Tips for Growing Toddler Hair

As your little one moves past babyhood and into toddlerhood, her hair might need some extra attention. You may encounter challenges as your child's hair goes through a stage of uneven wispiness. Stay the course if you're growing it out, though. With a little patience, before you know it, her hair will be ready for ponytails and pigtails.

toddler getting hair trim (Image: PJPhoto69/iStock/Getty Images)

Being Patient

toddler with developing curls (Image: SazzyB/iStock/Getty Images)

It may take time for your toddler's hair to become thick and long, according to physician Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, writing for Fisher-Price. Hair growth for babies and toddlers varies. Some children start with little hair and don't have a thick head of hair until age 3. Others develop thicker and longer hair more quickly. It's also common for a toddler to have uneven hair, which could be a leftover from babyhood from rubbing hair off in places. Hair growth pattern could also begin unevenly. Stay patient with your little one's hair growth and realize that eventually it will even out.

Nutritional Tips

toddler eating fruit with mother (Image: Monkey Business Images/Monkey Business/Getty Images)

Pay attention to your toddler's diet to make sure she eats nutritious meals and snacks. The B vitamin biotin is important for a healthy scalp and hair growth, asserts nutritionist Joy Bauer, author of “Joy Bauer's Food Cures.” Supplementation is not necessary, but make sure your toddler eats foods such as eggs, whole wheat bread, cheese, raspberries and avocados for a diet rich in biotin.

Hair Care without Tears

toddler having her hair brushed by sister (Image: Antonio Balaguer soler/Hemera/Getty Images)

Toddlers often don't have time to sit still for primping, but caring for your little one's hair will help make the growing-out process more manageable. Don't shampoo your toddler's hair more than necessary or you could dry out her scalp. A weekly suds might be enough for toddlers with dry hair, but you might have to wash more often for a dirty or sweaty tot. Take the time to detangle your toddler's hair, but do it gently. Use a wide-tooth comb or a brush with ultra-soft bristles to work carefully on your toddler's locks. Try spritzing a bit of detangling spray on stubborn snarls to ease them out without tears.

Styling the 'Do

toddler with hairbow (Image: AOtzen/iStock/Getty Images)

The process of growing out hair should be as pretty as possible, so fix your toddler's hair regularly with bows, ribbons, headbands and elastic hair bands. Your toddler might not care initially about how cute she looks with a big bow in her hair, but eventually, she will probably enjoy primping. With consistency, even an uncooperative toddler will likely learn to tolerate hair fixing. Pull your tot's hair back from her face with clips or a headband so it doesn't bother her. Containing her hair in a short ponytail or pigtails keeps it neat while it grows out.

Keeping it Neat

toddler getting hair trimmed (Image: Jaimie Duplass/iStock/Getty Images)

Once your toddler's hair reaches her shoulders, it might be time to consider a little trim to even up the straggly ends. A trim doesn't have to take much hair off, but it can do wonders to help make hair look tidy. Whether you tackle the trim yourself or opt to have it cut professionally, choose a time of the day when your toddler has rested and eaten recently, for optimal results. It might help if your toddler sits in your lap for the trim so you can comfort and distract her while someone else snips. The bottom line of a haircut at this age is speed and proficiency -- get the trim done as quickly as possible before your little one has a chance to object.