What Kind of Products Can I Put on My Eight-Month-Old Baby's Hair?

Keep it Simple

• Before deciding what products are safe to put on an eight-month-old baby's hair, consider how frequently those products should be applied. Unless a baby has a full head of hair, you may not need to shampoo or condition the hair regularly. Most babies require only irregular hair washings a few times per week. Before you wash a baby's hair, look carefully at the scalp and gently brush or comb out any tangles in the hair. This will help the washing process go more smoothly and be more enjoyable for the baby. Finally, before you begin applying any hair care product to a baby's hair, make sure that you are trimming her hair regularly to keep it out of her eyes. Neatly trimmed hair cuts down on tangles that can occur easily when an infant is constantly trying to push it away from her forehead.

Use Gentle Products

• Many doctors recommend the use of baby shampoo for the first few years of an infant's life. Baby shampoos are low in sulphates which helps reduce irritation caused when the shampoo comes into contact with the eyes. A low sulphate balance keeps the amount of foam down that forms when applying the product to the hair as well. Many baby shampoos however, can also have a high ph balance which may cause increased tangling in a baby's hair. Examine the ingredients on the back of the bottles of shampoos you are considering buying and find one that has a ph balance of 7.0 or less. If the brand of shampoo you are using doesn't list the ph balance and you can't find a brand that does, purchase a package of Nitrazine paper from your local drugstore and test the ph levels yourself.

  If your baby has very curly or frizzy hair, consider shampooing his hair three to four times per week. On days when you are not shampooing, use a leave-in conditioner to help keep the curls defined and the frizz down. Over-washing of naturally curly hair can dry out the hair and make it brittle and frizzy. You may also want to look for a combined shampoo and conditioner product that is gentle and made for babies.

Go Slow

• If your baby is African American, or biracial and has curly, frizzy hair, there are some additional hair care products and practices to consider. For African American babies, consider washing their hair with a combined shampoo and conditioner once a week. When combing out the hair, start at the ends, not the scalp and comb out tangles gently and slowly. Sectioning hair into braids and securing them with clips or barrettes at night will reduce matting and make hair care easier in the morning. You can also apply a small amount of a gentle, light baby hair oil to your child's hair in the mornings. Apply a leave-in conditioner that sprays into the hair for the days that you do not wash. These products are available at most drugstores and grocery retailers.

  With any child, but particularly those whose hair requires more time and care, be gentle and go slow in all product application, washing and combing. Making sure your child is comfortable and not scared will help her develop a healthy, happy attitude towards hair care throughout life.