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Culture/Arts

Shaving toddlers heads

(27 Posts)
Mil09 Mon 10-Feb-14 19:32:37

I am trying to understand why my daughter in law has shaved her 2 year old child's head.
She is not British but is European and well educated.
I have not said anything but have no idea why anyone would want to do this.
I was asked by parents in the playground if he was very ill.....

Galen Mon 10-Feb-14 19:34:41

Lice?

absent Mon 10-Feb-14 19:35:39

Yes, I wondered if it was an over reaction to head lice.

Mishap Mon 10-Feb-14 19:52:54

Why not ask her? - in a non-critical way of course.

thatbags Mon 10-Feb-14 19:55:23

Like... is this a new fashion?

thatbags Mon 10-Feb-14 19:55:38

hmm

merlotgran Mon 10-Feb-14 20:03:26

A friend of mine's ex SIL was not invited to a family wedding where the two small grandsons were due to be pageboys. He was so peeved he took them off and got their heads shaved a week before the wedding. It really did spoil the photos.

A classic example of 'Don't get mad, get even'

absent Mon 10-Feb-14 21:12:30

Bit tough on the little boys though merlot.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 10-Feb-14 21:12:44

Your daughter in law has shaved her two year old's head, and you haven't asked why?!!!

Shall I say the obvious? ( It would make more sense than asking us)

gillybob Mon 10-Feb-14 21:25:41

My dad shaved my head when I was around 5. Apparently it was my punishment for not sitting still at the hairdressers. I have never gotten over it!

merlotgran Mon 10-Feb-14 21:29:45

That's a hit harsh, gillybob.

absent. I think the boys were the ones who didn't really care. Their poor mum was incandescent and so was the bride.

margaretm74 Mon 10-Feb-14 21:30:54

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mil09 Mon 10-Feb-14 21:48:04

Well, perhaps sometimes when relationships are rocky due to separation ...it seems wise to attempt to maintain a relationship rather than appear judgemental
Thought I would fact find and then try and find the right moment to ask..

margaretm74 Mon 10-Feb-14 22:02:11

Have sent you a privare message Mil09

margaretm74 Mon 10-Feb-14 22:19:05

Apparently it is traditional in parts of Eastern Europe

Flowerofthewest Mon 10-Feb-14 22:32:57

I know that some cultures shave the young child's head to encourage strong hair growth.

goldengirl Mon 10-Feb-14 22:59:15

Some Indian people shave the heads of their little ones and takenthem toma shrine forma blessing. I think it is symbolic of leaving babyhood behind. I don't like it personally

Eloethan Mon 10-Feb-14 23:41:39

I'm not keen on any sort of custom or religious rite that people might feel they should conform to. Having said that, I don't see that shaving a child's head is abusive and there are more important issues to get upset about.

harrigran Tue 11-Feb-14 00:33:13

A few years ago I was at my hairdressers when a young mother brought in her baby and asked her to shave her head. My hairdresser was furious and said she would do no such thing, she thought it was probably part of their culture but they always refused.

thatbags Tue 11-Feb-14 07:54:04

I had a friend who had her baby boy's very lovely head of thick hair shaved off. From what she said I gathered it was a custom and was supposed to make the hair grow back thicker. Sounded like an old wives' tale to me.

BlueBelle Tue 11-Feb-14 08:23:03

Many Eastern cultures do shave heads around 2 its normal to them so why should we question it I wonder if they question some of our practices like how the Catholics in Ireland spend thousands on confirmation dresses and events at around 8years ...however if its happening in your own family out of the blue why not ask in a pleasant generous non critical way Can't you ask your son if not your DiL ??

ffinnochio Tue 11-Feb-14 09:04:10

I'd be interested to know your daughter-in-law's answer when you ask her.

My feeling is that it's a tradition from her culture. The end of babyhood to the start of boyhood - or something like that.

durhamjen Tue 11-Feb-14 12:03:39

I remember back in the fifties we had a German family living in our house. The son had red hair, long and curly, but his mother would not have it cut until he was ready to go to school. She said that was tradition where she came from.

margaretm74 Tue 11-Feb-14 19:36:18

I have a lovely photo of my brother aged 2 with long blond curls (1930s) England.

TriciaF Wed 12-Feb-14 17:40:29

There's a Jewish tradition of haircuts for boys on their 3rd birthday. Called "upsherin."
If this link doesn't come out it's from Google:
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3068/jewish/A-Jewish-Boys-First-Haircut.htm