How to Get Toddlers to Be Calm During Haircuts

They sure can be cute, but toddlers can make haircuts a truly hair-raising experience.

Whether your toddler is going through the terrible twos, the thundering threes or the frightful fours, he may be a handful when it comes time to get his hair cut at the salon. Fear and stress may converge with the “ants in the pants” syndrome that toddlers are well-known for, setting off anything from a nervous reaction to a full-fledged temper tantrum. To nip these problems in the bud, formulate an action plan before you head out the door with your little angel.

Instructions

1. Assess the nature of your toddler’s distress. Ask him directly, but don’t ask leading questions. You want to find out: Does he fear the unknown? Does he think the haircut will hurt? Is his distress rooted in fear of strangers, meaning the stylist?

2. Address your toddler’s concerns. Reassure her that the haircut will not hurt. Demonstrate this by cutting a piece of hair from your own head. Tell her that the stylist may be unknown but can be trusted. Tell your toddler that you will remain at her side throughout the haircut.

3. Promise your toddler a small reward, such as an ice cream cone, for listening and following directions. Tell your toddler that the stylist will ask him to tilt his head up or down or close his eyes and that he must listen and respond accordingly.

4. Talk with your toddler and make eye contact with her during the haircut. Engage her in “happy talk” or point out interesting people or events taking place at the hair salon.

5. Praise him along the way for sitting still and send positive signals, such as smiling and winking at him and patting his leg or arm affectionately.

6. 

   You may both need an ice cream break after a trip to the salon.

   Distract your toddler by giving her something to touch and something to do during the haircut. Give her a sticker book, a coloring book and crayons or a puzzle to play with on her lap. Toddlers are tactile and easily distracted, so another activity may help direct her focus and take her mind off the haircut. If your toddler enjoys music, give your toddler your smartphone or another musical device to calm her.

Tips & Warnings

• Toddlers have little conception of time, so don’t waste your time by telling yours that the haircut will be over “when the little hand is on the 3 and the big hand is on the 12.” Likewise, saying that the haircut will be complete in “15 minutes” will probably mean very little, if anything, to your toddler.

• If possible, try to get your hair styled at the same place as your toddler, or at least bring him or her with you occasionally for your hair appointments. Familiarity with the salon may go a long way toward calming your toddler’s apprehension during future visits.

References

• Parenting.com: Four Ways to Calm your Toddler’s Fears
• EarlyInterventionSupport.com: Techniques to Calm a Child
• ToddlerIdeas.com: Toddler Distraction Techniques

Resources

• ToddlerIdeas.com: How to Stay Calm When Your Toddler Isn’t
• SuperNanny.com: Calming Your Kids