Hoping someone has suggestions....

DS1 (4.5 year old) is becoming more hysterial during his haircuts. His last cut at the barber was more than 6 months ago, he cried uncontrollably and the poor barber was a bit traumatised. So about 3-4 months ago, I cut his hair at home, with a clipper. He screamed again and was quite upset. No haircuts for a while, and his hair is getting long. Tonight we convinced him (lots of bribes) for a haircut. He said no clipper, just scissors. So ok, I got scissors, and he starts getting worked up, to the point where he squirms as soon as I touch his ear or near his neck (with my finger!). I even showed him that the scissors were no where near, and I was only touching with my finger, still no good. He cried and said 'I don't like it'. He was ok-ish when I just cut the top.

I feel horrible forcing him to have a cut and getting him worked up so much. But his hair was so long. In the end, I couldn't really do around the ears and near the neck, but did manage to do the fringe which was almost in his eyes. So I guess not a total failure.

Also hair washing is then another big drama (as usual). He complains about water in the ear and face. I wondered if he has sensitive ears because he used to get a lot of ear infections before we got grommets in. However, when I just touch his hair near his neck, he started to complain too, so maybe not just an ear thing...

Any suggestions on how I can help him to over come the fears with hair cutting and washing? I must say that I'm an awful hairdresser

sorry can't help with the hair washing both my 6yr old DD and 3.8yr old DS are shockers at having their hair washed. For the haircut my DS was the same as your DS then my SIL decided to have a try she cuts her own boys hair. DS adores SIL and she got him to watch her older boys have a hair cut and she then sat him in the chair in front of the fish tank she has (distraction) and he wasn't to sure but it was the first hair cut he didn't scream and get hysterical with!! Has he ever seen someone else get their hair cut with clippers? Or is there someone else that could have a try? Family/friend?

Sorry cant offer any advice, however my son is the same although he actually says that it hurts him.

A hairdresser we used to go to had a portable DVD p;layer set up to distract kids...oh and the promise of a lolly pop at the end.

DS is 3y2months and is the same way. I second the DVD, we sit him in front of a DVD at home and cut his hair with scissors. It's not the best haircut, but it's the only way. As for washing, he really screams, so we only do it every so often.

My DS is 3yrs and 9 mths old. He is the same. I now have to have him sit on my lap when he gets his hair cut.I take him to a hairdresser and I know barbers prefer the clippers. I also continually comment on how lovely and handsome he looks while his hair is being cut.

AS for washing of hair, I still have the screaming etc. I used to have one of those things to put on his head to stop the water going into his eyes and ears but it doesn't fit anymore. I now only wash his hair every three days or more depending on how dirty it is. I am hoping he will grow out of it, but in the mean time I am actually going to try and get him to help with putting the shampoo on and rinsing it off so hopefully that will stop the screaming etc.

Good lick.

Thanks for your replies. It's good not know that there are plenty out there doing the screaming thing

For the haircut last night, we started promising him to watch the zebra 'striped racer' (or similar name) movie AFTER the haircut. However, it took so long to get a small bit done, then we changed it to him watching the TV while I cut his hair. Still screamed - he also said it hurts, the scissors may have a slight pull (only my paper scissors), but he also screamed when I just touched his ear or neck with my finger.

I also offered for him to sit on DH's lap while I cut, no improvement.

MIL used to cut his hair when he was very small (less than 18 months). She used to cut all her family's hair, so not a bad hairdresser, but her hands are no good now, so hasn't cut the kids hair for a while. Perhaps I'll have to ask her again.

Hello, I really feel for you. We had a year of son screaming in bath followed by a nightmare hairdresser trip so now mummy cuts it. What works for me is cutting his hair over a weekend, therefore I can do it in little bits. So, for example, I might say, ok one little snip then I'll get your brakfast, well done, good boy, etc. Then I leave it for a couple of hours and I might say to him, let's read that book together, oh hang on a minute, I need to do two quick snips, now which book will we read. By this stage I've done one half of the front of his head. Will leave it then until the afternoon and will use same approach- ie promiseof something he likes, snip,snigp, give him thing he likes. By the end of weekend hair is cut- hurrah!