How To

How to Wash a Toddler's Hair

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(18 Ratings)

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.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Baby Blankets
  • Baby Shampoo
  • Safety Bathers
  • Baby Shampoo
  1. Step 1

    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.

  2. Step 2

    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.

  3. Step 3

    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.

  4. Step 4

    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.

  5. Step 5

    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.

  6. Step 6

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

  7. Step 7

    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.

  8. Step 8

    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  

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isla23 said

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on 10/24/2009 Hey have just cracked the hairwashing issue at our place. There is this genius DVD - I Can Wash My Hair, which you let your LO watch before hair washing time, it has a little song about bubbles that you can sing while washing hair too. I hope they make these DVDs for other things too because this is a seriously excellent idea. http://www.icanforkids.com It just has all the good stuff that you say above, but LO believes it because it comes from TV and not me

PurpleAnkh said

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on 10/7/2008 I'm going to try these. Bath time should be fun, instead of the screaming tantrum and tears I deal with every time!

Anonymous

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

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

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.

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