To take my 10 year old to my hair colour appointment...

[Dickorydockwhatthe]

It’s today and I have no other childcare options as someone’s let me down. I can take his book and tablet and few snacks. It should only be a couple of hours but is it not the done thing :-/

My mum always took me to her hair appointments! Her hairdresser knew me and they always gave me biscuits and one even took me out to get a magazine and a snack once - I loved it. When I was a bit older I used to go to the library over the road, then come back and read all my books while I waited.

If he can sit still and entertain himself quietly yes I would.

He's 10! What could possibly go wrong? My children would happily sit with a screen for that long, quite possibly longer! Wouldn't leave him alone in the house for that long though. Is there anything near the hairdressers? I'd let him wander to a nearby park or library if there is one.

Don't understand people who come on to comment just to say they don't think it's worth a comment. I know what you mean though, OP, you're imagining two hours of being glared and tutted at by other customers, but you know what, it's only once, do it and sod them if they don't like it! Probably nobody will bat an eyelid anyway

I'm a hairdresser, I honestly dont mind clients bringing along their children if they behave. Nothing worse than their child running around my salon like it's a play centre and the parent just sits there smiling away not saying a thing.

I don’t have kids but I get my hair coloured at the salon, so I’m there for 1-3 hours every two months depending on what I get done. People definitely bring their kids in at my salon. Sometimes their child’s dad/nan etc takes them out half way in, other times the child just sits down in the waiting area (or next to their mum, if there’s space at the next station). The staff don’t seem to mind.

Oh of course make sure he doesn’t act up/run around as he could be a bit of a hazard when stylists are carrying scissors/razors, hair colourants, hot drinks or hot styling tools etc. But as he’s 10 I’m assuming he wouldn’t be a problem

Sure, if he'll sit quietly. My hair is nearly waist-length because I have a 3 yo and I last sat in a salon while he was in utero!

@SlartiAardvark

Having a bad day? Cheer up!

To be honest, I don’t think bringing a 10 year old child with you is much different than other clients - EG a 15 year old who comes in with their mum, or a someone who comes in with of their friends. I have definitely taken friends with me, and gone with my friends to their appointments, in the past. It typically isn’t a problem. Sorry for all the posts.

@Backstabbath well you make think he's fine at home alone at 10 years old but the law doesn't. Were you aware that it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 13 alone at home? I hope not and that that changes now.

Goth137

Illegal? No it's not.

HTH.

That's a long time for a ten yo to keep himself occupied..

You’re kidding right?

My boys (10 & 12) come with me when I get my hair done. They love it - there’s a comfy sofa for them to curl up on while reading, they get hot chocolates with marshmallows and listen to decent music. They get their hair cut here too - and then I sit on the sofa with a glass of wine. Love my salon!

Goth237

Were you aware that it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 13 alone at home?

No, it isn't.

2 hours in a hairdresser's? How bloody unfair on the children.

Were you aware that it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 13 alone at home?

Assuming OP is in the U.K., that's absolutely not true.

There is no legal minimum. It's an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk, but it's up to parents to be sensible to judge what that means.

www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone

An NT, sensible 10 year old (going into year 6?) should be absolutely fine for a couple of hours. This sounds longer than that though to be fair.

It’s fine OP, 10s plenty old enough to not be a distraction, it’s the toddlers running around screaming that are the problem!
It’s not illegal for a ten year old to be home alone, there’s no age limit, pretty sure it all hangs around that wonderfully easy to understand legal term so loved in this county: what’s ‘reasonable’
Majority of kids take themselves to school at 11, so why wouldn’t they be able to be home alone until 13? Surely safer in the house than on the streets?

I've taken my 4 and 7 year olds to my cut and colour appointment, just set them up in the corner with the iPad and snacks. I went over to see them and got told off by the 7 year old for walking around with my foils on.

Unfair on the children? I think they'll survive.

Oh they'll survive ok. Children survive much worse.
But why subject another human being, one you are care about,
to such pointless and unnecessary boredom?

Depends on the salon, ours doesn't mind and even has some toys/books for younger dc for a quick cut/blow dry, never seen anyone with dc for a full colour taking a couple of hours but don't think they'd mind if the dc were OK. As long as she doesn't get in the way, and there isnt a shortage of chairs for paying customers don't see a problem. If you haven't seen any dc there before maybe text/phone in advance and ask if it's OK?

Pointless and unnecessary boredom

Why on earth would the child be bored? Sit them in the waiting area with a book, they should be perfectly happy for hours.

Apart from anything else being able to handle a little boredom is an excellent life skill.