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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

.. to NEVER wash DD's hair...

432 replies

GoTheFkToSleep · 29/11/2011 18:47

She's 5. She hates it, I hate it and two days later its looks the same as before. I think I last washed it about 6 months ago. I do bath the child once a month whether she needs it or not every few days, and she goes swimming every now and then but I am not sure that counts as she won't get in the pool showers. There must be a mild disinfectant effect of the chlorine tho??

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 13:21

Actually the first thing dermatologists say is DON'T soak in baths and use soap on sensivite skin.

Elaine - eh? Confused

cantspel · 01/12/2011 13:21

I dont see how a baby who hasn't had her hair washed in a year can have clean hair.

Babies are pukey so surely the child hasn't gone the whole year without getting some vomit in their hair. They also will wean in their first year and wipe food over everything including their hair.
You then also have babies who like to stick their hands down their nappies and then also fiddle with their hair. There is any number of ways that nasy stuff can get into hair so i dont see how after a year you can claim it is clean.

4madboys · 01/12/2011 13:22

and i did say i dont use soap due to sensitive skin, so i dont on my baby or my boys when little, the elder ones have a bit of a special bubble bath etc now. but babies skin is perfect and peachy soft i am not going to use soap or bubble bath etc and risk drying it out and irritating it. touch wood all 5 of mine have 'dodged' the eczema that i am plagued by and i would like to keep it that way.

4madboys · 01/12/2011 13:24

exactly valium

and yes her hair is clean it has got wet and been rinsed without shampoo, she has been sick and then taht has been washed out with water.

she is actually not a messy eater and doesnt get it in her hair..yet! she doesnt stick her hands in her nappy, she doesnt touch her hair much at all other than to stroke it and saw 'ahhhh' as its soft and fluffy, the same way as she cuddles soft toys and says 'ahhh'. its perfectly clean thanks very much and any mnetter who has met her (the 3 i had lunch with this week) or those who see her on fb will tell you just that.

valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 13:26

I only ever rinsed my baby's hair with warm water cantspel - no way would I use Johnson's baby shampoo on him - it is SO harsh. Rinsing is fine.

Some babies are pukey, some babies rub food in their hair, some will stick their hands down their nappies and rub it in their hair - mine didn't, so rinsing was fine.

RockyAddict · 01/12/2011 13:31

OP, I've read some comments and feel for you. My DS who is almost 7 and has quite long hair (for a boy) hates having his hair washed too. He's happy to wet it in the shower, by himself, but shampoo is a rare occurance. I try for once a week but it's hit or miss and much depends on his mood.

Incidently, his hair DOESN'T smell bad and he has NEVER had headlice.

He hates having his hair combed, although will tolerate it being brushed with a soft brush. He will just about tolerate a hair cut, but has never gone without one. His hairdresser is very sympathetic and says she's encountered a quite a few children with very sensitive scalps.

It started when he was very young and I insisted on hair washes (fight or no fight) but now I can reason with him and if he's in the right frame of mind, we'll wash it. If not, we won't. I doubt anyone notices and he's much happier. And so am I. Life is too short to worry about how many times you get to shampoo a five year's hair.

worldgonecrazy · 01/12/2011 13:32

Not all babies are pukey. My DD was sick once, and once only (lucky me) - I remember it well, and none of it went in her hair. She also never puts her hands down her nappy. No food in her hair either. Maybe it's a boy thing?

AitchTwoOh · 01/12/2011 13:33

when my two were wee the only time i ever used detergent on them was when they'd vommed (cannot STAND vomming, am practically phobic) apart from that it wasn't necessary, everything else just washed off. think it was only when they got old enough to demand bubble bath that this changed, and even now i use my own sls/paraben free stuff on them.

valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 13:34

No it's not a boy thing world it's just what some babies do and don't.

AitchTwoOh · 01/12/2011 13:35

sorry here's the thing i don't understand, how do you know they've never had lice if you aren't combing to check? they don't send a telegram to say that they are here.

the lice thing is the only problem with this OP, as i can see it. there is someone in dd's class who has them (and the class is full of bright, shiny, no-doubt-pants-wearing children) and she keeps getting them back again. it's driving me and other parents absolutely NUTS and i would lay a pound to a penny that it's some parent not checking and an asymptomatic kid.

belgo · 01/12/2011 13:39

Aitch I think you would notice head lice after a few weeks, even if there is no itching. The nits look like sand/dirt in the hair. And other family member would probably catch them.

valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 13:42

You'd bloody know aitch - you wouldn't have to check. I can spot a 'scratcher' a mile off - especially when kids do a double handed scratch, you know for sure then! Grin

AitchTwoOh · 01/12/2011 13:42

after a few weeks is long enough to have infected an entire SCHOOL, ye gods! and then it's never-ending....

actually, not everyone itches, but yes, fair point about family members. although it does depend on hair type. dd has incredibly thick ringlets, it is simply impossible to look for beasties in her hair, believe me i have tried. there have been a few occasions where i have 'checked' her hair and would have declared her lice-free were it not for the fact that a going-over in the bath with the nitty-gritty suddenly located five of the little fuckers.

valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 13:43

Some people get no itching from the actual bits BUT leave it long enough and they WILL scratch just from the little critters moving around in the hair.

valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 13:44

bites

4madboys · 01/12/2011 13:44

we had nits the other year, vile things, [shudder] comb comb comb, they get wet combed once a week with a nitty gritty, and they do scream, well ds4 does he doesnt like it at all, but that counts as a must do!

ElaineReese · 01/12/2011 13:46

Valium I just know my kids didn't welcome the sight of us naked from that sort of age onwards, and can't imagine a 12 year old boy being all that comfortable with it!

belgo · 01/12/2011 13:47

Aitch my dd2 has thick curly hair as well (so do I), that hair type is a magnet for nits. Short hair doesn't prevent them, it just makes it easier to nit comb. Dd1 and dh's family all have thick, shiny hair and they are far more immune to the buggers.

AitchTwoOh · 01/12/2011 13:47

agree 4mad. i couldn't leave it long enough to really get them itching, in that time the whole class is down with them and unless you head into school with a bucket of hedrin they will just go round and round.

valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 13:48

It completely depends on the family/child as to wether they are comfortable Elaine

belgo · 01/12/2011 13:48

The worst itchiness is caused by the lice bites but the bites don't bother everyone (just like mosquito bites don't bother everyone).

valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 13:49

The only time ds had nits was when he had hair an inch long all over!!

4madboys · 01/12/2011 13:50

elainereese my son isnt your child tho and he is fine with it, often comes in for a chat when i am in the bath [much to my annoyance!] like i said he saw me give birth to dd 11mths ago and then cut the cord, so he has seen EVERYTHING and is fine with that. none of my boys have an issue with nudity at all, rather the opposite in the case of the littles madboys. ds1 just now, literally the last month of so he has started covering himself up a bit more, but still often wanders round naked.

4madboys · 01/12/2011 13:51

{is now sat itching my head} let NOT talk about lice!!!

sweetsantababy · 01/12/2011 13:52

I can't believe all this nit combing once a week, just look in DCs hair? saves torturing them!