Hair-Washing Hints

Gentle ways to make shampoo time easy and fun for babies of all ages.

By Melissa Weinstein, published in the August 1995 Parents magazine

Most babies come to love their baths as a special time to splash and play in warm, relaxing water. But it's common for a baby to dislike having her hair washed because she's afraid of feeling water and soap on her head. To calm her fears, try to make her as comfortable as possible, and shampoo carefully to avoid getting water in her eyes. For older babies, focus on making bathtime fun and preventing power struggles. Ellen Ferrand, R.N., community-outreach education instructor at Egleston Children's Hospital at Emory University, in Atlanta, suggests these strategies:

0 - 2 weeks: Getting a head start.
It's convenient to shampoo your newborn at the kitchen or bathroom sink, holding him in the football hold: Support his head and neck with your hand and rest his body on your forearm. Wet his head with a tepid, moist washcloth, place a small amount of baby shampoo (the size of a dime) on his scalp, and massage with your fingertips. Rinse the shampoo by gently wiping his head with the washcloth until all the suds have disappeared. Between wipes, rinse and squeeze the washcloth so as little water as possible runs down his face.

2 weeks - 6 months: Ready for the water.
After yoour baby's umbilical-cord stump has fallen off, around 2 weeks, you can bathe her in a plastic tub. Place a sponge cushion in the tub so she doesn't slip. Use calm, reassuring words and hold her firmly as you slowly lower her into the tub. Support her head and shoulders with your arm, and tilt her head back slightly when you rinse shampoo out with a washcloth. Keep a dry washcloth on hand to wipe away any water that drips into her eyes.

6 months - older: Shampoo with a smile.
Once your baby can sit up and has graduated to the grown-up tub, usually around 6 to 8 months, surround him with floating toys. It's often at this age that babies develop a fear of hair washing, so save shampooing for last. To speed rinsing, use a cup to pour water over your baby's head and say, "One, two, three!" to give him advance warning before you rinse. A rubber visor can keep water from running down his face.

12 months - older Avoiding power struggles.
Bathtime power plays are most likely to happen with older babies. If your child especially dislikes getting shampooed, sculpt a silly sudsy hairdo and let her see herself in a plastic mirror. Other strategies for older babies: Have your child wear swimming goggles to keep water out of her eyes; place fun pictures on the bathroom ceiling so she will look up during rinsing; use a detangler to make it easier to comb out tangles.

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0 - 2 weeks:	Getting a head start. It's convenient to shampoo your newborn at the kitchen or bathroom sink, holding him in the football hold: Support his head and neck with your hand and rest his body on your forearm. Wet his head with a tepid, moist washcloth, place a small amount of baby shampoo (the size of a dime) on his scalp, and massage with your fingertips. Rinse the shampoo by gently wiping his head with the washcloth until all the suds have disappeared. Between wipes, rinse and squeeze the washcloth so as little water as possible runs down his face.
2 weeks - 6 months:	Ready for the water. After yoour baby's umbilical-cord stump has fallen off, around 2 weeks, you can bathe her in a plastic tub. Place a sponge cushion in the tub so she doesn't slip. Use calm, reassuring words and hold her firmly as you slowly lower her into the tub. Support her head and shoulders with your arm, and tilt her head back slightly when you rinse shampoo out with a washcloth. Keep a dry washcloth on hand to wipe away any water that drips into her eyes.
6 months - older:	Shampoo with a smile. Once your baby can sit up and has graduated to the grown-up tub, usually around 6 to 8 months, surround him with floating toys. It's often at this age that babies develop a fear of hair washing, so save shampooing for last. To speed rinsing, use a cup to pour water over your baby's head and say, "One, two, three!" to give him advance warning before you rinse. A rubber visor can keep water from running down his face.
12 months - older	Avoiding power struggles. Bathtime power plays are most likely to happen with older babies. If your child especially dislikes getting shampooed, sculpt a silly sudsy hairdo and let her see herself in a plastic mirror. Other strategies for older babies: Have your child wear swimming goggles to keep water out of her eyes; place fun pictures on the bathroom ceiling so she will look up during rinsing; use a detangler to make it easier to comb out tangles.