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Few toddlers like their hair to be touched and fewer willingly allow it to be washed. If your toddler is not one of them, you belong to the majority of the parents, who need some tips for washing toddlers’ hair. Convincing a toddler to wash their hair is in itself an elaborate process. They disagree with you, create reasons for not washing, scream and struggle to run away from you, or may simply hide somewhere hoping that you will give up the idea. But the experience of washing hair can be pleasant with some smart tactics and patience. Read on to know how you can make the process smooth.
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.
Ways To Wash Toddler’s Hair
Simple techniques such as protecting their eyes when using shampoo or using creative stress-busters can help. These easy bath-time hacks make hair washing more fun for your toddler—or at least less of a struggle.
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
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 (1).
- 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
Washing toddlers’ hair can be an experience in itself! When washing your toddler’s hair, use gentle and natural products. Choose only those shampoos that do not contain phthalates or parabens (2). Avoid 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
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. Blogger Jade also swears by the role-play method for washing her daughter’s hair as it has certainly helped her. She says,”Ruby experiences a lot of fear and concern around her head and hair being touched in certain ways. At the moment she becomes traumatised when I try to wash her hair…I have never seen anything like it in a child before. I have seen children dislike having their hair washed but this is different. She is terrified and instead of getting better it is getting worse. One suggestion our OT (occupational therapist) recently made was to do some hairwashing with the girls’ dolls and try and get Ruby involved and hopefully a little less fearful of the act…Of course you don’t need to have a child with sensory fears to try this activity….toddlers love to role play and feel they are doing important work as they play. It’s a great activity for a sunny day but if it is cold in your part of the world right now then perhaps you could make it a fun bath time activity! (ii)”
9. Get a mirror
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
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.
14. Use different strategies for different types of hair
Every child has unique hair, and even twins can have hair that is distinct from each other. And different hair types require different care strategies. So, if your child has curly or coily hair, use a gentle moisturizing shampoo that does not contain sulfate. For straight hair, try to wash their hair two to three times a week to keep the greasiness away. If your child has thick and textured hair, ensure you do not wash it too frequently, as it can dry their hair. However, deep conditioning could be used to keep it soft and manageable.
If washing your toddler’s hair still seems challenging, look at the video below. It will help you understand how to keep your child occupied and distracted as you wash their hair.
What To Do If Your Toddler Gets Cranky
Many toddlers end up crying the moment you pour water over their heads. If your little one also starts crying in the bath, here are some tips to make the experience easier and more enjoyable.
- Have some fun: Start by distracting them. If they do not pay attention to the hair wash, they most likely won’t resist. So, try to distract them by singing a song or sharing a story. If they are engaged in singing along with you or listening to your story, they may not resist the bath. And if they enjoy it, then they may even start looking forward to more such fun hair-wash sessions.
- Let them have control: When they feel they are controlling the hair bath, they might feel more at ease. You can ask them to hold the shampoo bottle and even let them pour some water over their head with a small cup. When they think they are in control of the whole process, they might not dislike the process as much.
- Use positive reinforcement: Suppose they are in the bath and tearing up, say something that will make them feel better. You can say, “Wow! Look at you. You’re doing such a great job!” or “Look it’s done. You did so well!” Keep saying such positive words to encourage them and make them feel better about themselves. Or you can simply keep talking to have them distracted. Just like how blogger Ariel does with her little one. She says, “With a towel over her eyes and her head tilted back, she accepted the water and the shampoo. I would talk her through the steps and say, “Now I will wet your hair…one rinse the second rinse. Is water good? Then there comes the shampoo, a little massage. Now I’ll rinse your hair, head on the back, please.” You can either count to 10 for the rising time or say “one cup, two…now the last one” and so on (iii).”
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 (3). 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’s Hair
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Personal Experience: Sources
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 hai;.https://spiritedmom.blog/2020/06/10/how-i-manage-my-toddlers-curly-hair/
ii. Hairwashing Fun…An Activity for Sensory Sensitive Toddlers;
https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/2012/11/hairwashing-funan-activity-for-sensory.html/
iii. How I helped my kid to love hair washing;
https://booksandtoys.net/how-i-helped-my-kid-to-love-hair-washing/
References
- Hair Washing and Styling.
https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/kids/resources/ot-activityinformation-sheets/hair-washing-and-styling/ - How to Choose Safer Personal Care Products: Tips for Families.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/How-to-Choose-Safer-Personal-Care-Products.aspx - Hair care, common sensory issues, and practical tips.
https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/uploads/about/docs/our_publications/patient_information_leaflets/Childrens_therapy/152-23_hair-care-common-sensory-issues-an-practical-tips.pdf
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