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You may love spending your day with your little one, but when it comes to bathtime, they may turn the entire house upside down. They struggle, scream, or hit in an attempt to flee, and a hair wash may often become a battle with such toddlers making it almost impossible to accomplish the task. Here, we bring you some tips for washing toddlers’ hair that may help spare your energy and make it a more pleasant experience.
Key Pointers
- Using accessories like foam shampoo, earplugs, sun visors, bath toys, or spray bottles can be helpful when washing a toddler’s hair.
- It’s important to choose the right time and use a mild shampoo with a no-tear formulation.
- Engaging methods such as placing stickers on the ceiling, using a washcloth, or having your child observe themselves in a mirror can help keep them distracted during the hair-washing process.
- To prevent shampoo from getting into their eyes, it’s recommended to keep your toddler’s eyes closed while washing their hair.
- Reassure your child by giving them a warm towel and a tight hug after washing their hair.
Simple Tips To Wash Your Toddler’s Hair
Simple techniques such as protecting their eyes when using shampoo or getting creative to keep away stress may be helpful. With these easy bath routine tricks, you can make hairwashing fun for your toddler or at least easier if you struggle to get it done.
Ways To Wash Toddler’s Hair
1. Time it right
Wash your toddler’s hair at the beginning of the bath. If your little one likes to play in the tub, she might be willing to tolerate a hair wash in the hope of the fun coming next.
2. Use accessories
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You don’t have to fight this battle alone! Buy some accessories to help you out:
- You can use a sun visor, a special foam shampoo visor, a shampoo shield, or swimming goggles to protect your toddler’s eyes during hair wash.
- You can also use earplugs to protect your toddler’s ears.
- Use bath toys, recycled squeeze bottles, or spray bottles as a distraction and let your toddler play with water while you wash her hair. This will not just distract her but will also help her associate washing hair with fun! To avoid tangles, brush your toddler’s hair carefully with a soft brush.
Aileen Maria, a mother of two, shares helpful tips she employs when washing her toddler’s curly hair, “The best solution to detangling her (her daughter’s) little curls has been when she is already playing in a bubble bath with her toys. I fill it with some balls from the ball pit, so she is distracted. Since her hair is wet, I just lay the conditioner into it so it is extra slippery and easy to detangle. I use a paddle brush and a wide-toothed comb. Once it’s all detangled, I rinse the conditioner (i).”
3. Prevent stimulation
Sometimes, the sensation of shampoo trickling down on their scalp can be too stimulating for toddlers. So, you can pour some shampoo on your hand before you apply it to your toddler’s scalp.
Quick tip4. Use a toddler-appropriate shampoo
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When washing your toddler’s hair, use gentle and natural products. Washing toddlers’ hair can be an experience in itself! Don’t use a shampoo or conditioner that is too thick or has a strong odor. Also, ensure that the shampoo you use has a tear-free formula.
5. Tilt forward or backwards
While rinsing off the hair, you can ask your toddler to tilt her head backward. You can put some stickers on the ceiling to keep your toddler occupied while you rinse her hair. If tilting the head backward does not work for you, make your toddler lean forward and place a dry cloth over their eyes. This simple step will give her a sense of control while rinsing.
Quick tip6. Get creative
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You can get creative while rinsing your toddler’s hair. Some children like the feel of a good quantity of water being poured over their head. While others prefer a trickle of water. See what works for your toddler. You can also use a wet washcloth to rinse your toddler’s hair! How? Just squeeze out the extra water and run the washcloth through your toddler’s hair. Repeat till all the shampoo is rinsed off!
7. Keep the eyes shut
Make sure your toddler keeps her eyes closed during hair wash. You can either ask her to close her eyes or blow on her face, gently. When your toddler closes her eyes, finish your task quickly!
8. Doll up
Try practicing hair washing using your toddler’s favorite doll. Wash the doll’s hair together and help your toddler become comfortable with hair wash. You can also try combing or detangling the doll’s hair to keep them distracted.
9. Get a mirror
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Many toddlers love to watch themselves in a mirror while getting a bath. So get an unbreakable mirror and let your toddler watch as you wash her hair.
10. Keep it rare
It’s important to keep in mind the frequency of hair washing for your toddler. Your toddler does not need a hair wash every day. Once or twice a week is more than enough for most toddlers.
11. Use vaseline
You can also apply Vaseline on your toddler’s forehead to prevent water from entering her eyes.
12. Keep stress away
Don’t stress and don’t get angry with your toddler if she fusses during hair wash. Keep it fun and happy. You may also add bubbles to the water to make bath time even more enjoyable. Playing music or their favorite rhymes, engaging in bathtime games, or telling them fun stories are also great ways to improve parent-child bonding while bathing.
13. Provide comfort
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No matter how hard you try, you can’t prevent all the tears. So to calm your little one after a hair wash. You can do so by wrapping her in a warm towel and holding her close. To maximize your toddler’s comfort and hygiene during bath time, set the water temperature at an optimal level. Hair drying techniques such as towel drying might assist in removing extra water from their hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do toddlers struggle with hair washing?
Toddlers may refuse to wash hair due to sensory problems or tactile sensitivity, such as feeling uncomfortable applying shampoo to the scalp and getting scrubbed. Experiences such as water running down their faces, eye irritation from shampoo or soap, or instability when tilted back can also be a reason for toddlers to struggle with hair washing.
2. Is it okay to apply hair oil before washing hair?
You may use baby hair care oils before a few hours of bathing. These hair oils may prevent hair damage by moisturizing and conditioning the hair.
3. How often should I wash a two-year-old’s hair?
Most toddlers require hair wash once a week. However, this can vary depending on the hair type, climate, and greasiness.
4. When can I start washing my toddler’s hair regularly?
The appropriate age to regularly wash a baby varies from culture to culture, but as a consensus, babies between four and six months old can have regular baths and hair washes. For toddlers aged above 18 months, hair washes can be as frequent as one to two times per week.
5. What are the best types of baby hair products to use?
Consider gentle shampoos with simple formulations and little to no added fragrance. These products are formulated to be gentle on your toddler’s sensitive scalp and skin and not sting their eyes. For any other concerns, such as dry scalp, flaking, or hair fall, consult a pediatrician for the most appropriate products to use.
Bath time can be enjoyable for your child but keeping things under control usually becomes a challenge while washing their hair. Try the tips for washing toddler’s hair to ease the struggle. For example, use goggles and earplugs to prevent water from entering their eyes and ears, get their favorite doll to wash their hair together, or use toys to distract them. Some toddlers cooperate more if head wash comes at the end. Keep trying different methods of maintaining personal hygiene for kids and employ the best ones to keep your little one’s hair and scalp clean, depending on their response.
Infographic: Helpful Tips On Washing Your Toddler’s Hair
Washing your toddler’s hair can be tricky and challenging as they are always on the move. But it is important to do the job regularly to ensure their scalp is healthy. We included some helpful advice you can use to help with this process. Check out! Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Simple Tips To Wash Your Toddler&039s Hair
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. How I manage my toddler’s curly hair.https://spiritedmom.blog/2020/06/10/how-i-manage-my-toddlers-curly-hair/
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