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

1 2

Original poster

Suggestions Please - DS and hair washing

29 replies

MrsFish · 04/07/2007 18:47

Hi I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions please...

Never used to have a problem washing ds's hair, he would quite happily lean himself back onto my waiting hand and let me wash it no problem... Now though its a different matter, the past couple of months he has started crying whenever we have tried to do it, I don't know what's changed, not putting any blame anywhere but DH has been doing baths for a while so whether he has been less than careful I don't know.... but even when I try and do it now we get a screaming/crying fit whenever we try and lean him back, despite assurances to him that he is ok and we have him safe.

We are very careful not to get water or soap in his eyes or ears, hence leaning him back, otherwise trying to do it when he is sitting up is a hundred times worse. I have tried one of those plastic shields you put on their head to stop water going in their eyes but he hates that even more... I am at a loss but DH asked me to post here as he thinks ds is starting to get panicked when we do it and we don't want him to go off baths altogether as he does love them other than the hair issue.

Is it a phase, he has just turned two?

Any help or thoughts appreciated

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Mistymoo · 04/07/2007 18:52

We give our dd a flannel to cover her eyes with and tell her to look up to the sky. she seems to be OK with this. She does also helps put the shampoo in as she likes the bubbles

Wheelybug · 04/07/2007 19:01

ooh mrsfish - no advice but just to let you know you are not alone. I have a 2 year old in the other room screaming how she doesn't want her hair washed. We had no problems until a month ago and now she screams and screams. I put it off as much as poss but I really need to do it tonight ! Am hoping its just a phase and will pass as suddenly as it arrived. We've tried all sorts to no avail.

Good luck !

gegs73 · 04/07/2007 19:02

DS1 is AWFUL with hair washing. He has consistently cried when we do it since he has been about 18 months. I am a very lapse mother in that I now only wash it about once/twice a week (well it is short) and just try and make it as quick as possible accepting that he will cry (he is now 3!!!) You can buy Johnsons toddler shampoo which is quick rinse to minimise the time it takes. Good luck.

ktmoomoo · 04/07/2007 19:09

[www.agingfabulous.com/wp-content/uploads/2006... this looks good]

ktmoomoo · 04/07/2007 19:09

[www.agingfabulous.com/wp-content/uploads/2006... this looks good]

ktmoomoo · 04/07/2007 19:09

why it not working arghhhh

NoNickname · 04/07/2007 19:12

Don't wash it would be my suggestion. I have only ever washed ds's hair about twice in his life (he's now 3.7) and it's absolutely fine as it is. Hair is self-cleaning.

jangly · 04/07/2007 19:14

Would this make it any easier? Not so tight round the head as the plastic shields. houseofbathuk.drct2u.com/productcache/HOB/BO4666/BE616BL.html.gz

Original poster

MrsFish · 04/07/2007 19:16

Ds's hair is very blonde and he has a lot of it, it needs washing! I do it about twice a week atm, I suppose I just keep going and doing it in the soothing manner that I do and hope he grows out of it then?

OP posts:

MaryBS · 04/07/2007 19:21

DS still doesn't like his hair washed and he's five. If it REALLY needs washing (eg if there's food in there , I use a wet flannel.

meandmyflyingmachine · 04/07/2007 19:29

I used to be gentle and calm and soothing. Then I just started chucking jugs of water over their heads and getting it done as quickly as possible
They are over it now. No fuss any more.

krispiecakes · 04/07/2007 19:36

agree with no nickname - ds is 4 and have washed it only a handful of times in his whole life. He has long hair but it's in beautiful condition - by the time his hormones have kicked in and it starts to go greasy he can bloody wash it himself!!

muppetgirl · 04/07/2007 19:44

Hi Mrs Fish!!

We had a little of this problem with ds so dh came up with the idea of having the shower head over the bath and turned on, though not directly over him. He was free to play in the shower water if he wanted to and at first he didn't! He stuck his hands in, then shoulders and then finally his head would pop under and quickly out. As it became fun he became more brave. We stopped leaning him back and used a flannel as Misymoo does and he just bows his head. This seemed to work for us.....

Also he started having showers with daddy after that and would play in the bottom of the tray with old/empty shampoo bottles and didn't even notice his hair was wet. Did a quick wash -with flannel and all is fine.

TheWiltedRose · 04/07/2007 19:46

to be honest mine doesnt like it either so i just get a cup and dump it on the quicker i am about it the quicker he stops screaming! at the end of the day water and babbi shampoo in his face ios not going to hurt him for a few seconds a few times a week!

Original poster

MrsFish · 04/07/2007 19:49

Thanks muppetgirl, I may try that but the odd couple of times I have had him in the shower with me, he has hated that too.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsFish · 04/07/2007 19:51

Also its not so much the getting wet in the first place its when it comes to rinsing off the shampoo... perhaps I am putting too much on, or I could do a few washes without shampoo and see how we get on so he is leaning back as little as poss.

OP posts:

jo25 · 04/07/2007 19:58

my ds 4.8 was always fine with hairwashing until he hit 2 then he waas just like yours until nearly 3, he went back to no fuss but then the scenario reared its ugly head again just before he turned 4 and it is an ongoing battle!!! we have however found swimming goggles to be wonderful and a regular part of bathtime, he loves them and again have no problem with hairwashing. We bought him tinted ones just to add to the fun and he finds it hilarious because everything is blue! i just wish we had thought about this the first time round, am sure we would not have issue now

Meliasmum · 04/07/2007 19:59

Hi MrsFish
I havent had time to read all the posts from other mums netters!! But my dd has had the same issue-She would kick up such a fuss scream and stand up to try and get away from us. The only way we dealt with it was to not wash her hair for a few nights if poss to let her have a break from it-When we did wash her hair she put her head far forward so the water run straight off the front of her head and missed her face (she kind of did this herself!) and ever since has been less frantic. She still moans but I let her get involved in the washng bit so she squeezes the shampoo herself as she is a "Big Girl now!" She also holds a sponge over her face to catch any drips. I agree tho-The water shields you can but are a waste and dont work. Just be patient with your son and try not to get too anxious about it, and he should get used to it-Best of luck!

Original poster

MrsFish · 04/07/2007 20:01

Thats an idea, but I don't think he would keep them on atm, he won't keep his sunglasses on for more than a few seconds.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsFish · 04/07/2007 20:03

Meliasmum - thanks, he is too young atm to really understand what we are saying I think, I doubt he would hold the flannel up to his face... yet. I think we just keep on as we are and see how it goes. I'll leave DH to do the main bath and play and I'll take over for the hairwash

Thanks for all your suggestions

OP posts:

terramum · 05/07/2007 00:43

DS has always hated us touching his hair or getting water anywhere near his face so I just don't do it very often. I have never actually washed anyway...just rinsed it with water....if he really wont let me get it wet then I just rub a damp flannel on it & then brush it really well. His hair looks fine - better than mine actually

katelyle · 05/07/2007 06:17

I just wouldn't wash it - it doesn't get really dirty at this age anyway!

oggsfrog · 05/07/2007 07:22

Could you try having hardly any water in the bath, so that he can lie down completely on the bottom of the bath, rather than leaning back?

You can then just cup water over hs head with your hand. Just get him to tip his head back. We found a mobile on the ceiling helps too.

Dd was quite happy to splash about like this.

It also sounds like you are using too much shampoo.

I'd try this method without any shampoo a few times and then just use a tiny, tiny amount.

sfxmum · 05/07/2007 07:33

to OP i could have written your post dd now 25m just decided she is scared of hair washing! like your ds she will start crying even before going in bath.
i think lots of patience is required, a couple of weeks she would scream if i tried to put her trainers on but she does now

sibble · 05/07/2007 07:42

not sure if it's already been said but swimming goggles for ds1 and ds2. build up the excitement, wear them around the house then, wow you are so lucky lets wear them in the bath....ds2 lives wearing them stranding under the shower playing with his toys, have to fight him out. hth and hope this hasn't been suggested

Flip

1 2