Hair cuts and ASD.

[NatalieJane]

DS2 has always been absolutely petrified of getting his hair cut, I have given up taking him to the barbers after they had to give up mid-cut because he was going to end up getting hurt, I have had minimal training in cutting hair, and so now do it myself with the clippers, it's never perfect but it's better than dangling in his eyes.

Last time I cut his hair, he screamed like never before for a good two hours solid, I was honestly expecting social services to turn up, if I'd have heard that going on I'd have called them!

So tonight I need to cut his hair again, and I'm looking for any tips you guys may have picked up? I have tried covering him up so he doesn't covered in hair, I've tried not covering him up incase that is what he is hysterical about, I've tried giving the clippers a name and a voice (), I've tried toys/drinks/snacks as distractions, just about everything I can think of, is there anything I am missing?

BTW, I do DH's at the same time (straight over with the clipers - easy!) DS2 laughs his head off at Dad having a funny hair cut for a few mins, but still goes balistic when it's his turn.

Massaging my lo's head for a while first seems to help desensitise him a bit and make him not quite as bad. (If someones already said this sorry for repeating)

So sorry everyone for not coming back sooner. Thanks for all of the advice, I chickened out of doing it, we are going with the wrap him in a towel and desensitisation route, his hair isn't quite in his eyes yet so we've got a week or two to play with, hopefully it'll work!

do you think these clippers might be easier? he could even do it himself?

here

I tend to just chop bits off ds's hair when it gets too long. He hates having short hair, but then goes and cuts chunks out of it himself when it gets in his eyes. He has a thing about anything touching his head, so I always put his dislike of haircuts down to that. He's almost 7 now, so am hoping this will improve with age.

Lisa I had seen them and wondered but am worried if he catches his ears? Also, (and this is an aside point, because if those clippers meant I couldn't do it, but he was happier, then I'd buy them today) I do try to leave it a bit longer on top because I don't really like the 'shaved' head look, obviously if he was doing it with that kind of clipper, any 'stlye' would go out of the window!

Captain, another one hoping he'll improve with age!

Just to give some hope

DS used to get very upset, said it hurt his hair, tantrums when I mentioned going etc. The barber asked me should he stop the first couple of times but we persevered with DS in floods of tears. Wriggled and got his ear cut on two occasions.

CM cut his hair at age 3 using clippers with all other mindees clapping and cheering, no problem.

It's gradually got easier over the years (he was dx ASD 2 years ago).

He chose to go to the barbers alone after school last week and came back happily shorn. He's 13 and I was a very proud mummy