how did you mothers handle a babys first haircut?

Question

My son is 14 months, and hes ready for a haircut. but he has stranger anxiety and he starts crying if anybody he doesnt know gets near him. I jus wanted to know how you handled it, and what was the best way to keep him calm. appreciate the advise.

Answer 1

Go to a place that is kid friendly and have him sit in your lap while watching his favorite movie, or have a friend you know or trust to cut his hair

Answer 2

Hi! Truly a special moment. And a difficult time for both of you. You don't want him to cry. He doesn't want to deal with strangers. And if you add a big pair of scissors to the mix - uh oh!

You may want to check with some friends and family who have gone through the same situation. Get recommendations on which stylist has the best attitude for dealing with scared kids. Maybe make a 'double date' if someone you know is going to have to do the 'first haircut' - the 4 of you could go at the same time?

Go to some hair salons that specialize in families or children. Watch to see who has the best 'chairside' manner for little ones. Ask around and see who has the highest rate of non-crying children.

When you first scout out places, go alone. When you feel you have found 'the one', then take your son with you. Let him get used to the shop noise first. Then let him meet the stylist. Judge your son's reaction to the stylist, and the stylist's reaction to your son. If you don't think they are compatible, then scout some more.

When you both find 'the one', let him become acquainted with the tools that will be close to his face. (Big scissors are scary. Buzzing clippers are noisy.)

Be sure to make an appointment convenient to your's son's schedule. A tired, sleepy, hungry child can be a cranky child, and if he has to deal with a stranger and the new experience of a haircut as well, you're working on a recipe for disaster. Also factor in if he was more comfortable when the salon was full of people, practically empty or somewhere in between.

When the 'big day' comes:
Make sure he's rested. Be sure to have his favorite comfort foods and lovies available. Maybe have a small personal music machine with his favorites (radio, cd player, cassette player, ipod, whatever), with earbuds to drown out the shop noise and to calm him. If you have to 'bribe' him, make it for something he likes to do that doesn't seem like a bribe: you will take him to the park to play on the swings before you all go home; you will let him pick out where you all pick up dinner (restaurant, fast food, grocery store) on the way home and what you will eat, etc.

Is he a 'camera kid'? Does he like having his picture taken? Remind him that the pictures will look better if he isn't crying. {Although in our family album there is an adorable photo of my 'little' (he's 55 and 6'5" now) brother with a scowl on his face while he's getting his first haircut.}

Don't forget to factor in 'Murphy's Law':
Even if he seems happy and ready to go through with the haircut, once it starts, he may become anxious and refuse the whole scene. Remind him of his 'prize' - a trip to the park, a food pickup of his choice, etc. If that doesn't work, be prepared to sit him in your lap while the stylist works on him.

If that doesn't work, be prepared to get a haircut (or at least a tiny trim) for yourself (or spouse), too. ("Mommy - or Daddy - is going to get a haircut, too. Won't that be fun for both of us?")

If that doesn't work, be prepared to reschedule, or re-scout, or find a relative/friend who does a good job on their own kids' hair, or buy a home barber kit and learn to do it yourself.

Remember the 'domino effect': crying children not only disturb their parents, but they disturb and distract the stylists and other clients. In some cases, they upset other children who maybe were ready for that haircut, but after seeing another child reacting badly, now that child is refusing to have a haircut.

Best of luck to you and your little one!

Answer 3

My husband and I made a BIG deal out of our sons first hair cut. We took him to the barber my husband goes to. (I'd say he was just under a year old). We had our camera for the before and after shot. Anyways they let his sit on my husbands lap while they cut his hair and it worked out great. I was there to help get his attention and keep his focus on something other than getting his hair trimmed. I think he may have initially been a little scared, but it worked out really well. We really like the guys my husband goes to and they were great with my son. I definitely recommend having 2 people there though. I think he felt more comfortable sitting on daddys lap and having mommy there to entertain him, since he was unfarmiliar with the barber. Now, hes a little older (16 months old) and he loves going there b/c he knows they give him a lollipop when he's done.

Answer 4

Actually I cut my son's hair for the first 3 years of his life. I just yesterday took him for his first cut. It was a place called Mini Cuts and they put him in a fun seat and put a video on for him... he did very well until the trimmers, and then he started to cry. But it's over and he looks really good.

If you decide to cut your son's hair yourself, simply take a lock, twirl it in your fingers, and snip the end. Repeat over the whole head. It keeps a natural look on the baby. If your baby has severe stranger fear I recommend doing this until you think he can handle a professional haircut.

Answer 5

I didnt cut my daughters hair untill she was 2 because her hair just wouldnt grow lol
i lucked out on her she sat perfectly still and loved getting her hair cut my son on the other hand is 3 weeks and was born with a head full of hair Go figure lol
Anyways all I can say to keep him calm is to distract him give him a toy talk to him keep his attention focused on something other than the fact that there's someone trying to cut his hair Good luck to you!!!

Answer 6

My son was about 1yr when I got his hair cut. I took him to a local "kids cuts" and they have kids movies playing, they even have toys and fun animals they can sit on to get their hair cut on.

He didn't want to sit on one of the animals, so I sat in a regular barbers chair, he sat on my lap and we showed him the tools she was going to use. He got to touch the scissors (the sides of them of course) and the shaver, and she turned it on so he would know what it would sound like, etc...she also gave him a lollipop (which is a big treat because I don't give my kids alot of sugar) and he was fine...we go back about every 3 mths and I take all my kids and they love it. It can be scary for them, so make sure they know whats going on and the person who is cutting their hair is "kid friendly" and likes the kids...it makes a huge difference...ask some other moms for some references in your area. I hope this helps.

Answer 7

I gave my son his first hair cut. Tough to hit a moving target, tougher to cut off those beautiful golden curls, but the cut came out quite nicely.

It isn't hard. Do it yourself, put the money you would have spent in a savings account for your son.

good luck