Yesterday was a Nightmare - And I have to go through it once a month

CAMSMOM1 wrote: I don't know if you remember my post about getting Cameron's hair cut? Well yesterday I finally bit the bullet, and took him into SuperCuts.

OMG...was it a nightmare! Luckily, I got the same lady who usually cuts his hair. She is so patient and good with kids. And she knows how Cam is when he gets his hair cut.

I thought he was going to do fine this time around. I held him in my lap, and she put the animal bib around him. And then she started to cut. Oh Lord...you would've thought the kid was getting beaten! He was SCREAMING on the top of his lungs, crying to the point he couldn't catch his breath. I had to physically hold his arms down, and try to keep his head still...I was sweating in the first 5 min.It was physically exhausting for both of us. He keeps saying, "Mama, ouch! No! Mama, OUCHIE!" And then the hair got in his face, which made it 10 times worse. It took her 45 min to cut his hair, and people in SuperCuts were just staring. I told her how embarrassed I was.

Since Cam had a bad experience with getting his hair cut by my friend's husband, he is freaking out! ((my friends DH chased him around with the clippers, and cut him)) So now he has this fear. And everytime I take him in, I just want to die. I hate seeing him so upset, and it's so embarrassing.

Afterwards, he was fine. She gave him a purple balloon, and he started dancing. Then he ran up to her, gave her a BIG hug and started walking out the door saying, "Bye Do-Da! Bye!" And waving at her. At least she got to see him happy.

Does anyone else go through this? Any tips or advice on how to get through this without Cameron thinking he's being abused?

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Wow. I'd be pretty mad at your friend's husband! Have you tried cutting his hair yourself? Maybe he'd be a little more at ease if it was his Mama doing the cutting. Even if you didn't like the way it looks (not saying you can't cut hair I just know it's harder to cut boy's hair then it is girls. ) it would be out of his eyes and maybe after a few months he'd be ok with getting it cut by someone else again.

edited because I said husband's friend instead of friend's husband.

MamaJAM replied: I wish I had new advice for you....but the only thing I can think of is what I already said when you posted about this before - to make sure no one uses electric clippers on him for a while since that what scared him.

Poor kiddo. Poor Mommy. At least he calms down pretty quickly when his hair is done.

luvmykids replied: Have you tried one of those places just for kids? They have all kinds of distractions.

CAMSMOM1 replied:

Yeah, I thought it was just the clippers that got him upset. So yesterday I asked her to start off with the scissors...and he still freaked out.

luvbug00 replied: I cut Mya's hair and I bet it's easier to do on a boy!

try putting on his fav. movie or show put newspaper under the chair and snip away. Sure the first time may not be perfect but I bet he'd rather you do it then fo elsewhere. Good luck!

MamaJAM replied:
Well - it was worth a shot.

Just remember - he's growing more and more each day. He won't be screaming at the barber when he's 15.

Oh -- another idea. Can you and he 'play barber'? Get some toy scissors a smock, and give each other haircuts between now and his next trim? Maybe by playing at home - you can figure out what's really upsetting him. Or - at least - he can see that it really doesn't hurt. Just a thought.

b&bsmom replied: Has he watched you get your hair cut. I know that works well with my kids. I also used to give them goldfish or something to munch while she did it. It can be gross because of the hair but it got them to wear they are both comfortable now with doing it. good luck to you.

Lexismama replied: OH no poor little guy! How upseting, I would have been crying I am such a suck. I hope it gets better, Im sure if you keep going to the same lady, he will start to feel more comfortable with her and realize that she isnt going to hurt him.
Have you ever tried to find kids books about m first haircut or something, and maybe him reading it and seeing that will help. Or have him watch when you get your hair cut. I can only imagine how terrified he is after his experience!

CAMSMOM1 replied:

Yeah, the hairstylist yesterday told me, "Remember he's only 2. And most kids don't like to get their hair cut. And since he had a bad experience, it'll take him awhile to get comfortable with it again. And I've seen kids act a lot worse than Cameron. What bothers me is older kids who scream." I guess it's like kids who hate shots, had a bad experience. I'm hoping he'll get comfortable with it again.

Good idea Judy! I think I'll try that! It just might work! And maybe if he watched me get my hair cut too, then he'll understand it isn't painful.

The funny thing was, when it was over, he just loved the hairstylist. He was giving her big hugs. Talk about a mood swing!

MamaJAM replied:
And they say us gals are 'fickle'!

ediep replied: I get jasons haircut at the barbers and the lady uses a buzzer because the scissors just take too long. Also, if he moves the buzzer won't really cut him.
she does his hair in 5 minutes! I tell her to make the back and sides a bit shorter than the top. It always turns out great

I also give him a lolli pop and he likes to watch the lady in the mirror.


MAybe tell Cam that if he is a big boy at the haircut you'll take him to see the cars....you know, use the cars as a reward