Children and Hair Loss

A sick child is any parent’s worst nightmare, and as they begin to recover after any kind of illness or treatment it is essential to many to get their lives back to “normal” as soon as possible.

Even for adults, the subject of cancer can be impossible to bring up or understand. In children it is that much harder – especially if the child has experienced physical changes, such as hair loss. When your child recovers from treatment, the quicker they can return to school or nursery, the less affected they will be by the trauma of being so sick at an early age. However it can difficult to know how other children will treat yours, now that he or she looks a bit different. 

If your child is returning to school after hair loss, it is often a good idea to speak to the school about explaining to the children what has happened to your child – like adults children love to gossip, however their imagination is usually somewhat more vivid so it is important they understand what is happening.

A quick assembly, without going into too much detail, can help explain why your child cannot participate in certain activities, or eat certain foods – but more importantly it can help explain to a child about hair loss, how it isn’t just for “old people” and is nothing to be scared about or laughed at.

Once your child’s school is on board with helping him or her adjust back into the class room, it is important to work out what your child would like – not every child wants to wear human hair wigs or bandanas. Children sometimes don’t understand the connotations or stigma often attached to hair loss. They are  often more likely to reject the idea of wearing a wig which could be uncomfortable or make things, like playing, difficult.

It is important to ask your child, if they haven’t yet asked you, whether or not they would like to wear a wig or hat on their return to school – but in a way that doesn’t make them believe it is negative. Even if you would prefer for your child to wear a wig, it is important to remember that it is their decision and they may not be able to explain to you why or why not they want one, or even understand the need for one in the first place.

Once your child has let you know what they would like to do, it is important to have someone trained and experienced in the wig process to help discuss your child’s wig with you both. Their needs may be slightly different to an adult’s.

Encouraging your child to try on many wigs and hair pieces can help to humanize the process, as well as relating them to things your child is familiar with. For example, you could introduce a blonde wig as the “Frozen wig” or a wavy wig as “Princess Kate’s Hair”. This will help your child to feel like the experience is positive, as well as make the positive connection between the wig and one of her favourite characters.

Investing in a synthetic wig for yourself and wearing it whilst your child is getting used to hers can also help to make her feel more comfortable and less different than she might already do after missing time from school and battling an illness.

Whatever you and your child decide, remember it is important to make your child feel comfortable 100% of the time and, in the end, it is their decision. Give us a call today to speak to one of our specialists about your child’s needs.