Do I need to cut a child's hair bald at 1 year old: rules for cutting one-year-old children

Do I need to cut my baby's head a year? Myths, beliefs and superstitions about the haircut of one-year-old children came from our ancestors. Opinions of people "for" and "against" a child's haircuts per year. Traditions developed by different peoples: Mongolia, India and the ancient Slavs. A list of rules that should be followed when cutting small children.

Haircut myths

Myth # 1: if you cut your hair, then they, in the future, will be thick.

Rebuttal: thick hair is an optical illusion. After birth, the child is constantly lying and the hairs on his head are "wiped off". Gaps and bald patches become noticeable. After a haircut, the hair begins to grow back evenly, so the appearance of the thickness of the hairline is created.

Myth number 2: if you cut your hair a year, it will be strong and silky.

Rebuttal: the appearance of the hair does not depend on the haircut. Only proper care and nutrition affect their grooming, strength and beauty.

Myth number 3: if you cut off a strand of hair at a year old and show it to the child when he goes to school, then the child will certainly study well.

Rebuttal: the hair that is cut off has no effect on children's intelligence.

Myth number 4: if a strand of hair cut off in a year is put to the baby on the bed under the pillow, then he will definitely see good dreams. Nobody tested the veracity of this myth.

Belief and superstition

If you cut a girl before a year, then she can become sterile.
A haircut a year erases negative information about childbirth from the head of the child.
Hair symbolizes good luck. If a child has long and luxurious hair, then success will not pass him by.
The child's soul lives in the hair.

One-year-old haircut traditions

In India, babies have always had their heads shaved. According to religious beliefs, the haircut symbolized farewell to the past (uterine and infant existence) and movement into a brighter future.
The people of Mongolia have turned the process of cutting a child's hair into a real holiday. The whole family was invited to this event. Everyone who came to cut off a lock of the baby's hair and said wishes. In addition, all the guests brought gifts.
In Israel, boys are not cut until the age of three. The tradition of this country has been preserved in almost many non-religious families.
In the culture of the ancient Slavs, it was strictly forbidden to cut off the hairs of babies for up to a year. It was believed that in the hair - strength and health. And if you cut them off before the age of one, then the child will weaken and will often get sick. Luck and wealth will bypass this kid. After a year, the baby was shaved bald. According to the ancestors, the procedure drove away the evil spirits from the baby and the child passed into a new stage of life.
In Russia, there was an interesting rite: exactly in one year, the baby's hair was cut off in a cruciform manner. The ceremony was performed on the growing moon. The trimmed strands of hair were kept behind the images of saints (icons). It was believed that these first hairs will serve as a child's amulet against diseases and troubles for life.
Since hair is a symbol of good luck, they combed the mop on the head with coins and rolled chicken eggs over it.
After the haircut, the baby's hair was buried in an anthill. At the same time, they said the words: "it came from the earth, it went into the earth."
In old Slavic beliefs, it was believed that the child is associated with the higher powers of the cosmos. Therefore, the hair on his head was called "kosma". Then they said that all the positive energy comes to the child through the hairline on the head. And if you cut it off, a person will lose a lot in life.

What do people who support a one-year-old haircut think?

Usually parents who are supporters of haircuts per year say this:

I was cut in childhood, and I will cut my children!
Everyone does it!
I got a boy. The long hair on his head passes him off as a girl. Therefore, others often cannot determine the sex of the child.
After a haircut, the hair on the head grows evenly.
On the baby's head there are hormonal crusts, which hair prevents the removal of.
The child's bangs reach into his eyes.
It's hot outside. The child sweats from the hair.

What do people who oppose think?

Why cut? The structure and features of the hairline are laid down in the womb. Therefore, external factors, namely a haircut, under no circumstances will affect the state of the “head of hair”.
Small children do not yet know how to control their behavior. Sitting still or in a hairdresser's chair is a problem for them. Therefore, cutting your hair will cause a lot of difficulties.
After a haircut, stubble will initially grow, which will cause discomfort to the baby.
In cold weather, the child will freeze without hair.
Cutting your hair with a clipper or scissors can accidentally injure your scalp. An infection will enter the skin and cause inflammation, which a one-year-old baby does not need.

As you can see, the arguments "against" the haircut are more substantial than the "pros". But if you nevertheless decided to cut your child's hair, then please follow the rules listed below.

How to cut? Recommendations

Choose the timing of your haircut based on your child's behavior. If the baby is usually calm in the morning - cut him in the morning, if in the evening - do the procedure in the evening. Babies tolerate hair cutting on a full stomach and after sleep at lunchtime.
Do not cut your baby's hair when he is sick. Don't make it worse for him.
Pay attention to your baby's mood. During the haircut, he should be in high spirits.
Don't shave with a clipper, just cut. The machine damages the hair follicles, as a result of which the hair on the head can become smaller. Plus, the sound of this device can seriously scare your child. Moreover, you can not process the scalp of a child with a machine. But, if you still need to shave your child's head, use a trimmer. The device is less dangerous and quiet in comparison with a typewriter.
Cut your head after bathing. Wet hair is easier to cut.
Create a baby-friendly environment. You can take him to a special children's hairdressing salon, where the haircut area is equipped for children. Or you can have your baby cut at home. In this case, keep him busy: toys, books, tasty food. Talk to him constantly, support him. If you don't know how to cut yourself, invite a specially trained hairdresser to your house.
At the end of the haircut, bathe your baby (the water temperature is warm). Rinse every wrinkle in your child's body well. If hair remains there, it will prickle and cause discomfort.
When clipping at home, do not neglect disinfection. Be sure to process the tools. And in the case of shaving bald - and the scalp. For these purposes, the Miramistin product is well suited.
Place the baby on your lap while cutting. Let a familiar adult hold him. The kid will be more calm and trusting in the process.
Play cartoons for your baby if possible.
To avoid injuring your baby, use scissors with rounded ends.
When trimming yourself, try to complete the entire process as quickly as possible. One-year-old children cannot sit in one place for a long time.
Start trimming in the toughest places and trim with utmost care.
Your mood is an important factor. It is passed on to your child. Don't be nervous at all. Keep calm.

Watch the video - baby's first haircut:

And finally. Be sure, after finishing the haircut, show it to your child in the mirror. And also praise your baby for sitting well throughout the event. In a gentle, gentle voice, tell him that now he is well-groomed and handsome.
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Summarize. To cut or not to cut your child a year is the choice of each parent, based on their own opinion.