How Do You Moms Cut Your Toddlers' Hair?

I know what you are going through...The only way I was able to get thru that one was to have my friend come over with her son and I cut his hair first. Then we made it a big deal and my son wanted his hair cut...it will get easier !!! Good Luck

When it's haircut time we go all the way and use the electric clippers. For some reason my boys think it is So great and like it much better than the scissors!

Both of my boys (Chris 9 yrs. and Austin 15 mo.) were born with a lot of hair. I cut their hair myself until they were 10mo. old. Then it was off to the stylist. Call around and talk to stylist. Ask them how much experience they have with little ones. Some won't cut the hair of the very young. Take your son in to the shop a time or 2 before the haircut just so he won't be as nervous on his day. Let him look around a bit. He will be curious about everything but a stylist that has experience with children will do the trip and know when to bob and weave like he does. Perhaps trying to find a stylist that's a momma too might be helpful. The stylist that cut my younger sons hair the first time, just happened to have a daughter the same age as my son. Good luck to you. Shannon G.
SAHM of 2 lively boys. Married to a wonderful man for 8 years.

if you decide to take him somewhere like Cool Cuts to have his hair cut (which is what I do- I don't have the talent to cut it myself)- try making a big deal out of it before you go.This really works to get my son not to be scared and cry. I just say things like "wow, you get to have your haircut today!" "You're so lucky!"

Try taking him to someone else and letting him sit by himself "like a big boy" If he does well, let him have a treat of your choosing...although having been a hair stylist for many years now, candy usually is the best bribe :) Kids always give their parents a harder time with this stuff...mine sure do, and I know all of the tricks. Also, maybe it is something he could go watch his Dad doa couple of times and then he could "go with Daddy to get a hair cut like a big boy" Kids generally will act a lot differently when Mom is not around. My daughter is 16 months, and she is a pill to cut her hair, with me or someone else. My son was pretty easy. The other thing is you could have him sit in your lap if he doesn't want to sit by himself, or if all else fails, a dishelved toddler with a wild head of hair is always adorable...I may be seeking this look for my daughter :) Hope this helps.

Just wanted to throw another idea out there, use the sink. My son is nearly 19 months, I've given him 2 haircuts so far. I thought of doing it in the bath but decided to try the sink. He loves to do this. I put him in the sink, turn the water on a trickle, give him some cups and toys, and cut his hair while he plays with the water. Luckily for me, I am licensed as a hairstylist, so I know how to cut hair. Having them sit in the sink is easier than the bath because you can stand up without having to lean over them, and there isn't as much room for them to move around so they are sitting pretty still.

My ds's first haircut was just with scissors, but this last time I decided to try the clippers for the back and sides. I wasn't sure how he'd respond, but he loved it and kept wanting me to do it more LOL!

Have you considered having his hair cut by a professional?? My kids have been going since they were approximately 14 months old. it is amazing how still they sit for someone else.

My son just turned 5 and the thing that works for us is I cut his hair in the bath tub. This way his hair is already wet and he is occupied. I always cut the hair on the outside of my fingers so if he moves the hair just slipes through. I also make sure he has something to play with, we have a toy that sticks to the bath tub so it helps in keeping him still. The other good thing is that yo don't have to clean up the hair. I just make sure I rinse my son before he gets out of the tub.
If done right there is no danger of cutting him.

I took my older son to sport clips once (he screamed while he sat on my lap and they gave him a haircut, but it worked) and then kinda copied what they did myself after that. (My boys are now 3.5 & 2.) Then after the baby hair thickens to more like kid hair somewhere AROUND 2 years old, I started with the clippers. I use 3/4 - 1 inch guard on the top, 1/2 - 3/4 inch guard in the back and then touch up the sideburn area without the guard on. It's getting easier and better with practice. :)

My little guy doesn't have much hair but it was getting pretty shaggy. I had good luck cutting it while he was in the bathtub. He was plenty distracted and didn't really notice what I was doing.

I started using a razor with the biggest guard it had in it. No worries of poking him or chopping him bald. His hair grows so fast that I have to trim it once a month. I started this when he was about 1 1/2 yrs and called it a tickle bug hair cut and made all the stupid sounds motions to make it fun for him. Set him up on a stack of books on a kitchen chair so he won't just slide off and run like crazy though, lol. He will get use to it fast mine did. Try taking him to a barber so he knows this is something everyone has done. Pick a busy place so he can see everyone getting their hair cut even dad. If that is not possible try giving Daddy a hair cut even if dad has to go out and get it cut afterwards, lol. If it is good enough for dad it should be good enough for him. Dad may even have to do the hair cutting on him. All boys are different. Hope I have helped some.

Dear M.,
Since his hair grows so fast, I would advise you to either buzz it with a clippers while Dad holds him or take him to the barber and you hold him while the barber cuts it.
the shorter it is, the less often you will have to cut it.
At his age, there is no way that it is going to be a pleasant experience for him.

When I started cutting my son's hair, I just trimmed the edges all the way around until it started to get thicker, then I started to layer it so it didn't look so bulky. When he was about 3 I took him to my hair lady and he did ok. His hair seemed so much shorter to me, less like a little boy, but it did still look good. Just some getting use to the new look.
He got to play with different, small toys and have a sucker when he was all done.
Now, when we are able to go to her, he gets a trim/touch up, and then I do maintenance cuts in between visits. She's kind of far, but that's another story.
At home, a movie does help, or a special show. I also cut the hair on the outside of my fingers. I don't know the order, but I usually trim the hair on the sides, and on the top first and then do the back.

My son oldest son first got his hair cut at 11 months at Kid Snips. He cried and fussed, but he got through it. I would take him every couple of months of so to Kid Snips or Snippets, and by 18 months or so, he got used to it, and stopped fussing. By 2, he would sit still and listened to whatever the stylist said. For me, it's so worth it to take him somewhere, because I would probably make a mess of his head. Now, my 1 year old hasn't gotten his haircut yet, but I will probably take him soon. I would say just force him through the haircut, because eventually he won't stay asleep while you cut. He will get used to it, and learn to sit still eventually.

I use my older daughter's safety scissors :)

My kids have had a full head of hair since the day they were born. My son is now 3 1/2, so we've had a lot of practice (he was 2 months old when we had to give him his first haircut). When he was about your son's age, I think we would restrain him in his high chair and cut his hair with clippers. He has never liked it, but has gotten better with time.

Now we have him sit in a chair, wrap a towel around him, and he leans over a waste basket to catch the hair we trim off. My husband usually cuts his own hair right before our son gets his cut since he just uses clippers, too. I think seeing Daddy o.k. with it helps. We use the 3/4" guard. We've tried the 1/2" and it was too short (it looked like a buzz cut), and we've tried 1", and it grew out way too fast. He looks great with 3/4". :)

For the base of his neck and around his ears, I use scissors, and my husband holds his head forward or his ears out of the way. I can't imagine trying to do it myself at your son's age. Recruit your husband to help.

Oh, and we usually bribe him. :) If he lets us get through the cut without throwing too big a fit, he gets a sucker or other treat. We also give him a bath immediately after the haircut.

Good luck!

If you are near the Orland park area, I would suggest Pigtails and Crewcuts. They are a salon themed toward children. They are located on Lagrange Rd just south of 159th Street in the strip mall with Champs.
I love their staff. They have lots of distractions for your child so he won't get scared or bored. It is a little more pricey than say, Great Clips, but is so worth it. I guess its a lot more expensive that cutting his hair on your own because that's free. Although for me, I would make such a mess of my son's hair if I did it myself!
Good luck.

Places like Cool Cuts has all kinds of movies for the kids to watch while they are getting their hair cut. My daughter would not sit still for anyone...but we took her there and while she was preoccupied with the movie, they cut her hair.