Many babies hate having their hair washed, even if they enjoy having a bath. If this is a case with your baby, it may be best to keep hair washing separate from bath time; if your child associates the two she may start to fuss about taking baths as well.
The main reason for dislike of hair-washing is that babies hate getting water and soap in their eyes, so try to avoid this as far as you can. Specially designed shields are available that fit around the hairline and prevent water and suds running down your baby’s face while you rinse her hair. You may also find that your baby will become less distressed if you hold her in your lap while washing her hair, and use a washcloth to wet and rinse it rather than pouring water over her hear.
Never try to force the issue, and never forcibly hold your baby still while you wash her hair. If hair washing is obviously very distressing for her, give up for two or three weeks before trying again. You can still keep her hair reasonable clean by sponging it to remove any food or dirt, or brushing it out with a soft, damp brush. The hair will probably become greasy after the first few days, but this will not do any harm.
