First haircut ... Book recommendations?

[Anonymous]

My son is a few months shy of 3. Taking him and his beautiful mass of curls for a cut in 2 weeks. He's convinced having a haircut will hurt. It's just a trim, really, to even things up. He's seen my husband cut his own hair (even tighter curls) without problem. And I'm getting my hair cut by the same stylist before his appointment. Anyone have a fun book -- or other -- recommendation about first hair cuts?

[Anonymous]

Forget the book, bring lollipops.

[Anonymous]

First cut at almost 3? Just take him and get it cut.

[Anonymous]

Here's a list on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=node%3D4&field-keywords=haircut

[Anonymous]

There's a Team Umizoomi episode about getting a haircut that helped my daughter.

[Anonymous]

There's a toca boca salon ap for kids -- can style, cut, color, grow hair. Super cute, check it out. Your son might get a kick out of it.

[Anonymous]

Stylist? They won't do a good job with the kid, they don't have the experience with a crying kid, and the mother, and cutting a mop while a kid is twisting and turning. Take him to a barber shiop where they do this everyday. it wil be crowded and lots of distractions and other kids getting haircuts.

[Anonymous]

I agree that a lollipop will work better than prepping with a book! Also, you may just have to hold him down. My DS is 6 now and is still convinced that cutting his nails and hair actually hurts him! I tell him he's the only person in the world with feeling in their hair and nails!

Try not to make a big deal of it. There are plenty of kids who are going to scream and cry at a hair cut (not even just their first) no matter what you do. Try to schedule it when they're not too tired.

[Anonymous]

Being candy. I straight up bribe my children.

[Anonymous]

Forget the book. There are YouTube videos of kids getting their hair cut. Let him watch those. And as mentioned already, bring candy.

[Anonymous]

Potato Chips worked for us

[Anonymous]

Cut it yourself. Seriously.

Best advice my hairstylist gave me (w/ my two year old son): "You will not get a quality haircut for a squirming child, no matter who the stylist is."

Then he gave me a crash course:
- don't try to cut any straight lines. Especially with curly hair which will be very forgiving of any imperfections in the cut.
- don't cut in horizontal lines - instead take some hair in a vertical line (think of a comb of hair alongside his head, parallel to his ear rather than the ground) and trim that way.

I put mine in his highchair outside, in a diaper. Cut his hair myself while Dad was amusing him. You could easily do it in front of a tv show to keep his attention.

The cut came out great - people thought I had missed my calling, son was remarkably calm, it was quick and cheap, etc...

Seriously - give it a shot. Good luck!