For parents, to get the child’s first hair cut would be an absolute momentous occasion but the average toddler, is however unlikely to be enthusiastic. For this preschooler, being wrapped in a cape, sprayed with water, and attacked with scissors would give a stranger anxiety experience. A tot is typically nervous and uneasy in the face of any new experience. You have to divide the preparation into two parts, one is few days before the haircut and two is during the haircut. Since in the previous blog we discussed the before haircut process, let’s talk about the latter now.
During the haircut:
Both parents should be available: Even though it’s a slightly more challenging position, having the child calm and sitting still will make the cut easier for everyone. Your baby can sit on one adult’s lap while the other entertains her, and the little one feels safe and secure during the haircut which is a great distraction from what the stranger is doing to her head.
Prioritise your concerns: If your main concern is hair in the eyes, let the stylist/barber know so he can prioritise. In case the child gets fussy and you’ll have to stop midway; you will at least have the most important hair issue solved.
Bring his/her toys: If the child uses a comfort toy or a pacifier, bring it to keep his/her hands and mind occupied while her hair is being cut. This may help to keep the child’s sight away from the mirror so your child doesn’t fixate on the scissors.
Bring extra clothes: If he doesn’t readily wear the cape, and wiggles around, keep a pair of clothes ready to change. Even if he wears the cape, chances are that some hair may slip down his shirt. And having hair down his back is going to make him cranky/unhappy, so it’s a good choice to change clothes after the exercise.
Don’t use force: Trying to restrict your child’s movement is likely to lead to even more fidgeting.
Brush trimmed locks out of your child’s sight: They might give reactions like – ‘ouch’ or cry with a louder whine if they can see their hair falling!
Take breaks:Â Take break halfway through, or even a couple of breaks through the process.
Recruit a family member- An entertaining older sibling or anyone from the family who can provide some live entertainment may be just the thing to keep your toddler happy.
Capture moments- Ask someone to click pictures and make this day memorable.
Saving those baby curls- Some parents would want to save those first strands. You can keep it in an envelope or glue into a scrapbook page along with some before and after photos.
We’d love to hear, how did you get through your baby’s first haircut?
