Haircuts, Justin hates them. I hate taking him to them. It's a scream match and it's not uncommon for us to leave the salon- both filled with hair to our ears, literally. We are due today for a haircut.
I begin with trying to warn him ahead of time in a 'happy voice' as if we are introducing a day at the fair! "Alright, we are going to get haircut today", (I start off voice calm, nice and slow), then after he objects his..."a-done", shaking his head-no.....I tell him, "It's ok, fun...tickle, tickle, you can do it"
Which ofcourse, get's me no where; somewhere in my head, I believe this is somewhat preparing him. I think I do it more for my nerves. Nevertheless, it has to be done. The buzz of the clippers especially around his ears is what bothers him the most, but with the way he fights and waves around, (did I mention kicks), there is no way I'd allow scissors, ...no the clippers are faster and have to do. I normally just ask for an easy buzz-crew cut all over (very short so we don't have to undergo this for a while again), and clean it up with the mustache trimmer, (more buzzing). Fast and neat.
As soon as we come back (I'll hopefully be able to record the ordeal), I'll post the footage, Daddy is coming for this one. The bad thing about this time around with haircuts is that on April 21 Justin fell in his school gym and smacked his head against the concrete wall and he had a huge goose egg, (see video below). Well, he still has remnants of that bump, I believe his doctor called it calcified blood? So because he doesn't talk, I don't know if it's still sensitive but I know he is aware of it there because I catch him trying to grab it with his fingers....
Update:(I've added the hair-cutting footage)
Tooth-brushing....another ordeal though not anywhere as stressful. I brush Justin's teeth because he has trouble holding and maneuvering certain small objects, (i.e., spoons, toothbrush, etc). I have to be fast and I made up this diddy I sing in order for him to know there is a before and after to the event. He knows when the song is almost done, I'm done....unfortunately using real toothpaste is out of the question as Justin will swallow it. I use organic toothpaste 'safe to swallow' or so it's labeled that way, for toddlers.
Keep it up, sounds like you are doing the best that you can. Is he scared of the sound? If so, you might be able to work something out at home with an everyday home program to get him used to the sound, then to hold the item so it might decrease fear..
This is so hard for them, but it has to be done. I'm sorry. This was the same story when I took my sons to the salon to get their hair cut. My oldest is 7 years old and has the hardest time with it. Around the ears is the hardest on them, and me too. Last year I bought a clippers. First I let the ABA therapists try to desensitize them to it. Don't know if it's the noise, or the vibration that bothers them more. On the big day I started with my oldest,I gave him a cup of his milk, and the xbox controller and turned the chair to face the TV and let him play. From there I turned on the clippers and got to work. It was not fun, but I just focused on what I was doing and got the job done . Repeated the process for both his brothers. While there was lots of screaming, hitting, kicking ect it wasn't as bad as it was at the salon. They were more relaxed at home. Plus there were no strangers giving us looks and mumbling under their breath. I also saved $25 per haircut since the only stylist that would touch my boys charged $25 per kid! I'm not the greatest at giving haircuts and these are not as nice as a pro job, but they work.
My 7 year old has just learned to brush his teeth with a very tiny dot of kid's toothpaste. Keep practicing, you are doing great with what you are already doing. It will come.
Good luck.
I cut Joshua's hair with clippers. He still squirms, but he has gotten the idea that if he is still it gets done quick and he'd rather have short hair than long hair, so he tolerates it now. I just buzz it off on the shortest setting. He's also learned that if he's still, it won't catch his ear like it did the one time. (it took a while to get over that one)
About Me: Justin is an Autistic little boy with Sensory Integration Disorder, Severe Apraxia, Gastrointestinal and feeding issues. We've set up a benefit account in Amcore Bank to raise funds for Biomedical Treatments and Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy in Wisconsin.
Read more about him, and/or to donate to his recovery at:
http://justinsrecoverywish.blogspot.com/
Recommend
Comments (3)
Keep it up, sounds like you are doing the best that you can. Is he scared of the sound? If so, you might be able to work something out at home with an everyday home program to get him used to the sound, then to hold the item so it might decrease fear..
This is so hard for them, but it has to be done. I'm sorry. This was the same story when I took my sons to the salon to get their hair cut. My oldest is 7 years old and has the hardest time with it. Around the ears is the hardest on them, and me too. Last year I bought a clippers. First I let the ABA therapists try to desensitize them to it. Don't know if it's the noise, or the vibration that bothers them more. On the big day I started with my oldest,I gave him a cup of his milk, and the xbox controller and turned the chair to face the TV and let him play. From there I turned on the clippers and got to work. It was not fun, but I just focused on what I was doing and got the job done . Repeated the process for both his brothers. While there was lots of screaming, hitting, kicking ect it wasn't as bad as it was at the salon. They were more relaxed at home. Plus there were no strangers giving us looks and mumbling under their breath. I also saved $25 per haircut since the only stylist that would touch my boys charged $25 per kid! I'm not the greatest at giving haircuts and these are not as nice as a pro job, but they work.
My 7 year old has just learned to brush his teeth with a very tiny dot of kid's toothpaste. Keep practicing, you are doing great with what you are already doing. It will come.
Good luck.
I cut Joshua's hair with clippers. He still squirms, but he has gotten the idea that if he is still it gets done quick and he'd rather have short hair than long hair, so he tolerates it now. I just buzz it off on the shortest setting. He's also learned that if he's still, it won't catch his ear like it did the one time. (it took a while to get over that one)