6 tips to conquer your next toddler hair wash

Most toddlers love splashing about at bath time. But even water babies don’t always enjoy having their hair washed.

Luckily, there are some tips and tricks to stop your bathroom becoming a battleground when it comes to looking after your tot’s luscious locks…

Don’t do it too often

There’s no need to wash a toddler’s hair too often. Once a week should be enough as it’s not likely to get very dirty.

Pinpoint the problem

You can’t address the issue if you don’t know what it is. Maybe your child hates when the water gets in their eyes. If that’s the case, get them to put their head back when you’re rinsing to avoid the problem.

Perhaps they’d prefer to rub the shampoo in themselves. You won’t know until you have a little chat.

Distract, distract, distract

This always works with young children.

It doesn’t matter how you distract them, but be sure it’s something they enjoy. If they like singing, get a bit of a sing-song going on. If they have a favourite toy, why not bring it into the bathroom. If it’s water-proof, it could even hop in for a bath too!

First: detangle

Before you even look at the shampoo bottle, grab the comb and brush through those knots.

During the detangling process, hold your child’s hair close to the roots so that when you brush, you’re not pulling their head down at the same time. You might want to invest in a detangling spray at the supermarket, too.

Be choosy with your shampoo

Shampoo made for toddlers and babies isn’t called ‘no-tears shampoo’ for no reason. It’s specially formulated so that it won’t sting your little one’s eyes. That’s a good start, if nothing else.

Buy a shield

If your child is really kicking up a fuss, it might be an idea to invest in a shampoo shield. They're available in many pharmacies, baby shops and also online (e.g. amazon).