Forum Activity for @sara6

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

I think if you have to question it then don't do it. Let her be natural maybe with a few beads or braids but if you're worried that she'll want something else then go with your gut. As a mother, I like to let my children be independent and they each do what is naturally in the flow...my baby has dreads...flow...my 13 year old has bouncy curls...flow...I have short hair...flow. We're not all the same but we do what we feel is right for each of us.

Mainly if you're not 100 committed it will be difficult to stand by your decision & might be hard to convince her to strand strong against those who might tease her.

FYI - you can always find holistic community. My son goes to a charter school with progressive families and most children are very young for their age, artistic and open to varieties of cultures & lifestyles.

Good luck.

updated by @sara6: 07/18/15 10:26:51AM

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

Stand strong. It sounds like your mom shares the same views as my mom & long time best friends. It wasn't a problem for me until the dreads got to the middle stage (set in the back but scraggly on top). They all threatened to cut his hair but I told them that it wasn't going to happen & if they felt a need to change what is naturally happening then they can choose to stay away. I love them but his hair isn't their concern. & when I my mom had to babysit my baby I put his hair in a pony tail.

We live a natural lifestyle based on maintaining peace and balance. I focus more on my children's emotional & cognitive balance than style...and as long as they are clean I am not concerned with them being lined up. My 13 year old son has beautiful curls but he doesn't want to do anything to them so now they're long curls around his face. Everyone says that he should get a hair cut but I am standing by him to have naturally long hair too.

I wash my baby's hair with regular shampoo & then separate the naturally formed dreads while he plays in the bath tub. I haven't done any knotting, tangling or teasing. We haven't used wax or any other goop. The back is dreaded really nicely; the top & around his face is finally starting to dread. I found that pulling it back helped form the top & face dreads.

Good luck with your daughter's dread process!

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

That's a great resource! Thank you!

Valrie said:

There are a couple of dreadie-parent support groups on this site. Maybe you ladies can join and get some advice from other parents.

http://www.dreadlockssite.com/groups/group/search?q=children#.UCKT8...

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

You have to be confident and positive in your decision & that will help your child & you avoid negative contact. Some people stare, other people compliment him, some people snarl but I just smile because he's happy and comfortable. I'm well enough to comb out his hair now, but why, he likes his dreads. Sometimes he wears a ponytail & other times his dreads are out. It helps that he's happy and friendly, it's easy for people to smile & laugh with him.

I think because we're confident & he wears them so well people aren't as aggressive as I thought they would be. I wanted to dread my 1st son's hair but his curls were too bouncy. I wanted them to knot it up naturally, without having to make him sit out the knotting process & it was just easier to finger comb his ringlets.

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

Hi Sweet,

Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure what you mean by sleeve...?? I heard about using thread around dreads that are lumpy...in Xs down to the end of the dread. Is that what you mean?

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

Thank you for the compliment Jackie...Ah, yes, he is my little sky. & I'm so lucky to have 2 handsome boys, years apart but they look nearly identical at times. You can understand why I was stressing about his hair. It killed me to have him crying because combing his hair hurt, didn't want him to cry about separating it too! My 1st son had soft bouncy curls that didn't matte at all, but his hair mattes even after a nap so this is the best solution for him besides cutting it.

Jackie said:

Sara I have nothing useful to add to this discussion, but wow your little boy is ADORABLE!!!!

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

I told you I'd get back to you on our progress today...It went better than expected. I explained to him that we are letting his hair dread & that we wouldn't have to comb it anymore, just wash. He was more willing to let me get in his hair. Luckily separating his dreads wasn't as difficult as I thought, cause he has soft baby hair. Thanks again

soaring eagle said:

its not a great idea u can if u do it very carefully but its nit recomended its too easy to cut into dreads or cut roots if u pull them apart when damp its easier the hairs break easier withoit hurting and if u do it often enough yoir only breaking a couple hairs at a tikme so no pain at all..unless u pull too hard thats why its best if he learns to do it

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

Thanks for the suggestion Valerie - Yes I've been doing that...just very slow at getting him to trust that I won't hurt him cause combing his hair out used to hurt & when I was on bed rest they would try to comb it out after washing days in a row without This was the best solution for him.

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

OIC. Thanks for the info. I'll let you know how it goes after I wash his hair tomorrow.

How to Maintain Toddler's Dreads

General Questions

He just turned 2yrs old. He can't tie his shoes yet. I was thinking, can I cut the hair that has grown dreads together with scissors instead of tearing them apart? Or will that mess up what has already happened naturally?