AIBU to take a baby along?

[Mouthfulofquiz]

This is a genuine AIBU to collect opinions of others as to the way to go.
My littlest baby is 3 months old and I desperately need a haircut. My hair has gone beyond hideous and beyond that!
When I was child free I used to be mildly annoyed by toddlers running riot in the hairdressers when I was there to relax and be pampered after a very busy working week. I used to go once every 6 weeks and have a colour, head massage etc etc.
I just need to go and have a bit of a restyle while my bigger boy is in nursery - and the baby is breastfed (a lot!)
I could express a bottle and wait for the weekend to get a cut of course - but, is it even possible to have a haircut while feeding a baby? Anyone successfully done it? Would you be annoyed by me doing that? Should I go to my usual trendy-ish salon or just a little local one?
First world problem I know - but there it is.

In summary: would I BU to go and get my haircut with a breastfeeding baby attached?

[Laundryangel]

I took DD when she was about 3 mths old thinking she would nap all of the way through. She napped through having my hair washed and then woke. She was fine gazing around & then fed but I didn't relax at all once she'd opened her eyes as I was conscious that she might kick off. I don't think I would have been able to relax if I had left her at home as she was a bottle refuser but at least I wouldn't have been worrying about her disturbing anyone else IYSWIM. I then found someone who came to the house and have used her ever since.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

I think if you normally go to a trendy salon at the weekend you'd be amazed by how different the vibe can be on a weekend morning. That said, I did start going to a local place when DS was little and would usually just phone up that morning, nip in and get it done while he slept in the buggy.

[CuriosityCola]

My salon is completely fine with it. You should just ask them.

[mummy1973]

I took mine at that sort of age and all was fine. However if your baby does scream have a backup plan.

[TarkaTheOtter]

I always just feed just before I go in and then dh goes for a drive, or takes baby for a walk in carrier so that they sleep.

[whatsonyourplate]

I've taken my babies, and breastfed under the cape, it was fine. But then the hairdresser had young kids herself and was lovely.

[Mouthfulofquiz]

Thanks everyone, on balance, I think I will try and get an appointment for the weekend and feed feed feed all morning and then go alone for the peace and quiet! If he goes mad then DH and DS1 can distract him for a bit. If I go for a 'natural' blow dry then that will be quicker too.

[Catsize]

I breastfed my baby at the hairdressers quite recently. Just make sure you take something so hair doesn't fall in their eyes. I didn't think until too late. She was about 3mths too. Hairdresser didn't seem to mind one bit.

[StrawberryGashes]

The weekend is only 2 days away, if your options are express and go on your own or bring the baby and bf while having it cut, trying to stop hair going all over them, having them possibly crying etc so you don't have to wait the extra 2 days I'd go with the first option. Enjoy the peace and quiet.

[oxfordmumma1]

Hairdressers

[oxfordmumma1]

Yanbu. I did it once when dd was about 6 weeks. Expected her to sleep but she woke. I just fed her whilst they cut away. Salon was virtually empty though and hairdressing loved having a cuddle.
Since than I have only risked it once at 21 months. Again when she should have slept but of course she didn't. Did sitququietly in pushchair though.

[Shonajay]

I'm sorry I'm anti it. Even though I had two very close together, it drove me mad going to be pampered to hear a baby cry, even if they settled immediately, my milk would come in. There's nothing more annoying (I HAD to go to the expensive very salon like £70 a go hairdressers) as ds wouldn't take a bottle, so it was the only relax time I got. I also don't get what happens when you get your hair washed, there's hot tongs/straighteners left on, etc. get it done at home.

[myotherusernameisbetter]

I took my youngest as he was breasfed and was a bottle refuser - he also slept...a lot... :o

I booked the appointment around his nap time, fed him, walked down to the hairdresser while he fell asleep in the pram, got my hair done and walked home - he never even opened an eye. It's perfectly possible. Hairdresser had enough space for me to wheel the pram in though so that would be a consideration - I think the young lass in the salon was disappointed that he didn't wake as she was desperate for a cuddle.

I'd go with your local place if i were you, probably be full of other mothers and grannies who wont mind a bit - swanky salon is obviously more expensive and people will maybe feel more aggreived if their "experience" isn't perfect. Me, I go to have my hair cut and as long as I come out looking halfway normal then I couldn't care less if there are 12 babies and 20 kids in doing their homework there.

[JenniferJo]

I wouldn't. Hair will fall onto his face if he's feeding and it will be a distraction for the poor hairdresser.

If I was a hairdresser I'd say no.

[bearhug]

ah I remember this dilemma. In the end I asked a friend to meet me in town and take my PFB for a walk while I was getting my hair done. With strict instructions to come back the moment he squeaked of course! Friend happy, baby oblivious, and me much happier for having human-looking hair again.

[minipie]

I wouldn't be at all bothered about a breastfeeding mother in a hairdresser but I would be bothered by a crying baby (eg because they were tired and wouldn't nap, or because they were hungry just as you were having hair washed).

I also think you may find it a bit stressful, having to worry about whether the baby is disturbing other people.

This is exactly what mobile hairdressers are for!!

If mobile hairdressers didn't exist I'd say YANBU but since they do, I say YWB a bit U to go to a salon.

[Optimist1]

What if your baby is crying/hungry just at the time you're due for shampooing? Delaying your wash so that you can feed could disrupt your stylist's appointments following yours. Delaying the feed could prove disruptive to other customers. All in all, it could be a far from pleasant experience. I'd go with the at-home suggestion PPs have made; it could be that you can get an evening appointment so your DP is on hand to assist?

[Piddlepuddle]

I did this with my third baby at a similar age as I knew she 'd be fine so long as I held her, she was being fed, or was asleep.

In saying that she was a terribly good baby and I was 99% confident she wouldn't cry (she didn't) and I did check with the hairdresser first. I wouldn't have dared to have done it with my elder two as I just wasn't as sure they would have been as good.

[CoffeeTea103]

Yabu, it's inconsiderate to everyone else isn't it. If he doesn't settle and starts fussing while you're having your haircut it will probably be very irritating and distracting to whoever is cutting your hair. You once found this annoying with other people so don't think it's reasonable to do this to others.

[indigo18]

Three months! Not a problem IMO. Book for a quiet time and all should be well. Only thing I would consider would be hair getting everywhere- you know when they do that final snip here and there to finish style off. Maybe have a scarf you can put over baby's face if necessary.

[RoobyMurray]

at 3 months they're still pretty portable aren't they so perfectly manageable. Although could be physically awkward to feed him whilst you're actually getting your hair cut or washed.

I personally would get someone to look after him for a couple of hours at the weekend and enjoy the break.

[IAmAPaleontologist]

Of course you can take the baby. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Everyone seems to go on about "just expressing" and there seems to be this idea that babies have no business accompanying their mothers on normal day to day business. Why the hell not? You can perfectly easily cuddle baby and bf while having your hair cut.

Mobile hairdresser is a good option though too if you have a good one locally. Especially when the baby gets older, not because I think toddlers in the hairdressers are offensive but because they have a habit of trying to run out the door at the worst possible moment and it is tricky to chase after them when you are having your hair washed .

[NellyNoodle1]

It's unreasonable - last time I went to the hairdressers someone bought a baby in and it screamed for half of the time - I pay a lot of money to have a couple of hours of 'me' time. If it happens again I will not go back.

I am pregnant myself so it's not a kiddy hating thing I just think it's selfish.

My beauty salon has banned them after having toddlers running around and other staff members/clients being asked to 'just watch him a min'.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

It would be fine at my hair dresses, I'd just ring up and ask when they are likely to be really quiet.

Or cheat and use the mum from school who comes to the house, but I didn't know her when the DDs were small.

She's great, she does DHs for me. DH would never bother going to get his hair cut and makes a mop look well groomed.

[choochootrain1]

YANBU

I have no option but to take my DS, always have done. He knows exactly how to behave now in one and gets a heap of compliments on how good he is there. However, If he was going to throw a tantrum and tear up the place, I'd not take him and if he did - id leave.