Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

2 year old goes hysterical at hair cuts

9 replies

ProfessorPickles · 01/09/2015 17:44

My 2 year old DS is extremely well behaved and overall is a happy and easy child. Since he was about 18 months though hair cuts have been an absolute nightmare where before they were fine.

Distractions like toys, books, or cartoons do not work and rewarding him with something like chocolate doesn't work even though he'd do anything for it the rest of the time.

He constantly puts his hands in the way, cries and gets himself in a state. He especially hates it if she goes near his ears so ends up looking a bit like the Gallaghers as the sides end up getting left long!

He did this a couple of times for having nails trimmed and brushing teeth but soon got over it after a few times but with his hair he doesn't seem to be improving!

He has it done by a family friend that he loves at our own home or at her home if that is relevant. So it seems like we couldn't improve things for him, I can't imagine taking him to a salon to see a stranger.

Any tips would be much appreciated!

I can't decide whether it would be better to leave his hair for a few months in the hope it'll give us a fresh start or whether we should have a smaller cut more regularly so it isn't as long between cuts and he gets used to it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SomedayMyPrinceWillCome · 01/09/2015 17:54

My DS was exactly the same, I would dread the few weeks running up to getting his hair cut.
I wish I had some amazing advice or experience that sorted it for us but I don't. He's 3 now & while he still hates getting it done at least it's just a quiet sob now rather than full on tantrum & freaking out.
I always take him for chips & to the park after a haircut (something fun) go try and balance out a bad day.
I'll be watching this thread with interest hoping for tips myself!!

Rarity08 · 01/09/2015 18:03

Thinking about it logically, we tell young children that scissors are dangerous and to be cautious around them then expect them to sit on a very high chair in a strange place where a virtual stranger is using scissors very close to their head.
After 18 months children become much more aware of their surroundings and perceived dangers.
My ds was like this and grew out of it. Have you a friend who cuts hair? Get someone to come to your house? In the meanwhile let it go. If desperate cut his fringe when he's asleep.

MyNameIsSuz · 01/09/2015 18:10

Mine was exactly the same and I tried everything, salon, at home, chocolate, distractions... One day I came home to find dh had sat him on a blanket on the floor and was shearing him with the clippers! It looked a bit... grown up, but he was so surprised by the buzzing while it was being done he just sat there in stunned silence. He did it once more, by which time we'd had a nice long break from hairdressers, and when I took him again he was as good as gold. Chocolate buttons bought on the way there and clutched throughout, plenty of praise for behaving like a grown up boy, and a 9am appointment so he was fresh as a daisy all helped

RiverTam · 01/09/2015 18:21

I wouldn't bother. He doesn't have to get his hair cut and I don't see the point in distressing a child so much over something unecessary.

BathshebaDarkstone · 01/09/2015 18:26

DS1 was like this then I took him to Trotters. He's 25 in a couple of weeks but when I used to take him they had a fish tank with koi carp, they distracted him and he was fine. I have no idea if they still have fish tanks!

ggirl · 01/09/2015 18:29

My ds was like this with a family friend as well ...funnily enough he was as good as gold at a barber.
Not sure if it cos it was a male barber as opposed to female hairdresser..I honestly don't think he was being sexist

winchester1 · 01/09/2015 18:33

I just lop of the worse at home with baby scissors while he is playing.tbh I only do that because he hates having it washed or combed and it needs something done to it.

TeaPleaseLouise · 01/09/2015 18:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HJBeans · 01/09/2015 20:42

My DS (just over 2) was fine at first (around 1) but was getting worse and worse when I'd take him in so that we were getting lots of half done haircuts, too. Two things solved it for us.

First, we let him use the iPad to look at kid friendly apps during the cut. The only other time he's allowed this is on long airplane or train journeys, so it's a real treat and it keeps him still and quiet for ages. (Now he actually suggests getting a haircut and says 'Haircut, IPad!')

Second, he started going at the same time as his Dad so it's a bit of a boys-only Saturday activity. This seemed the real turning point, as they enjoy going off together and he watches DH get a cut before he has his. Additional upside is the potential for Saturday morning lie-in for me.

Flip