Help! Hairdressing hell and other stories!

[aragon]

Any advice apprecieted on this one.

DS is 3.3yrs and has developed something of a phobia about hairdressers and having his hair cut. I last took him in two days ago where he screamed hysterically and the barber said "If he can't sit in the chair then I can't do him". In despair I went to Argos and bought a pair of clippers hoping to "do" him at home - he just screamed hysterically and sobbed and in the end I had to stop. It's the same with hairwashing except I manage to do this as it's a quick procedure.Also hates having his hair brushed.
His hair is now getting quite long. My DH actually said he felt embarrassed by it when he took DS shopping as he "looked such a scruff bag".

Anyone else have this?

What do I do?

Please tell me he'll have happily submitted to a haircut by the time he starts school (*not till Sept 2007 thankfully).

I won't even begin to go go into the fiasco that is potty training - he simply cannot be bothered. He'll wee on the loo and seems to know that he needs to go but if he's absorbed and hasn't the time to stop then he won't. Result wet clothes.

HELP

could you get a hairdresser to come to your house to cut his hair, then maybe he could watch a dvd/cartoons to distract him? or maybe just tie it back till he feels like having it cut

MAybe try yourself with some rounded end but sharp-ish scissors. At least this would be quiet and make some improvement on the scruffy front!

I like long hair on boys btw. so from my pov I am sure he looks ngelic and not scruffy!!

Can they cut it with scissors instead?

I have to say the first time i tried to cut dp's hair with clippers i was nervous of them so they must be pretty frightening for a three year old!

Potty training - you can go the hard route - let him keep wetting until he realises its boring to have to keep changing your clothes (do not tell him off, just change him and tell him he should have gone to the toilet).

The easy route - go back to nappies until he realises he doesn't want to be baby anymore.

I cut ds' hair with clippers. I gave them to him to hold without being switched on , then pretended to cut my own hair whilst making a buzzing noise....(honestly!)
Then let him do it to me and got him to make the noise too.
Eventually turned it on and let him hold it and switch it on/off.
Now loves the feel of having his hair clipped.

Failing that, I used to cut his hair with baby scissors (!) in the bath or when he was asleep. Only got half his head done at a time mind

aragon-my ds is 4.5 years and he is still leaves it too late to get to the loo most of the time! it's a boy thing I think!

can you not take him with you when you have yours cut... that way he can see what happens...

other wise I second the idea about someone comming to your house so he can watch tele eat sweets in his 'safe' environment....

goodluck

aragon we have the exact same problem. Ds1, now 4 has always HATED having his hair cut. I took him once to the barbers and he went along with it because he didn't know what was going on. So he started off OK, then started crying then became utterly hysterical. I had to sit him on my lap and hold his head. The barbers were really nice. They had a tv there and put Cbeebies on, gave him a lollipop, tried to joke with him etc and the cut was lovely but I know he won't go back.

Now dh cuts it with clippers. We give him sweets, chocs, put his favourite songs or favourite websites on the computer but it is a nightmare and not as good as a professional cut.

Thank you everyone. At least I know I am not alone. The hairdresser coming round is a good idea - even if he only sits and watches us get our hair cut!

Thank you - you are all great - I just love Mumsnet as I never feel so alone when I post here. I can always guarentee that someone else is facing the same hell as me.