Looking for Advice from Fellow Autism Parents/Caregivers
My youngest turns 4 in two weeks. He’s level 3, non-verbal, and has significant sensory challenges. Right now, he desperately needs a haircut — but as many of you probably understand, grooming isn’t a simple task in our world.
The last time we cut his hair, it completely overwhelmed him. It wasn’t just a meltdown — it was full sensory overload, and it took a long time to calm him down. It breaks my heart, because I know haircuts don’t technically hurt, but to him, they’re just… too much.
Unfortunately, the only local place that specializes in haircuts for neurodivergent kids has a 3-month waitlist, and we can’t wait that long. So we’re planning to do it ourselves again, but I’m dreading it — not because of the work, but because I hate feeling like I’m the one causing him discomfort, even though I know it’s necessary.
Does anyone have tips, tricks, tools, or even sensory-friendly products that helped make grooming a little more manageable for your child? Not just for haircuts — even general grooming advice would be welcome. I’d love to learn from your experiences.
Thank you in advance. 💙
The last time we cut his hair, it completely overwhelmed him. It wasn’t just a meltdown — it was full sensory overload, and it took a long time to calm him down. It breaks my heart, because I know haircuts don’t technically hurt, but to him, they’re just… too much.
Unfortunately, the only local place that specializes in haircuts for neurodivergent kids has a 3-month waitlist, and we can’t wait that long. So we’re planning to do it ourselves again, but I’m dreading it — not because of the work, but because I hate feeling like I’m the one causing him discomfort, even though I know it’s necessary.
Does anyone have tips, tricks, tools, or even sensory-friendly products that helped make grooming a little more manageable for your child? Not just for haircuts — even general grooming advice would be welcome. I’d love to learn from your experiences.
Thank you in advance. 💙
