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Behaviour/development

Hair washing drama! HELP!

9 replies

ButtonBoo · 01/05/2013 07:57

DD is 18mo and HATES having her hair washed.

It was ok up until about 2 months ago but now we have tears and tantrums every time. I've always used a shampoo shield on her but she's crying when I pick it up, even before its on her head. If I do manage to get it on, she pulls it off pronto.

She won't lay on her back for me to wash it and I've tried a face cloth in front of her eyes and distraction etc to make her look up whilst I tip water on her head. I bought one of those bucket things with a flexi shield that you hold against their foreheads etc but it seems to big and the water still runs in her face.

She doesn't mind having her face washed or having water splashed in her face. I use baby shampoo so it shouldn't be stinging her eyes and I am really slow and gentle but its driving me nuts!

We bath every day and hair wash every other night. Can't leave it any longer than that as DD loves to use her hair to clean her hands on after dinner!!!

Any tips oh wise MNers??!!

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drinkyourmilk · 01/05/2013 08:01

I think every child goes through this stage. I just make sympathetic noises while getting it done as quickly as possible.
I know that's not terribly helpful, sorry.
You could try getting her a doll to wash while you wash her, or counting? If I'm doing something they hate I say let's count to 20 and then it will be finished. Sometimes works.

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HappyAsASandboy · 01/05/2013 08:03

I have the same struggle, and have had no luck with flannels, flexi jug etc.

I find a small drinks bottle lets you pour in a controlled way, so you can get most of the head done without them really noticing ( we have a lot of bath toys!), then just have angst for the front section.

We also avoid a rinse by just doing shampoo in the bath and then using the johnsons spray leave-in conditioner to comb through once out of the bath.

I do hair two or three times a week.

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Alwayscheerful · 01/05/2013 08:09

Try putting a huge towel on the draining board and letting the little one lie on her back with a dry facecloth over her eyes, hair is easily washed and rinsed in the sink and you can talk and reassure her at the same time.

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isitsnowingyet · 01/05/2013 08:16

I've always washed hair of my 3 once a week, unless it has gotten dirty with something in particular, and used to bathe them every night until they were 3 or 4. Now they are older, it's every other night and hairwash on Sunday night. The 'no sting' formula may not be as my daughter tells me that it does still sting Sad. With an 18 month old is is hard as they can't understand and can't express themselves properly other than crying/screaming a lot. Again it's a phase. It sounds like you've tried all the right things. Maybe just do it less?

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BlueChampagne · 01/05/2013 13:40

Work on teaching her to wipe her hands on something more suitable so you don't have to wash hair so often.

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NotAnotherPackedLunch · 01/05/2013 13:45

Swimming goggles helped when mine were at this stage, as did putting a hat on DD at meal times to stop her wiping her hands on her hair...

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YBR · 01/05/2013 13:53

Similar thing with my DD. my DH is adept at distracting her with bath toys!
We just lean her back in the bath and don't use any shampoo shields or anything. We've found a non-slip mat helps her feel secure in the bath.

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ButtonBoo · 01/05/2013 16:05

Thanks all. Some really helpful advice here.

We've got the non slip mat but she doesn't want to lay on her back. She'll lay on her front and 'swim' and put her mouth/nose under water, which she finds really funny but won't go on her back.

We've got lots of bath toys. I sing too. Maybe that's why she cries...mummy's terrible singing!!

And yes, we're trying to stop the hair wiping and its going ok it just once or twice a week there will be sticky porridge or peanut butter blobs right in there.

I'll try the laying on the draining board...

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Leafmould · 01/05/2013 17:39

Definately do it less.

Unless there is actual dirt in it, children do not need frequent shampooing. My dd hated having her hair washed from age 6 months to age 7 years, so I only washed it every 3 months or so, and it looked fine and smelled fine and she had no dandruff.

I need regular shampooing due to my female hormones giving me greasy hair. My kids do not have this problem.

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