To not wash my toddlers hair for 2 weeks

[chardonm]

So I am on maternity leave with a one-week old. My DH is working from home and we also have a toddler who is 20 months old (DS).
He has longish hair - to the shoulders. DS has had an ear infection that has not cleared for a while - we are on round 3 of antibiotics. We have no plans to leave the house for the next two weeks unless absolutely necessary.

Does anyone know whether it would be better not to wet his ears while he takes his course of antibiotics (14 days) and whether his hair will get horribly gross?

You can still wash his hair being careful not to get water in the ear - I'd be inclined to just cut it myself but expect you don't want to do that!

You could perhaps put a cotton wall wad gently in the entrance to his ear canal while cleaning his hair to prevent water getting in.

Forgot to add, cover the cotton wool with something like vaseline to stop it sucking the water up.

No need to wash it. Just pull his hair back in a ponytail or braid.
If it starts to look too gross put a small amount of dry shampoo in it.

You can protect the ears with cotton wool,, but it will be perfectly ok if you can't wash his hair for a while., and he might well appreciate this !

Hé hates getting his hair washed; will not be still enough to not get the ear wet. I might braid it and leave it like that then.

Thank you for the suggestion of dry shampoo, I happen to have some but never use it!

I would use a flannel to give his hair a basic wash, that will wipe out any food or major stuff he has wiped in it for now.

I’d leave it. I left my DD’s for 10 days when she had stitches on her forehead. I pulled it back in a bobble. It wasn’t too bad.

The only reason I ever need to wash DC hair is because they get food in it. I think keeping it braided will reduce this risk

My son is 2.5 and I think his hair has been washed maybe 2-3 times ever. It’s just not needed. Just tie his hair back when he’s eating so it doesn’t get food in it

Please don’t use an aerosol on him. It’s not good for his lungs. And dry shampoo in his ear would not be good!

I would make sure to brush so it doesn’t get tangled, like pp said wipe over with a flannel, maybe use talc if it looks greasy and smells. But be warned he may resist the first few time’s when you start to wash again!

You can get no rinse shampoo either as a liquid or mousse, just rub it in to hair then towel try off. Worked brilliantly for my Father with Alzheimers who couldn't cope with water on his head. I always sourced from Amazon

Toddler hair won’t get greasy. Well, wait and see if it does!
I agree with just sponging any food out.

You can get plastic ear protectors (normally used for hair dyeing) on Amazon.

They are like mini disposable shower caps.
Possibly too big for a toddler though?

No rinse shampoo sounds awesome lol. I hate washing my hair.

My son is 2.5 and I think his hair has been washed maybe 2-3 times ever. It’s just not needed.

Huh? How is it not needed? Sweat, dirt, sand, food, milk, snot, puke...

Is his head shaved tight? I have two preschoolers and while I'm certainly no clean freak I just can't imagine not washing their hair at LEAST once a week. Perhaps my DC are grubbier than most but they would be vile if I didn't!

I would French plait it

Thank you so much for all the great suggestions. Don't want to order anything on amazon that's not "essential" to not take up a delivery from someone who needs something more urgently. But the flannel idea is great.

Sorry but 2 weeks without washing hair is disgusting, especially if it's long. Between you and your dh can you not turn the water down low and just make sure not y ok get any in his ear? And dry shampoo is for adults not children. And you never put cotton wool in a child's ear surely?!?! I'm a bit shocked at everyone acting like it's fine? We're not 'bath every night' types, but once a week at least is necessary. How would you feel going 2 weeks without a hair wash?!

When my DGS had grommets, we used mouldable ear plugs and then a band around his head to keep water out.
He was told he was a superhero!

Like these:
www.amazon.co.uk/Zoggs-Silicone-Reusable-Swimming-Watersports/dp/B001C3AJNM?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

If he hates having his hair washed why do you keep it long? Surely short hair would be more manageable.

I’ve never washed my kids’ hair with anything other than water and even that’s only as and when.
Better not to get into the habit of using shampoo. I use shampoo on mine but it’s very hard to stop because it goes through an adjustment phase and I find it too hard.

Just leave it. DS1 rarely tolerated his hair being washed at the age. Don't use dry shampoo as it won't get greasy. I doubt anybody will even notice.

Cotton wool drenched in Vaseline will stop any water getting in his ear, or you can’t buy baby ear plugs, my son in partially deaf and has burst ear drums all the time I still wash his hair.

Sorry, I'm.with PP who say it will be horrid: even if it doesn't look too bad, it will smell terribly. I'm in the wash hair most nights camp, but my youngest does love a bath.

Shoulder length hair sounds hard work