Suggestions for my toddler's fears?
Submitted by Enelesn on Tue, 12/18/2007 - 12:18am.
My 3 year old son has some intense fears and I thought he'd outgrow them, but they are not getting any better.
His fear of the doctor is one, but I feel that that is warranted (doctor's and nurses have done some pretty mean stuff to him - shots, surgery, etc.).
Then there's the haircut issue...
He has A LOT of dark curly hair and has had 7 hair cuts in his 3 years of life - each one is a terrible experience. He sits in my lap crying so hard that he turns al red and is covered in drool and snot when it's all over. He shakes and screams and begs for it to be "all done". It doesn't matter if they use scissors or clippers. Both cause him to panic and freak.
He also has recently begun to cry and scream if he has to take a bath (especially if he is going to have his hair washed).
I don't know what to do! How do I coax him into these things? How do I convince him that I won't nor would I ever let anyone harm him? I tell him over and over that it will be okay, that I won't hurt him or let him get hurt. I tell him it will be over quickely... nothing doing!
He saw me get a haircut once and got very upset. My husband ended up taking him out of the salon. He kept tellingmy hair dresser no and to leave me alone.
Anyone have any helpful suggestions? At this point even hearing that someone else out there has gone through this would help!
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but a couple of questions:
Does he really need a haircut? I know you say he has thick curly hair, but don't you think if you let it grow out, he will tell you when he is ready to cut it? My son has thick curly hair as well, and he didn't ask for a haircut until he was 4. He is 10 now and likes to grow it out and then cut it all off. Also, it might be good for him to watch you get your haircut, just keep reassuring him that you are perfectly safe and that everything is going to be ok. Let him watch it to the end so he knows you are telling the truth.
Does he really need his hair to be washed? If his fear of the bath roots from hair washing, maybe don't do it for a little to make him more comfortable with the bath (so that at least happens). Over time maybe you can talk to him about how dirty his hair is probably getting and ask him if he wants it washed. If he says no, then don't do it.
I also have to ask, although it might not go over well, does he have to go to the doctor? I understand if he does, but just think about it.
Ultimately, I would say that instead of coaxing him, include him and respect him when he doesn't want to do it. By talking to him about it over time, he will gain your trust (that you won't make him do it when it's clear that he doesn't want to), then he will become more reasonable about it.
Of course, unless something traumatic has actually happened to him that is making him act these ways, but it didn't seem like there was.
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