Hates having hair washed?!

Belinda - posted on 08/09/2011

My daughter didn't mind getting her hair washed up until the last couple of weeks. I think maybe it's because we stopped swimming over the Winter...who knows though but swimming could help. We are starting again in the spring so will see what happens. You could also try the hose from the tap, that helps reducing the time it takes to wash the shampoo out.

Moodymoose77 - posted on 08/08/2011

Hi, I do lots of baths when I babysit and have helped many kids through their fear of washing hair. These are the methods that always work. I have never had a child cry yet. These methods are for truly kids who are scared though they will work with any kid who protests shampooing. I do not use any methods when wetting or rinsing hair that involve lying back in the bath water or under a faucet, I never in the beginning, use a cup to either wet or rinse. (Later it is usually fine to use a cup but a sportsbottle works better. see below) The above methods are very frightening to a child who has a fear of hairwashing. I am very gentle scrubbing a childs hair as they tend to be tenderheaded and do not like or require a vigorous scrub to get their hair clean. If for some reason a child had paint or something sticky in their hair, I still rub gently just a little longer and the kids don't mind that when you are gentle I always reassure frightened kids before and during hairwashing. I talk calmly explaining everything I do. I talk about the bath and washing hair at dinner or earlier before bathtime to find out if they are scared. It gives me a chance to find out what scares them and to reassure them I won't get water and shampoo in their eyes and let them know my methods of accomplishing that. During the bath I am careful to listen and observe distress. One little girl was scared for a minute and started whining when I turned on the faucet for to rinse the bath puppet that I had been gently scrubbing her hair with. I reassured her I would not lay her under the faucet but needed to rinse the puppet . That is all I needed to say and she was fine. Now on to methods for helping your kids deal with their fear. First buy or make some bath puppets. Get extras so the kids have one each in the tub. Also make sure you have three unbreakable mirrors for the kids. Last of all when you shower and shampoo practice making soapy ears on your head, batman horns or whatever your kids happen to be into & oh yeah, buy some brand new tear free kids shampoo. The old bottle of shampoo probably brings back unhappy memories to the kids. Some kids scream when they see the bottle. Make sure you have a little extra time the fist couple of times you try the new methods of washing hair. You may want to call washing/ or shampooing hair something else eg, making bubbles, making ears, cleaning hair, anything that sounds different if the word wash,etc inspires fear. Now on to the next step. When you and the kids are eating dinner or out on a errand or just hanging out it is a good time to talk about your new fun way of doing hair. Explain to your kids that you understand whay they hate having their hair washed (or whatever you usually call it) and that someone has told you a way to have fun and keep the soap and water out of their eyes/face. They will want to know what it is. Show the the puppets first but wait until the bath to let them play with them. Next tell your kids that looking up and making coyote, dog, or wolf calls will keep the soap and water off their faces and out of their eyes. Demonstrate how to make a wolf call and watch the smiles on your kids faces. Show them how the water will go down their backs. Next tell them you will making them animal soap ears and they can look in the mirror. This gets the kids thinking of fun they will have. When you try the new shampooing methods at bathtime make sure you have a little extra time and are not in a rush. It does take a little more time initially, but not as much time as shampooing a struggling, screaming child. After your child trust you, it will not take any more time than for a typical bath and shampoo. The kids I sit for no longer pay attention to hairwashing but keep on playing in the tub with toys I bring for them. They make coyote calls and look up for me to rinse their hair but go right back to playing. We still make the occasional ears though. Washing hair will become fun and you will not have a stressful night with three screaming upset kids. For the kids who are okay after the shampoo- still a few minutes of screaming can wear on you especially with more than one child that screams. Once you have gained trust you can eventually use a sports bottle to rinse instead of the puppets which will make shampooing faster. Sports bottles are much better than cups because the water goes just where you want it and the kids like to play with it afterwards. Always keep your promise to keep water and soap out of their faces. In the case of occasional drips I quickly dry their face with a towel and say "look at that silly water trying to drip on you" using a silly voice. The kids may want to try rinsing different ways which you should encourage. Getting faces wet eventually won't matter. The kids who used to be so scared now love to dive and splash and don't care if water get's on their faces, they just don't like soap in thier eyes and let's face it, adults don't like that either! Kids who were very scared of washing hair afterwards beg for me to give them baths and make soap ears which I am more than happy to. the parents are thrilled too! Let me know if you need any additional ideas. I have shared this time and time again and it always works. Please share your experince and these methods with other parents to help them with their kids who are scared of hair washing. Wishing you and your kids lots of laughs
Harriet

Annie - posted on 04/03/2011

My son doesn't mind getting his head wet, but he doesn't like it when I dump water over his head to rinse the shampoo. I've been working with him on dumping water over his own head, and the idea of it being a game seems more appealing to him than the alternative.

Chris - posted on 04/03/2011

That's true for us too Rebekah, Hayden LOVES the shower. Even last night, I tried what one of you does and poured the water over her head. She liked that better for sure but still cried a bit at the end. It seems to be the laying down in the tub that actually upsets her now.

Rebekah - posted on 04/03/2011

My daughter hated it as well! Since we don't have an actual bath tub in this house, we bought one of those shower heads that is attached to a hose so we can take it down and better direct the water. She seemed to get used to that - but now that she's older and can stand/walk, we shower her with us, and she likes that a LOT better than an actual bath. She doesn't cry or scream when I have to put her head under the water to rinse her off... she's actually started doing it herself.

Yvonne - posted on 04/03/2011

i've seen these visor things at walmart that your child wears to keep water out of their eyes. don't know how effective they are but maybe it's worth a shot. my one year used to freak out when i rinsed her hair but she got over it after a little while. now she just giggles and blows the water bubbles out of her mouth.

Chris - posted on 04/02/2011

My gal hates it too! I was told about a bucket and suction thingy that goes over their forehead so no water gets in their face. I haven't bought it yet but I think this is it - http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?... .Couple of mom's in my mom's group swear by it.

Christina - posted on 03/31/2011

My daughter hates it also! When I get her hair wet I put my hand on her forhead and tilt it up pour water was and when I rinse it out I take the nozel off the shower head and put my hand back over her forhead so less water comes down in her face then I wipe it off. It has to be done but she cries...alot!

Susan - posted on 03/30/2011

My son hates getting his hair washed too. Also hates his face being touched with anything so the wash cloth thing didnt work for me. What i do is honestly wet his hair with wash cloth and wash his hair then just quickly rinse his hair with a cup of water over the head. Yeah he hates it and wants to get out of the tub when i do it but once i stop and tell him ok im all done he sits back down or stops trying to get out.

Sara - posted on 03/29/2011

I started my little ones in swimming classes, and they love the water. They even get dunked under and laugh when they come up. I wonder if swimming would make it any easier for her?