10 ways to make hair washing easier for little ones

Many young children go on strikes against hair washing at some point.  Whether they're afraid of soap in their eyes, hate water in their faces or suddenly decide they just don't like it, here are some strategies that can make it easier on everybody.

1. Some kids hate having water dumped on their heads but will lie down in the water to rinse if you hold them well and make it fun. My friend Trevi's daughter loved hearing the sound of her voice underwater, so she put up with lying down to rinse her hair.  Others will lie down to "be a mermaid."
2. Put a fun decal or sticker on the ceiling above the bath and have your child look at it for rinse time. Having his face pointing straight up will keep soapy water from running into his eyes.
3. Experiment with different ways to wash your child's hair. You can wet it by smoothing a wet washcloth down the back of her head if she's on an anti-water campaign. You can rinse it this way too, though it takes longer.
4. Some toddlers like the shower. You can also try using a hand-held shower attachment in the bath, just when you need to wet and rinse his hair.
5. Some parents have great success with bath visors that slip over children's heads to keep water out of their faces. In Mankato, you can find foam visors to personalize for around a dollar at Michael's, and these work just as well.
6. Another idea is to give them a dry hand towel or washcloth to hold over their faces as you pour water. If their eyes stay dry they're usually fine.
7. Try goggles!  It worked like a charm with my girls, who were afraid of getting water in their eyes.  Locally, you can usually find goggles at the Dollar Tree.
8. Wash their hair less often.  Keep in mind that this time of year most little ones don't need to wash their hair more than once or twice a week.  Many doctors advise against daily baths because they can dry young children's skin and indoor air tends to be especially dry in Minnesota this time of year.  Unless dinner ended up on your little one's head (which certainly happened in our house plenty), a little water can also work fine.
9. Try using less shampoo.  Most people use far more than they need and create so many suds that it takes a long time to rinse.  A small amount concentrated on the scalp will do a great job and rinse much more quickly.
10. Bring a doll in the bath.  Encourage your little one to wash the doll's hair while you wash his.

Also keep in mind that eternal mantra with little ones:  This too shall pass!

Next time:  Hairbrushing Helps