How to Deal With Kids' Hair Loss From Chemo
Dealing with a child's hair loss as a result of chemotherapy can be stressful for the whole family, but there are things you can do to make it easier on everyone. It is important to remember that children pick up on the feelings of family members and the overall atmosphere of the home. This means that open communication about the hair loss and the way each member is feeling about it is critical. Hiding feelings will make it harder for the child with hair loss to adjust.
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Instructions
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Talk about the issue of hair loss before chemo treatments begin. It is not helpful to avoid those details when explaining to your child what he can expect. Tell him truthfully how you are feeling about the issue of hair loss. This will help him understand that his feelings are OK, too.
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Brainstorm with your child ways to cover or decorate his head until the hair grows back. Hats, scarves, bandannas, wigs and tiaras are all ideas for head coverings.
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Involve siblings and other immediate family members. Consider taking the entire family to the barber for haircuts; if some members are willing to go for a shave, let them do so. This includes the child receiving chemo. If he is allowed to ask for a shave, he has a little more control of the situation, and it can seem less frightening.
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Be sensitive to your child's feelings. If portraits of him with hair are hanging in view and are upsetting, take them down for a while. Allow your child to feel the anger, resentment, sadness and loss that comes with such a major change.
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Never make jokes at your child's expense about his hair loss as a result of chemotherapy. If the child makes jokes, it is a way of expressing how he feels and he should not be reprimanded.
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Find a local or online support group for your child and family members to participate in. Being able to discuss issues and feelings with others who have similar experiences is therapeutic. Research support groups to see if they are a good fit and will meet the emotional needs of your child. For example, a support group for teens may not be a good fit for an elementary-age patient and vice versa.
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Tips & Warnings
Children are very sensitive to the moods around them. If you are not being honest about your feelings, they may sense the conflict between your words and the way things feel. This can cause a child more distress. Be honest about your feelings, but try to discuss positive feelings as well to break up the sadness of the conversation.
