to think the parents should have given up long before they did?

[edamsavestheday]

Was at the hairdressers yesterday. Family bring in a small boy - maybe two-ish. He howled. And wriggled and jiggled and squirmed. They tried sitting him on Daddy's lap in the chair, but he was thrashing around and crying. They tried taking him outside for a few minutes, then brought him back in and tried on Mum's lap - even worse.

I heard the boss asking anxiously 'are you sure you want to carry on' but the parents insisted. Cue more protests and thrashing and howling. Whole thing went on for about 20 minutes before they gave up and left.

My stylist told me she was very relieved they'd gone as there was no way anyone could have gone near him without risking an injury to either party - or both.

ds was a nightmare about getting his hair cut at the same age, so I do sympathise, but if he'd been thrashing about in the chair, I'd have given up far sooner than this family. Dangerous and not a relaxing environment for other customers either.

If it was you, I do sympathise, seriously, and I hope he's better next time - but blimey, I'm so glad you gave in.

Why does anyone take a 2 year old to the hairdresser?
I cut my sons' hair myself until they were at least six

Good for you Vidal Sassoon.
I haven't the foggiest about trying to cut my kids hair unless I wanted to shave it all off, when it's only £4 for a professional to do it I can't really be bothered trying either.
I attempted to cut DD's fringe when she was 6 months and she looked like Dave Hill.
All my children have a lot of hair from being very small so have regularly had trims from 6-7 months free at my hairdressers until 1. I think this has helped them get used to it even DS2 who complains about everything else enjoys it.

ds2 was similar at that age ,took him to the hairdressers once , never again . He would only let one person near his hair and that was with clippers ,grade 4 all over till he hit his teens and needed a proper style .He does still get stressy but no where near as bad as that day luckily

You would love coming to the hairdressers with us. My son is four but looks older. He is autistic and doesn't do haircuts so it requires full restraint every time.

There is no bribe or distraction that would have any impact on the situation, he goes to a hairdressers that specialises in children with every possible toy and distraction you could imagine and it had no impact. It is simply a case of holding him still and getting it done.

We don't leave if he kicks and screams, if we left every time he kicked and screamed about something we would never leave the house and my life is limited enough as it is.

Luckily the hairdressers are great, the know him and are aware of his additional needs. The other customers who have commented to us have been a lot more kind and understanding than you seem to be.

As for not providing a relaxing environment for other customers I have somewhat limited sympathy on that. He might annoy someone by screaming for twenty minutes but I deal with this every second of every day. I am the one being hit, I am the one being kicked, I am the one being headbutted and I am the one being judged.

I generally go out of my way to ensure he doesn't bother other people but some situations like haircuts there is just no way to avoid it.

Archery, are you sure sleeping kid hadn't actually been tranquilised?

lilicat, fair point that the child may have had learning disabilities, but there was no obvious sign (although I appreciate there isn't necessarily), he just appeared to be a very upset/angry/scared little boy who was determined no-one was going near HIM with any scissors.

(And fair play to him, I can see from a toddler's point of view it could be ruddy scary if someone starts waving scissors around your head.)