Can I change my hair drastically?

[Pen_esque]

DD is 15 months and very attached to me. Right now I have long hair and I am =really= wanting to cut it off and go super short again.

Anyone btdt? I'm worried it might be confusing for her for mama to suddenly look different.

As it is now I sometimes wear my hair up, sometimes down, sometimes wear a hat, etc and she always knows it's me so I'm thinking it's ok to hack.

If people have had bad experiences I just won't do it. Anyone?

(hoping this is not flagging my profound stupidity)

[tbone_kneegrabber]

I think its fine. She might cry or be shocked at first. If she's into your hair (like likes to touch and stuff) I would save some for her. I bleached part of my hair (while ds was at school) and he basicallly said "my mama's hair is yellow!"

I wouldn't allow her *possible* reaction to stop you from doing something you want to do, you will end up resenting it. It might not come out in hair, but later you might not want to pretend to be the little blue horse anymore because you are tired of her always controlling everything you do, ykwim?

[fruitlove]

I cut my hair when my daughter was around 15 months also. And she was fine. I think she barely noticed. My husband on the other hand...
I didn't get colour, just a cut. I love it and think that it's time for another appointment!

[MCPM]

I think 15 months is fine. I do pretty drastic things to my hair and my daughter only started caring about that when she hit about four years old.

[bronxmom]

I just chopped off my very long hair and my12 month old didn't bat an eye - and I feel great. He stopped pulling my hair

[Pen_esque]

Originally Posted by bronxmom

He stopped pulling my hair

See? THAT'S what I'm talking about!

[MamaJenese]

I cut about 18 inches off my hair when DS was that age. I walked in the door and my DH was shocked. DS just asked to nurse. He could not have cared less!

[Llyra]

We wondered about this when DD1 was this age, and DH decided to shave off his beard and mustache. DD was very startled at first, and hid behind me, and kinda peeked out shyly, like she couldn't figure out who the strange man was. But it only took her about ten minutes to get past it. The sound of his voice, and the smell and feel of him, seemed to matter a lot more to her than the details of his appearance. And I kind of feel like smell and feel would be even more central in a mama-baby relationship, because of the breastfeeding relationship. That's a very physical attachment, and I would guess that even if baby is momentarily startled, it won't take more than a few hugs to put things right again.

Also, I would guess that taking baby with you when you have it done will eliminate even that-- if baby gets to see the process, it won't be such a shock.

[Carhootel]

can't say about long to short hair but dh went from bearded to beardless and ds didn't notice at all - it freaked me out though!

[madeofstardust]

My 14mo DD LOVES it when I change my hair. I dye my hair more than cut it, though. About a month ago I went from blond to neon orange and she just looked at me and giggled. I have dreads and yesterday my DH added extensions for me. Today when DD saw me she thought it was HILARIOUS and spent a lot of the day playing with my new long hair :]

Go for it!

[vrclay]

My son loves my hair and used it as a security item. It became a problem when I weaned him becaue he still wanted to touch my hair when he was falling asleep. We ended up having a doll made with my hair attached to the top. (www.loveybabies.com) Needless to say, it made a world of difference and I didn't have to lean my neck over him when he was falling alseep so he could touch my hair.

My advice - if you think your child might have a similar attachment to your hair, put it in a ponytail and save it in the event you need to have a "mommy hair doll" made.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I cahnged my haircolor dramatically and no one seemed to notice.

At 15 months PP, might I suggest being careful making such a dramatic change? I have done that so many times while I was hormonal and SOOOOOO regretted it later. lol. I told my hairdresser that if I am every talking about chopping my hair again, HOG TIE ME, because its just the hormones talking.

[Emmery'sMom]

My DD is really attached o my hair too- she has to play with it while she's falling asleep, holds on to it when she's unsure about a new situation/person, grabs it in the middle of the night...
I decided I had to cut it- it was halfway down my back, still falling out after having her, and she pulled out upwards of 40 hairs a day.
Last weekend I went from it being dark brown and halfway down my back to being blonde and shoulder length. She saw me and said "hair" and grabbed it as I picked her up. Hasn't bothered her one bit otherwise. A few times this week she's done that again, like she's noticing again that its different.

[Dahlea]

I bleached my hair and dyed it pink and my kid didn't have a problem with it-in fact he seems to miss it Now that it's gone!

[halomancer]

I cut my very long hair very, very short when DS was 22 months and he didn't care.

[FondestBianca]

I did all kinds of things to my hair when dd was little. Went from long to short to super short. Everything from black to blonde and she didn't have any adversion to it. She noticed but, no more than she would notice if I walked into the room wearing a brightly colored shirt yk. She was never upset by it or failed to see that it was me under the new hairstyle/color. I haven't changed my hair much since ds has been born but, he's had no issue with the little changes here and there. I'd say if they are fine with hats and such they'll be fine with hair changes. I think hats are much more distracting to little ones.

I would however suggest that if you do cut it you don't pile on a new outfit, perfume, and extra makeup the same day. Changing more than one sense at once might be confusing to a tike that small... then again, maybe not. Even if they are weirded out by the hair change in the first moment I don't think it would turn into an issue. Thats not an issue I'd be worried about personally.