Tips for shampooing the hair of a reluctant toddler...?

Question

My little girl is 2.5 and since 12 months old HATES her hair being washed. We've tried everything, in bath, on draining board, with showerhead, with cup, with shower shield.
She screams blue murder everytime. It's getting me down. Any handy hints that have worked for other parents? And how often do you wash your childs hair?

Answer 1

mu daughter is now 4 (i also have a 15 month old)
when she was around 2 (i think)

we had the same exact problem.........
i had to get in there with her and i showed her to how to put her scalp in the water(laying down with her elbows supporting her)
and she saw me do it and she had no problem doing it, then i showed her how doing this still left soap in my hair so we had to use fresh water form a cup........and she understood,,,,,,,,,

and it pretty much worked every since........till this day, i use a washcloth and fold it up length wise, put it on her forehead and pour fresh water over her head so i can rinse it out.
the wash cloth is so it can pick up any run away water headed for her face.

well, good luck and have patience

oh, my daughter(s) are not in school or daycare so depending if we went out or not they get a shower every other day


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Answer 2

My little girl turned two last November and has waist length hair which she hates being washed too! I wash her hair once a week, as it doesn't need to be done any more frrequently.

I put her in the bath and tell her to turn round and face the wall. She stretches up her arms as high as they can go on the wall (we make a little game of it, seeing how high she can reach) and looks at her hands (to keep the water off her face). I then quickly shampoo her hair - she helps as well, with a small blob of shampoo on her hands - and I rinse it off using the same 'stretching' technique. It doesn't always work, but it seems to keep the water off her face, which is what she doesn't like.

I use this same technique with her brother (who's nearly 4) and he is very proud of himself when he doesn't get his face wet at all - he feels he is a 'big boy' and gets lots of praise.

Hope it helps. Good luck!

Answer 3

I am very careful not to use any running water - it takes a long time, but I think they could become afraid of water (and swimming) if they get too anxious about this.
I do it with a just damp flannel - just keep rinsing it and wringing it out and rubbing it through the hair. Just like washing your face really - not too wet, and keep rinsing
If you only use a tiny penny sized blob and put lots of water into you hands before rubbing it into the already damp hair you can manage, but it takes a while, just relax and hope she enjoys its, as she gets more comfortable with it you can try just squeezing a flannel of water over the ends that hang down , but not near her face at all. I wash it once a week

Answer 4

Have a bath with her and tell her if she lets you wash her hair she can wash yours - worked a treat with my daughter - even ended up having the most ridiculous hairstyles but it mad it fun for her - my youngest is 19 months and she has her hair washed every night, my eldest daughter when she was a toddler with more hair than the baby I washed her hair once a week or more if needed

Answer 5

Try a watering can to rinse her hair - see if she wants to play flower, she's the flower - let her fill the watering can and "water" herself, then put the "fertilizer" (soap) on and as you are scrubbing her hair let her refill the water can. What about letting her wash a Barbie or baby doll's hair while her hair is being washed. Maybe tell her the baby is afraid to get her hair washed and ask your daughter to be the example - ask your daughter - what do you do first? And as she is wetting the doll's hair you say o.k. your turn and water her hair, etc through all the steps. Encourage her as she is washing the doll's hair to comfort the doll saying things like it'll be o.k., etc.

Answer 6

Niamh (2yrs and 6 months) has her hair washed once a week, and yes it's hell!! but seeing her baby brother lying down in the bath has given her the confidence to do do the same, so wetting her and rinsing her hair has become alot easier...I still have to finish off with a beaker of clean water but we're getting there ! hope this helps.

Answer 7

wash her hair just once a week and use tear free shampoo/cond also get her in a shallow bath and let her lie down and play the more fun she is having the easier it gets.My daughter was the same at that age she is now 7 and washes her own hair.Also let dry it with a hair dryer,make it fun.

Answer 8

My daughter is the same way, I let her hold the cup and showed her how to do it herself. I also show her how I wash my hair. She is coming around slowly. But she too hates it ! Good Luck

I wash her hair every other day,simply b/c thats when I was my hair as well

Answer 9

I don't know if this helps, but when my little boy was tiny he hated getting the water in his eyes let alone any bubbles if he happened to fidget.
Because of this I bought him a stiff foam halo which went around the forehead and down under the hairline at the back. I think boots or mothercare sold them. I don't know if they still do, but if not you could cut one out of some stiff rubbery type foam that will stretch a bit to go over your littleones head.

Answer 10

Try to make it as fun as possible (easier said then done when they are screaming I know!!) You could try to get her involved as much as you can - ask her to hold the shampoo bottle or a sponge/flannel over her eyes.
Stickers and reward charts also work well - e.g. a sticker every time she doesnt cry, if she gets 5 stickers she can have a treat (get her to name the treat - within reason!!!, it will make a greater incentive) Hope this helps, good luck!!