To take my almost 3 year old with me when I go to the hairdressers?

[pinkladybirdpurse]

I have not had a haircut since August and have terrible 90's curtains where the fringe I had last year has grown out. It's getting way too long and I can't stand the sight of how frumpy and unkempt I look. I've also been having a bit of a tough time recently so really want to cheer myself up. However, as a single mum to an almost 3 year DD with friends who work during the day and no family support nearby, childcare is a bit of an issue. SO, I have been contemplating making an appointment and taking my DD with me.

Am I being immensely unreasonable to think this is totally unfeasible and not a good idea? Thanks for listening

depends on your dd.
dd1 always came with me, she loved it and was impeccably behaved. Different hairdressers had different attitudes. Some pulled a chair up for her, some chatted to her and me, one was very snooty and said she had to sit Over There and no come anywhere near Here.
She loved watching everyone have their hair done.

dd2 was harder, she wanted to wander round more and got bored more easily, and would have rather not been there anyway.

I'm a SAHM of a 2.5yr old. Getting my hair done is my one treat that is just for me.

It takes a lot of planning and sorting out of childcare for me to have that infrequent two hours completely to myself.

Sitting quietly with a cup of decent coffee and a book whilst my colour develops is utter bliss.

I would be absolutely gutted if someone then turned up with a child the same age (or any age tbf) during my very rare child free time.

Even before I had children I didn't think salons were appropriate places to take them. By their nature they are somewhere people tend to go and pay good money for a good experience. They aren't really child friendly. Now I have children I definitely wouldn't take my dd in a salon. She'd be ok behaviour wise, but I'd hate to think I was ruining someone else's hard won down time by taking her.

If I couldn't sort childcare then I would use a mobile hairdresser.

quizzi - so when my girls need their hair cut, they shouldn't go to a hairdressers in case someone there didn't like it?

The friendliest hairdressers had kids in regularly getting their hair cut, and didn't mind.
The snooty one was a much smarter place.

But in both dd1 sat like an angel watching. You wouldn't have been aware of her being there.
And dd2 despite being less co-operative was never noisy or fussy.
neither would go anywhere near another customer.

depends on child and hairdresser.

I have brought my DC once, but I asked beforehand if it would be ok, and I brought lots of activities, and it was off peak time.

TBH I could tell that my hairdresser wasn't that keen, even though the DC were well behaved once there. I didn't find it particularly relaxing either.

If there is any alternative I would try it first.

I think you need to ask the hairdresser whether they are OK with it. If they are OK with it, it still depends on how your DC is going to be. Can you take your DC with you for a visit before your appointment?

I think there is a difference between taking a young child for a child's appointment to have their hair cut and having a toddler with you when you are having your own hair done.

DD is 3.5 and is an angel when she has her own hair cut - she is so co-operative that he can even do a section by section blow dry (I don't ask for this - he just does it). In most other circumstances she is headstrong and into everything. No way would I risk or want to have her along with me when I had an appointment for myself. But that's my child.

I really don't go to the hairdressers for any kind of 'experience'.

It's just a necessity to me...same as going to the dentist or the opticians.

I always took mine can't afford it now but I'd take toys, snacks, iPad and he was fine. Go for it.

I get to read house magazines and talk antiques and interiors with my hairdresser. I love it.

I'm not really looking to have an 'experience' either. Find it all quite boring and a bit of a waste of time, TBH. I just wouldn't want to risk any or all of the following:

** DD creating a disturbance that meant I had to keep attending to her and interrupting the hairdresser when she/he was working on me (I just know something would kick off in the middle of a wash!). Likely to piss off hairdresser and may mean I don't get as good a result.

** DD disturbing other clients/staff. I see a distinction here between bringing a child for their own appointment (if they disturb other clients/staff, I see it as at least partially the salon's business because they offer children's appointments so are prepared to have children on the premises) and me bringing DD along to my appointment (disturbance caused to other clients/staff I see as being my problem not anyone else's)
** DD possibly causing a danger to herself or to others - there are people with sharp scissors, hot irons and bowls of dye and they don't need to have to factor in a child wandering/running around.

I'd come out a nervous wreck!

Then again, I go to a dance class and one of the women there brings her 4 year old son and a big box of lego. He sits in the corner and just gets on with it. Sometimes he needs a wee, but that's pretty much it. DD would try and join in or would demand that I do lego with her. Depends on the child!

I agree it totally depends on the child.

I also think it depends on the salon and how busy it is too. Some hairdressers (if they have time) will dote on children so the customer has no worries...but if they're busy or the child isn't happy I imagine it's the stuff nightmares are made of.