Haircut at Harmony during the trip or at home before?

[rachael95]

My DS is 2.5. We've got a trip scheduled in a couple weeks. He's in desperate need of a haircut.

The problem is, the last time we got his hair cut, he threw the biggest fit I've ever seen him make. (He is not a child who does tantrums, at most, he gets a bit whiny, but this was an all out crying head swinging fit, I ended up having to finish his haircut myself a few days later).

Should we go ahead and get his hair cut at another barbershop (changing locations from the last place and maybe helping to cut down on the fit) or should we wait for Harmony? I'd love to get his haircut at Harmony. But I'm worried how he'd react and if it would spoil his feeling about Disney.

Opinions please?

 

[bluezee]

I'd probably try to just get it cut at a different spot near your home. Does your area have any kid-themed hair salons?

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I say get it cut before. Doing things in new places is always tough for little ones, even moreso if you already know it's something he doesn't like. If you go to Harmony, you'll be all geared up for a "magical" experience and if he throws a fit again (my son at 6 is just now behaving for haircuts) you'll be disappointed and it will put a damper on your day.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Depending on his verbal skills and maturity, I would ask him. I am so a fan of giving kids choices and find putting them in control takes care of a lot of issues. Tell him about the barber shop at WDW, tell him what will happen there, show him pictures and tell him when he is done, if he does good, you will all go get a ice cream cone r whatever. Let him know that not getting a hair cut is not a choice, but where can be his choice. Now there is always the chance he will pick WDW and then pitch a fit, but your odds are much better this way. Both my boys hated hair cuts at two, but did better with choices......whos lap to sit on, whether or not to wear the cover, go before lunch or after lunch. Little things can make a huge difference.

 

[msmama]

They will do their best to cut the hair of a crying, tantrum throwing child (wanna know how I know?).

1. They are really good at distracting. They have an arsenal of toys and stickers.
2. If the child does NOT stop, they will do a cut as quickly as possible (it may not be the best haircut, but it'll get the job done).

 

[rachael95]

Thanks all, I'm still debating. We've tried the choice thing with him. He is very into picking a 3rd choice that we don't offer when it's something he doesn't really want to do. "Do you want to get your hair cut here or there?" His answer would be "no where" or something like "the moon." lol He's actually extremely verbal and has already picked up ways to distract us with jokes. We're in trouble.

He's shown some interest in a barbershop near a restaurant we eat at that has a horse and a race car he could sit on. I think I might try that before hand. I'd really hate to make him not like Mickey's house. But from everything I hear, Harmony does such a great job of making kids happy that it would be nice to have him have a good experience. Maybe we'll save that for our next trip....

The first haircut he had he cried. 2nd, he did great. 3rd he cried a bit. But this last one....it was awful. He just has so much hair and it grows so fast that we have to get it cut fairly often. It's already down to his collar and in his eyes and we just got it cut a month or so ago.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I think you're making a smart choice by getting it before the trip. Your DS is about the age where my DS starting really hating haircuts. It's kind of understandable. They're in a strange place, there's a stranger messing with their hair, some don't like the water being sprayed on them, it feels weird, the clippers or scissors sound weird, they see their hair falling, they have to sit still, etc. What worked best for us was a cool, new toy that he could hold to distract him as long as he sat still and didn't scream. I remember getting DS a little toy train. I told him the conditions. If I could see the tantrum starting, I took the toy away and reinforced the rules for having it. He was able to reset and calm down so he got the toy back. I think it took two times before he sat quietly with the train and let the stylist work. I think you'll have the magical experience you're looking for at WDW if you wait a year or two before taking him to the barbershop there.

 

[akmolbert]

Girl, let me tell you, we didn't cut my now 4yo son's hair for almost an entire year between age 2-3. He always cried during hair cuts, to the point of me having to hold him in my lap and physically restrain him so he didn't flail his arms or swing his head too much. Screaming, crying, miserable for him, me, the people working there, and every other kid and parent in the place. We gave up and figured he would eventually grow out of being so terrified and started just sending him with my hubby to watch him get a haircut (and then get a donut after). Then one day he was fine, and now he loves going to the barber shop with dad. There's no way I would have put him in the chair at Disney. I wouldn't want to subject myself to that much stress on vacation, let alone him or other people there. I'd either try to get it done before the trip or just give up and give him time! Good luck!!

 

[cruisingtwins]

Yeah I can't imagine doing it unless I knew for sure my kid into it.

 

[rachael95]

Thanks, we'll definitely try it before hand. Even if we can get the majority of the cut down at a barbershop, I could trip up the rest. (unfortunately, we don't have any dedicated kids' shops here in town, though when we took him to one for his first hair cut near his grandparents, I thought the stylist handled it worse than the ones we've taken him to since).

 

[rachael95]

Got his haircut yesterday! He did great! We tried a new place. I also got a chocolate truffle in crinkly wrapper that I let him hold onto while he got it cut and he could eat BEFORE DINNER if he got his hair cut. Had him sit on my lap facing me and then we turned us around in the chair so he could watch cartoons on the TV. He didn't enjoy it, but he also didn't cry and wiggle. I was so thrilled with the lady at the new place. The chocolate was pretty melted by the time we were finished, but he sure enjoyed that part.

Thanks everyone!