About toddler in the hairdressers?

[IfIHadAHeart]

I love coming to the hairdressers. It’s a treat, a bit of a pamper session and time to myself. Today’s appointment has been completely spoiled but I’m not sure if IABU!!

When I arrived, the customer next to me was half way through a full head of foils with a restless toddler on her knee. The little girl has screamed, shouted, run around the salon, had a tantrum, climbed on a cabinet and knocked a display over and is currently sharpening pencils leaving the shavings all over the floor. Mum has made very limited efforts to entertain her, and the poor hairdresser looks ever so flustered.

It has not been a pleasant experience. I keep telling myself to think kind thoughts and perhaps it’s Mum’s only chance for a bit of pampering herself, but I can’t control my face sometimes and the mirrored walls mean she has probably seen me glaring 😂

IABU to think you don’t bring toddlers to a three hour hair appointment?!

[pinkyredrose]

@Skinnermarink

My hairdresser has cats, which is one of the main reasons I go there.

That sounds heavenly!

[Gizlotsmum]

Really tricky. Do you have to pay a deposit? Maybe her childcare fell through and she had no option and couldn’t afford to lose the money

[rainbowmilk]

@ChessieFL

Link to the salon I was talking about

ymsalon.co.uk/the-salon/

Ahhh. In fairness, no adult with any sense would go there.

My salon unfortunately has the same atmosphere (it tried to ban kids under 5 and all the local mummies kicked off on social media) and I actually wish your sort of salon existed so all of the mums could fuck off their with their little darlings.

[TrashPandas]

Oh good lord 😂"We also provide a certificate with a lock of hair for those precious 1st haircuts"

[ChessieFL]

Link to the salon I was talking about

ymsalon.co.uk/the-salon/

[AlexForrestBunny]

I couldn’t think of anything worse than brining my toddler along to my hair appointment but I know some hairdressers say it’s fine, you say the hairdresser was looking flustered - she may be rethinking saying kids welcome (if it was something originally said!)
Not saying you are unreasonable but I don’t think it would bother me though- not my child so not my responsibility … filter out the chaos haha

[ThisUserNameIsAvailableOk]

Indeed. Makes you wonder if that is actually the case or if pp is "that" customer

[TrashPandas]

I’ve always gone to a hairdresser whose selling point is that children are always welcome to ensure that parents are able to go and get their hair cut without worrying.

What a strange business model, designed to attract a very small percentage of the population (women with children under school age) and put off the other 99% of potential customers.

[grey12]

"I’ve always gone to a hairdresser whose selling point is that children are always welcome to ensure that parents are able to go and get their hair cut without worrying."

@ChessieFL I'm very curious to know what kind of facilities this hairdresser provides. A sectioned area with toys? With a gate and everything?
Never saw anything remotely like this. Interesting

[MummyDrinksWine]

I wouldn’t dream of taking my kids to the hairdressers. And if I were that mother I would have at least had them strapped in a buggy with an iPad and snacks just to get through it, and while the foils we’re taking I’d be taking them for a little walk outside for fresh air and change of scenery. Absolutely no chance of letting them run wild and free in the salon though.

the only thing I can think this would be absolutely necessary is if my childcare cancelled really short notice and the hair was being done for my wedding 😂

[bakewellbride]

Yanbu that's not ok. It's not fair on the child or the other people like you. I only bring my 4 year old and baby to the hair dressers with me when it's a quick fringe trim and they both behave. The only exception to this is once when my baby was much younger I brought her for a quick wash and cut but she just lay in the pram asleep for most of it and disturbed no-one. For highlights or similar you need to find childcare imo.

[Skinnermarink]

My hairdresser has cats, which is one of the main reasons I go there.

[NeedWineNow]

In my case it was a relative of the salon owner who kept coming in with her toddler and who used the salon as unofficial childcare. I go to the salon to relax and have a chat, not to have to listen to a toddler making smart remarks and customers being asked - by my hairdresser! - to watch her dancing or some such. It also meant that my appointment often ran over as she kept breaking off to deal with said toddler who wanted sweets, kept going on the back where chemicals were stored etc.

After my last appointment taking double the time it should have done due to the child wailing and playing up I gave up and changed salons.

[ThisUserNameIsAvailableOk]

"Well she might have been let down by childcare at the very last minute, and at short notice she might have still been charged for the appointment if she cancelled. I’m probably not coming at this from the same place as everyone else though as I’ve always gone to a hairdresser whose selling point is that children are always welcome to ensure that parents are able to go and get their hair cut without worrying."

Are you sure? Sounds like hell on earth and not sure it would be a selling point. Maybe this woman thinks her hairdresser is happy with it too when in fact she is apologising to the other customers as soon as they leave.

[sumosaussage]

@ChessieFL

Well she might have been let down by childcare at the very last minute, and at short notice she might have still been charged for the appointment if she cancelled. I’m probably not coming at this from the same place as everyone else though as I’ve always gone to a hairdresser whose selling point is that children are always welcome to ensure that parents are able to go and get their hair cut without worrying.

She still had a choice

Most would take the financial hit over be an absolute twat

[ChessieFL]

Well she might have been let down by childcare at the very last minute, and at short notice she might have still been charged for the appointment if she cancelled. I’m probably not coming at this from the same place as everyone else though as I’ve always gone to a hairdresser whose selling point is that children are always welcome to ensure that parents are able to go and get their hair cut without worrying.

[sumosaussage]

@ChessieFL

I agree that this would be annoying for you, and ideally no you wouldn’t take a toddler to a three hour hair appointment, but maybe she didn’t have much choice and while she’s having things done to her chair there’s not a lot she can do to stop a toddler running around.

What do you mean she might not have much choice?

She could choose not to go to the appt if she couldn't not bring her toddler

That's what any decent human being would do

There is always a choice

[grey12]

You should have mentioned something OP. Reassure the hairdresser that this isn't normal and that they shouldn't have allowed it. Like I mentioned before there are plenty of scissors and all kinds of dangers around, it's definitely not a place for a small child to be running around

[IfIHadAHeart]

Well she ended up leaving with wet hair. The screaming reached its peak when the hairdryer came out and mum was trying to get her to sit in her buggy rather than run around.

you could hear the sigh of relief from everyone else when they left, and my hairdresser apologised profusely. Hopefully next time it will be peaceful again!

[CourtneeLuv]

@ChessieFL

I agree that this would be annoying for you, and ideally no you wouldn’t take a toddler to a three hour hair appointment, but maybe she didn’t have much choice and while she’s having things done to her chair there’s not a lot she can do to stop a toddler running around.

That didn't take long. If this is the case then she needs to rebook.

[mistermagpie]

@underneaththeash

I would have said that I'd come back when it was a bit quieter and walked out.

This. I have taken my 7 year old to the hairdressers (for a cut, not colour which takes over two hours!) because I know he will sit and play his switch for a bit and not say boo to a goose. I know my hairdresser well but I still wouldn't take my 2 year old to an appointment!!

[pinkyredrose]

Why didn't anyone ask the mother to keep the kid quiet?

[AnneElliott]

Not ok. A quick fringe trim yes. A full on head of highlights no. Not fair on the kid, the hairdresser or the other customers!!!

[BlankTimes]

When DD was small, I used to have a home hairdresser who also worked in a salon in town, so was up to date with the latest styles etc. not the stereotype home hairdresser who just does old ladies' hair.

Maybe that's something the woman could consider for the future.

[underneaththeash]

I would have said that I'd come back when it was a bit quieter and walked out.