How to Wash a Toddler's Hair

By eHow Parenting Editor

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Toddlers have very strong ideas about what they like and dislike ' unfortunately, hair-washing is often one of the things they don't like. Here's how to get them clean with a minimum of fuss.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Baby Blankets
Baby Shampoo
Safety Bathers

Step1

Keep in mind, many toddlers are scared of loud running water: run the bath before they get in, if possible, and have rinsing water ready in a jug nearby.

Step2

Keep the water out of her eyes with goggles or a visor ' this makes it harder for you to reach all the hair, but may make it easier to get the job done.

Step3

Tell your child what you are doing before you do it ' a little explanation, even if she doesn't understand, can go a long way towards making the experience more comfortable for her.

Step4

If possible, don't pour water over your child's head in large amounts ' use a wet washcloth or your hands to rinse a little bit at a time.

Step5

Try the reclining method of shampooing and rinsing your child, if she will cooperate ' if she leans backwards in the tub, against you, or over a sink, you will be able to rinse her hair without getting water in her face.

Step6

Be sure to use a gentle shampoo with a no-tears formula.

Step7

Turn hair washing into a game. Let your child lather her own head, or get into the tub yourself, and let her help you wash your hair.

Step8

Avoid making it an issue ' if the child refuses to have her hair washed, or becomes agitated, just back off and try again later.

Tips & Warnings

Offer a special toy or activity to coincide with hair washing ' this can be a wind-up tub toy, blowing bubbles, or anything else to distract your child from the experience.
Use just a tiny bit of shampoo ' you can always add more to get a good lather, and it's easier to rinse off quickly if you don't use too much.
Some shampoos, like some bubble baths, can cause rashes and urinary tract infections if children sit in the residue ' wash hair at the end of the bath, and rinse the child all over with fresh tap water when you take her out.
Don't wash your toddler's hair too often ' unless she gets food and dirt in it on a daily basis, once or twice a week should be adequate to keep her hair and scalp healthy.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Put a sun visor on while rinsing. This keeps water from running into their eyes.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 My 3 1/2 year old daughter hates to get water in her eyes, so a removable shower head works great. If we are staying somewhere that doesn't have a removable shower head, I just turn the shower part on. She loves to play in the 'rain', and it gets the shampoo out.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Turn it into a fun game- WE take a plastic cup & fill it 1/2 way with water. Place it on our child's head & have them tip their water hat! When they look up the water runsdown the back of their head wetting/washing their head.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 I have scoliosis in my lower back, and trying to wash an agreeable child's hair while leaning over the bathtub is painful at best. With my 2 and a half year old (who is really afraid of water), it was literally impossible for me to bathe her. I was faced with finding a way to do this differently.

This is what I do:
I line a high chair with a couple of bath towels and put her in there right in the middle of the living room. I'll either put a snack on the try, or turn on one of her favorite videos (depending on how agreeable she is that day). I get a bowl of warm water and some thick washcloths and put them all on the play table next to me. I wet her hair with the washcloths, then I shampoo her hair. I rinse her hair with the same washcloths and warm water. It only takes 3-4 minutes for the whole hair washing process. For washing her body, I refill the bowl and rinse out the washcloths, then I use a baby bath and do the same thing. It works like a charm. I do the same thing with my 14 month old son. He's much more agreeable with baths, but since I do her baths this way, I just do them one after the other and get it all done at once.

I hope this helps someone. :)

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Fold a washrag in half then in half again and have child put it over their eyes. It helps keep some of the water out of the eyes. My mom used to have me do this when I was little, and I loved it. My 2 & 1/2 yr old son doesnt care much for the idea, but he's a 2 year old!

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