs doughnut followed by a greggs sausage roll! He never eats anything like that yet alone one to himself so it's a proper treat and the only thing that works... I sit him on my lap and feed him as they do it. If I run out before they have finished we are done for!

[NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown]

could it be a sensory issue?

[Iworrymyselftosleep]

I have exactly the same issue

[Iworrymyselftosleep]

Sorry. I have exactly the same issue in my 3.7 year

[Iworrymyselftosleep]

Sorry gain - its the mobile site where it's really easy to hit done, the keypad disappears an you hit post before you realise!

Yes. 3.7 year old DS hates his hair being cut. He holds onto the ends and runs when he sees scissors. He's also veery fond of my shoulder length hair, lots of stroking it especially at night time. Ie noticed the odd sensory issue too - textures of foods and squishy goop and certain clothes really annoy him. I'm hoping its something he will relax about but I totally empathise with the odd haircuts. Recently I've managed to get a couple of snips in before he makes it impossible to continue and I'm keen to really tidy it up - but know I'll eat one side done, then he'll refuse and it'll have to stay very lopsided for days til I can try again and I'm not bear enough to deal with the old lady comments we'll receive for such a statement haircut.

It did work cutting it in the bath for a while though?

[mycatlikestwiglets]

Same issue with 3yo DS. We held him down last time but I wasn't happy about it and dread him needing it cut again. It's a common issue I believe. Watching thread with interest in case of any amazing ideas!

[WorkingBling]

have you tried getting the hairdresser to use clippers? Show him the clippers first, let him play with them and turn them on and off (carefully, obviously)? This helped with DS.

[SaltyandSweet]

Thanks for the advice (and commiseration!) - I don't know very much about sensory issues but I googled and he doesn't fit the general symptoms though I will do more research just to be sure. Fairylea I tried bribes of treats he never ever has all to himself and it didn't work!

[SaltyandSweet]

Cutting in the bath was where I tried the first time I did it myself and I only managed one snip before all hell broke loose. For days after that he asked for reassurance that there would be no hair cutting before he got in the bath! Working We tried the clippers both at the barber and at home - same reaction, he knows its coming for his hair and gets so very upset.

I cut when he's asleep and it takes three nights in a row as he doesn't move around much to allow me access to the whole head! And hair falls differently when lying down. Hence, interesting haircuts

[Stripytop]

My ds was like this at the barbers but was fine with me doing it at home with the clippers after seeing me do daddy's a few times first. Both ds and dh had v strange hairstyles for a while as I am not a hairdresser.

Ds recently went the barbers for the first time, he is now 8.