Snip! Snip! Baby’s first haircut!

I keep waiting. All day I have been waiting. For what? I’m not sure.

Yesterday, my 18-month-old got his first haircut. I was nervous. I feel, especially for a boy, that first haircut can be very “defining” – girls often don’t get their first haircut for years! I felt for me, this would be some kind of turning point. From babyhood to little boy.

Would he hate it? (he did!).

Would he still be cute? (he is!).

Would he still look like my baby? (he does. mostly.).

Would he look older? (yes.).

The haircut itself was a bit traumatic. For both mom and baby. I put on my brave face and tried to console him. Inside I was freaking out because he was crying so much. If you want, you can watch the YouTube video, but I’m not embedding it because, frankly, this is the EDITED version and it still contains too much crying for me to handle.

Here’s before the haircut… my unsuspecting son playing at Mima’s. All morning I had asked him, “Who’s going to cut your hair?” and he would purse his little lips and say, “Suuuee!” (Auntie Sue). Look at those blonde curls!

And here’s during the haircut. Oh my, right? Could he be more traumatized? It probably didn’t help that he didn’t get his afternoon nap!

There were moments of laughter, and we got him distracted several times but overall, this was the face for about ten minutes! The cries he made were the most pitiful I’ve ever heard out of him!! And guess what, he called for DADDY! Not Mommy!! Sadness.

I saved two curls in clear vellum scrapbooking bags for the baby book! Finally, he was cut and calmed. Sitting on the front steps by the old blue mailbox. My little boy. All grown up. I appreciated that his aunt left some of his curls in back. I would have missed them too much if they’d been tapered off completely. Maybe next time. Although with all the crying, I’m not sure there WILL be a next time!

Today was day two of the haircut. This morning, I wondered how I’d feel going into his room and not seeing that halo of blond curls sticking up from his sleepy head. I’ll admit it was a little odd to see him so trim, but I was tickled to find that the top of his head only got MORE curly from sleep!

So all day today, I’ve been waiting. I guess I’m waiting for the baby boy to peek out at me … just a little. And although sometimes if he turns his head just right, I get a glimpse, a tuft of curl from behind an ear. But I think my son has gone full-fledged into the toddler years with this haircut. 

I guess we are really leaving babyhood behind now. Good thing nobody is videotaping me!

Did you find your baby’s first haircut to be a milestone moment for you or your baby? Is there any way to make haircuts more pleasant in the future!