Haircuts! Have tried TV, distraction, chocolate buttons - what works for you?

[theborrower]

My daughter (just turning 3) hates getting her hair cut. I have always done it, but the last few times she has been really difficult about it. Tonight we got the chair out, she got to watch a pixar film and was told she could have a chocolate button(s) if mummy cut her hair.

Cue "Noooo!" and lots of screaming etc, she wouldn't let me near her. We gave up in the end. She never used to be so bad - TV and some chocolate always worked!

I suggested to DH that we take her to one of those children's hairdresser places (with seats that are wee cars, and tellies etc) but he said she'll just have a tantrum there too and be a waste of money.

What works for you?

We take ours to the kids hairdresser like the place you describe above. DS is 3 and doesn't love it, but we book the app for morning rather than afternoon when he is more likely to be awkward and tell him a day or so before we are going. He watches Peppa throughout, eats buttons and I take him for a treat afterwards if he has sat still. Why not try the place once and see what happens? Can you take her along with you next time you get cut and then make it a sort of "girly outing" for her - make a big fuss of it. You don't KNOW she'll tantrum and as she gets older a proper cut (rather than done by you) is probably more appropriate anyway.

My 2.9yo comes with me to my hairdresser (just a regular adults hairdresser). He loves it. He even sits on his own on the chair now which is ace cos I get to sit down and have a cup of tea too. We've been doing this since his first haircut though, at about 15 months.

proper hairdressers

i've got to say i wold have a tantrum if my mum tried to cut my hair

Kids hairdressers works for us. My DC's are feral spirited , but they love choosing what DVD to watch and sitting in a funky kids chair.

I'm embarrassed to admit it but I took my 2.5 year old dd to one of the children's hairdressers and she had a massive tantrum. The only thing that worked was to promise her a manicure at the end which she absolutely loved.

Thanks everyone! Think we'll try the kiddie hairdresser and bribe treat her with choc buttons and a soft play after, and see how we get on.

I have a mobile hairdresser that comes to the house - can't afford swishy salons at the moment! I have boy/girl twins who are 5 in two weeks so a little older than your child, though we have done the below for a good couple of years. Doesn't ALWAYS work, depends on mood, but 8 times out of 10, all is well.

I bring our (freestanding) full-length mirror downstairs into the kitchen (wooden floor, easy to sweep up the hair afterwards) and let them watch and the hairdresser is really good, asking them, "Shall we cut this bit off? Shall we leave this bit long?" all the while actually just cutting it how I would like it but making them feel like they are part of the decision IYSWIM.

I try to schedule the appointments so that I need mine doing at the same time - even if it's just a tidy-up trim and we choose who goes first, who's in the middle etc...

I also find that giving them a drink and some fruit or a yoghurt or whatever an hour or so before (just to make sure we're not crotchety through hunger or thirst) works, though that may just be me.

Good luck!

PolterGoose - we cut her hair in the bath when she was much younger but now she's way too much of a wriggler to do that.

We've booked an appointment on Friday at the kiddie hairdresser. Will let you know how we get on!

delighted to report that she was fine! She was a bit funny to start with, and wouldn't go on the motorbike, but the lady knew all the tricks and cut her hair while Daddy held her, wriggled about, finally went on the chair etc - so, not too traumatic an experience after all! She has been talking about it lots (she loves the certificate/ card she got to take home) and the lollipop treat worked a treat too. Will go there again.