Hair-washing can involve many sensations for children (being tipped backwards, getting head scrubbed, shampoo smells, water splashes etc.)
Strategies to help children tolerate hair-washing:
Holding up a mirror or video recording hair washing to show child what’s going on
Use one hand to apply firm and steady pressure to child’s shoulder and wash hair with other hand (this provides positive feedback to the child’s body to help ‘locate’ itself)
Show your child videos of other children washing their hair
Try placing a sticker or picture on the shower wall or ceiling to give a visual cue for your child to focus their attention while you wet their hair
Click here for hair washing advice leaflet
Children’s Therapy (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy)