My 2-yr old son HATES to get his haircut. He screams and cries the minute the stylist gets near him with the comb and/or scissors. (We take him to a kid's salon, with cartoons on tv, cars to sit in, etc.) He's never had a bad experience, like getting cut. So we don't know what upsets him so much. We've tried having him sit on our laps while they cut his hair, but he still screams and cries hysterically. My sister-in-law is also a hair stylist, and she's tried trimming his hair at our house. Same reaction. I'm sure he'll outgrow this eventually. But what do I do in the meantime? His hair grows SO fast and is out of control. Any suggestions are appreciated!
As a 39-yr old working, married mother of 2 yr old and new baby due in a week - I would say pick your battles. Just give up for a couple months. Let his hair grow. Try again. Yes, it will look out of control. Where do you what to invest your energy right now?
My son is almost 2 and does the same thing. We found that he is much less afraid of the electric clippers, and he is terrified of the scissors. I usually just tell them to use the clippers all over, just like they would use scissors. We also give him suckers, which seems to help. I've taken him to the great mall salon and they were great with him. She says they have to do it all the time, and just work with it, even if he's screaming. They also have a tv and can turn it to whatever show you want. Hope this helps, I hope mine grows out of it soon too!
I know this sounds bad....but I bring in a small bag of M & Ms..which he loves. I also have other "surprises" in my purse which I keep pulling out when the candy stops working. We usually finish with him standing on the chair with his arms around me while she finishes the back. :) Good luck...good thing long hair on boys is in right now!
Our son kept doing this also - with no rhyme or reason why. So, we just decided to do it ourselves. We let his hair grow out for a little while (to kind of get the previous hair cutting experiences out of mind). Then dad took the clippers to him and he is fine with it. Plus, we save the money from a hair cut. It is not the style that I prefer him to have, but hair cuts are a heck of a lot easier now.
My son did the same thing when he was younger. Just like you, I tried all different types of things, and he still freaked out. He's 8 now, and I can't remember when, but at some point, I had to work and made my husband take him alone. He went to a barber shop and made it like a "Big Boys" day out. For some reason, my son responded to that. He still was nervous, and my husband had to sit with him on his lap, but he didn't get hysterical, and FINALLY got a somewhat decent haircut!
Unfortunately, every little one is different, but maybe you can try not being there. I'm a photographer, and sometimes kids react differently when mom is out of the room. Have dad, or grandma take him. I always say at work that at two, they have so much personality, and they are learning so much that big things can just be overwhelming, and you gotta just wait it out. He's just so smart that his little brain can't process everything he wants to know all at once. :o)
Good luck. I hope it gets easier for you soon.
First of all, don't give him the suckers. I mentioned this once to a hair stylist and they didn't recommend it because not only does the sucker get hair all over it, but it doesn't usually help the kid either. Next time, have daddy go with you and get his hair cut at the same time. Maybe if he sees that it doesn't hurt daddy, he won't be so freaked out about it. I would also try using the clippers instead of the scissors and tell him that they are going to tickle his head.
My son did the same thing until daddy went with us and got his hair cut too...seemed to calm things down quite a bit. I'd also recommend getting some ear plugs for him if they are using the electric razor...I know the sound always bothered my son. We primarily use the electric razor on him and trim up the top with the scissors.
As for rewards, he gets one if he sits still and quite. No reward for acting up and stick to it.
Finally, I'd sit down with him and ASK him why getting his hair cut bothers him so much....you might be surprised of the answer and it might provide some better enlightenment as to what you can do for him.
i'm not above bribery for thirty minutes every few months! the m&m's sound like a good idea, i might try those, my two year old has become more and more resistant, to the point of fits, the more i take him. i just wanted to second the sucker idea...WHOEVER thought giving squirmy kids a sucker while they're having loose hair fall all over the place was ...i think...a man! or had never had kids. BAD idea! then there's the tantrum when you have to take it away because it's covered in hair. grr!
I would let it grow out. I think little boys look cute with shaggy hair anyway!!
As a licensed cosmetologist, I have to say the best advice that we have given parents is to either wait for the child to get a bit older (however, I've seen an 11-year-old terrified to get his hair cut because he didn't have it done when he was younger), or take the child when it is closer to his naptime so that he is too tired to fight the haircut.
The child may be afraid of the scissors, or the process of having a part of himself cut off. Some children or more afraid of scissors than clippers. Other are more scared of clippers (due to the noise they make) than scissors. Some are just scared of the process entirely. Furthermore, what works for one child may not work for another. And what works for your child might not work everytime either. I have cut young children's hair while they are kicking and screaming (sitting on mom's lap); however, we don't recommend that as the child could get cut or poked by the scissors. Finally, by forcing a haircut, you may risk that your child could take this negative experience into the future as he grows older.
My recommendation is to try to schedule his haircut around naptime and see if that works.
Finally, do not reward negative behavior unless you want more of that type of behavior in the future. Positive re-enforcement only!
My son was the same way when he was two. He is now three and it has been two haircuts now where he doesn't freak out.
My advice is, buy some clippers at Beuty Brands and have your husband do it. Take the high chair and put him in it so he is "trapped" and get some towels and powder (to stop the itching on his neck) and you just have to grin and bear it for an hour while he get it cut.
If your man doesn't feel like he can do it, I suggest going to several different salons until you find someone that has little boys that understands them.
Not sure where you live but the Sport Clips in Liberty is awesome and Jennifer is the manager. She has two boys and that is the only one that my son has sit still for.
Good luck!
Good Morning Michelle. I have cut 4 of our gr kids hair so far (one to go). I used to cut kids hair in salon also. What I have done for Gr kids here at my house, it give them a small water bottle, ask them to help Nana get their hair wet, then they get to comb it as much as they can. They are sitting up high on a large cutting board I keep just for that use. I've never had one cry or squirm over much.
When i start cutting their hair they still have their little spray bottle so we spray each once for fun through out the haircut. They can only spray me when they see me....lol So if I move to the front I get a tad bit wet. It's fun for them and me also.
Another thing that helps is having your little one watch you get your hair done. Does he cry when washing or combing his hair at home?
All else fails, get some kids gel or mousse and just comb it back or to the side. Then tell him how Handsome he is.
I would imagine your little man feels your frustration before and through all the procedures, so he gets uncomfortable too
I wish you well
God Bless
Karen Nana of 5
PS Congrats on your soon to be newest little Angel.May you have a Safe healhty Delivery
Maybe taking him to see Daddy get his hair cut, so he knows that it will be ok? My 2 year old doesnt have enough hair yet to cut, but when she watches my husband get his hair cut, she always says "my turn!" afterwards and tries to climb up in the chair.
Michelle - My Dad was a barber for over 40 years and has done hundreds of toddler haircuts. His advice to me with my son was to put him in the chair and leave! Just go outside where he can't see you. Of course you tell them you will be right back. I was amazed how well that worked. My son also screamed bloody murder and the more I got involved the worse it got. The next time I did as my father suggested and wow, what a difference. He held still and did not cry or anything. Hope it works as well for you as it did me.
Cheryl
We started taking my little guy when another family memeber is getting theirs cut and we talked him through ours and then his. We also found that it was the clippers that freated him out, so we now start with a basic scissor cut and then I get down in his face and talk calmly to him about the clippers tickeling his neck. He still squirms a bit, but he is over the screaming fits....
My son just got his haircut yesterday. He also hates it. We give him a sucker and a stuffed animal. He snuggles with the animal and eats his sucker and screams while the barber works. I think we just have to wait until they outgrow it.
My grandson started going when he was very young with my husband and son. It was a man thing! We found that if mom or even me (grandma) would go he would fuss, so it became a man thing. He goes with them and gets to choose if he's first second or last, usually he goes first so he can get the candy the barber has on hand. Now that he's six he helps choose how it's cut (within reason)and will tell grandpa when it's time to go!
My suggestion is to let someone else take him, you might be surprised.
2 year olds are tough, always were, always will be. Sometimes kids think they are losing a part of their body when they get their hair cut. Sometimes they feel that way about nail clipping and seeing their bowel movements flushed.
Have you ever had your son sit on your lap or his dad's lap (especially his dad's lap) when you or your husband have your hair cut? Hearing comments like, that sure feels better, looks better when you have yours done may help. Consider letting him play with the hair a little bit. Make hair cutting as routine as possible, not a big event, fight
Good luck
LOL...I'm in the same situation!!!! My son just turned 4. He hasn't had his hair cut in over a year! The last time we took him to get it cut he screamed for 30 minutes. It was also at one of the places that have kids seats and cartoons. We even moved him to the regular seats while sitting on daddy's lap. He kicked and screamed and his arms were flying! The stylist only got part of his hair cut. I felt so bad for her! i also have a friend that cuts hair on the side. She even came to our house and tried. He also has never had a bad experience. We have just let it grow! He looks cute! Its also now part of his personality..plus right now lots of boys grow their hair out! He still freaks out about the idea of getting it cut! Eventually he will get over his fear. We have decided its not worth fighting him.