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When to introduce a wig...
Dear parents of girls and boys with alopecia.
When do you introduce a wig and how to a young child? I have a 3 year old daughter with AT since the age of one. She asks everyday about her hair, and if she can have it. I explain as good as I can that she is beautiful anyway and that her hair is "asleep", and she says "ok" and starts playing with toys. She is an outgoing girl and a happy kid. I want her to accept her self as the beauty she is with or without hair. Thats the main goal so she get used to being her. But I also want to tell her that she have the opportunity to have hair in a nice and comfy wig. In Norway kids under 18 years get two costume made wigs yeah tear, fully refunded by the government. My family and my husband says its ok to get one soon just to play with and get used to that she have the oportunity to have hair and not stared at all the time. Her friends and family are used to her without hair, but I see that she does not like people steering on a buss and in the city. But as my mum says; she must handle the stears, cause people will always stear. As I said I do not want to get her to feel as she have to hide her AT. I want her to bee confident, and happy with her sweet bald head, but I also know that she is a girl and girls most often want to have wig in the end anyway. Does anyone have any experience with young child and wigs? My hairdresser has AT her self and recommended a Foella Gripper Sport length 6 for my daughter. It looked so natural and even comfy.....
Mum of child with AT
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rose Marie' on
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Hi Matica
This is always a bit of a conundrum for parents and children. My daughter lost her hair when she was 12 years old she is now 23....she has AU(currently).
My personal thoughts around when the best time to introduce hair for your child is when it is right for you and them. I would feel your daughter is still a little young and this maybe a passing fancy, a 'Hatwithhair' maybe a nice alternative until she and you decide you want something that works for her on a few more lifestyle levels. In saying that I also think you know your child better than anyone else in this world, so if you feel a wig is going to be helpful for her, don't hold back, trust yourself and do what you feel.
In my experience with my daughter, her wig wearing has been extremely helpful in her journey with alopecia. I never wanted alopecia to define my daughter, but I also wanted her to understand it was a very important part of being who she is, never to be denied or hidden....sometimes this takes time at certain times of childrens development. Wearing a wig or any type of headcovering does not mean that your daughter is not going to accept she has alopecia....she already understand she has no hair...it's the socialisation around this fact that is the challenge.
Keep talking to your daughter and you will work out what you feel is the right thing to do for you both. Reading your post I understand without a doubt that you are doing a great job with your daughter (your a good mum)...keep trusting you and this can only work out for you both well.
Another thing you may like to do is contact the Norwegian Alopecia Support group (children). I have met with the families and children that attend - they are really lovely. The Norwegian Groups, are split into three age groups, children, young adult and adult. I would feel your daughter may feel very supported and cared for in that environment, beautiful parents and children attend.
If I can help further please feel free to message me.
Rosy
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Permalink Reply by Sara on
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My daughter lost all her hair around January of 2013. She was 6 at the time. We wore headbands as long as we could and then we went through the Hair Club for kids for a wig and i also bought a few online for her to wear while we waited. She has been fine with wearing it or not wearing it but she gets a ton of questions from the kids at school if she doesn't weart it. Her hair is now growing back and it's about 2 inches and came in brown-she had bright red hair prior- so after Christmas she wants to give up her wigs and just go in the hair she has. I am fine with whatever she choses to do and am very grateful that she has been handling it as well as she has been.
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