Please help with suggestions of how to make my toddler enjoy his haircut today!

[em_here]

Hi there ladies

You are all so good with suggestions for distracting activities, so here is one for you.

My DS is 2 and terrified of haircuts.  We cut it ourselves last time and he SCREAMED so loud I thought the police would come, not joking.  I ended up sobbing myself while DP cut it.  (I wanted him to stop but then I thought he could not really go round with one side long and one short!).

DP is taking him for a proper hair cut today, have you any suggestions how to make this less traumatic for him?!

[mum101]

Hi,
DD is not too impressed with a haircut either! 
What does he LOVE?
For DD I know she LOVES getting her nails clipped and in the past has even had a tantrum when I stop, so I took clippers and she was getting quite agitated and the clippers worked long enough to get her through!

[em_here]

Hmmmmm, at the moment his main love and obsession is..... Snails! Can't take one of them in though.  Giving him toys or a book seems to agitate him even more, tried giving sweets throughout  nothing seemed to help!

[mum101]

lol, they know when you are trying to sidetrack them! cheeky cheeky!

Would he be really excited about a book about snails?

[em_here]

Yes he probably would hmmmm where can I get a book about snails today? Maybe I could fashion one?! My drawing skills are not great but am sure I could draw a snail! Or print them from the computer and make one! Thank you so much for that suggestion I will try and make one now, nice little project while DD is asleep! Thanks again I'll let you know how it goes 

[dkitto]

Oh GOOD LUCK it is a hard one  Owen has just come around to them he even sat on his own this week . I did find each time he got a bit better and I had been know to sit there feeding him sweets to hind the screams 

let us know how is goes

Donna x

[Samuel's mum]

Sam has had some bad haircuts. We've used chocolate, ice cream, small toys wrapped up like presents, DVDs. Last time it went really well and the difference was - we went really slowly and quietly. Like snip...1-2-3-4-5-6...snip...1-2-3-4-5-6. It was all much calmer but a hairdresser might not be up for that!

[We Three]

Super-duper late to reply here, I know...but when I saw this post I just had to write. I am a hairstylist, and have alot of experience with this!
  If it's possible, I always ask Moms to bring the child by the salon WITHOUT getting a cut...just stop by, I say hello, give a sticker, and then say goodbye. Then I like them to stop by in a day or two again...another sticker...perhaps just a quick combing, but not in my chair. This helps them be a bit familiar with me. Also...I never say "Haircut".....I say "Let's get your hair all fixed up!" Once I had a 3 year old sobbing "Don't cut me!!!" and I realized that the word "cut" might be scary...so I stopped using it.
  Also I have had great success with giving the child my squirt-bottle (first I get a turn to use it, spraying their hair..or spray my hands and wet the hair that way if the squirting is upsetting) and I put a towel on the edge of my station and tell the child to squirt the black towel. If Mom allows, I have squirted in the child's mouth, after I spray it in mine first...saying things like "Boy am I thirsty!!"
  Counting helps, too....couting the snips as I go along.
  And almost always, if Mom is able to walk away, I ask her to do so....each and every child is better behaved and calmer without Mom standing right there....if possible. Some kids go nuts for a moment, but then they're fine. Of course if Mom doesn't want this, I don't push it...but sometimes I will say "Mommy told me she has to go to the potty, right Mommy?" and ask her if I could just have a few minutes alone with the child.
  Mkae sure the stylist either HAS kids, or at least likes them.
  And lastly...if the kid goes insane...please, please...just have her quickly cut the front to get it out of his eyes, and then make a huge big deal out of how wonderful he did, and then GO. He'll do better next time if the whole experience isn't so traumatic.....I can't tell you how many Moms have held their kid in a headlock and insisted that I keep cutting. Those kids are afraid of the experience for the next 20 visits.
  Hope that helps!!

[em_here]

Wow, thanks for the late reply, very very helpful, will keep all this in mind 

[bicah]

I am not sure where you live, but we have a place called snip-its which is geared for children. There are bubbles, tvs, a prize when you are done too. I did experience the freak out the first time, second was fine and the third not so good. I came to realize that he did not like it when the guy cut his hair. He is much more comfortable and flirts with the ladies The past few haircuts, my husband actaully scuzzed it himself and he got to 'cut' his pablo dolls hair with a pair of clippers with the razors removed. He loves his daddy cutting his hair. I know winter is coming and it wont be taht easy because it will be too cold for such a short hair cut. So, I plan to bring M & M's and play with those bubbles! Im a late reply as well...but in the future who knows if it will help

[em_here]

Hi Bicah, sure that will help people loads.  I am in northants, I have recently found the childrens chopping bus round her which travels round with dvd players in it, balloons, crayons etc... it is fab and although DS cries a little he did great last two times

Thanks again, and thats so cute bout your lo flirting with the ladies lol, Jack does that too, and flutters his eyelashes bless him!