Hair Ye, Hair Ye!

It has been said that the moment a child is born, a mother is also born. A woman may exist for many years, but she only becomes a mother once she gives birth to her child. And indeed, I'm sure a lot of new moms would love to tell their babies: "Oh come on, we're both new here!"

Being a new parent can be very overwhelming, to say the least. There is always one more new thing to learn, one more lullaby to hum, one more tantrum to hush, one more poop to scoop, one more hour of snooze to lose, and inevitably, one more "I told you so" from your own mother. But what you get in exchange is the privilege of experiencing what could be the greatest love you'll ever know.

It's easy to get distracted by the many needs of the newest member of your family. This is not as easy as getting a new kitchen appliance. Babies don't come with a manual, unfortunately. Even so, motherhood will not be the exciting journey that it is without the challenges along the way. To get at least one hurdle out of the way, here's a little 101 about taking care of baby hair.

Caring for baby hair is often overlooked. Admit it--you don't really think much about putting baby hair accessories on your child's three strands of hair. While your baby may have very little hair, it's very sensitive and must be cared for properly.

Be gentle. As infants generally have very little hair, there is no need to wash it everyday. Do it on an as-needed basis or every few days. Be very careful not to go obsessive-compulsive on your child. Applying pressure to the soft spot on your baby's head will endanger her.

Bye bye tears. A lot of babies and small children hate to have their hair washed. One reason could be that their shampoo has stung their eyes before and they are afraid that it might happen again. One solution is to make sure you buy a shampoo that is especially formulated for babies, made with mild ingredients that won't sting.

Hush little baby. When shampooing your baby's hair, gently recline her while holding her in the bath. But brace yourself because when in this position, babies experience a reflex and get frightened. Just make sure you hold your baby securely and put her at ease by speaking in a comforting tone.

So the baby hair is clean, but the mother's job does not end there. Of course, you have to style it! Especially if it's a baby daughter we're talking about, a mother can never be passionate enough to make her child look her best (and maybe show her off in the neighborhood afterwards).

But your baby's barely-there hairstyle isn't doing her any favors, as all she keeps getting are praises of how adorable HE is and how HE takes after HIS father. Sacrilege! Even when she is decked out in pink, some people can be so darn clueless. A neon sign saying "SHE'S A GIRL!" might be out of your budget. A cheaper solution: baby hair accessories.

Here clippy, clippy. Aside from the usual baby items, a lot of boutiques now offer hair accessories specifically designed for babies' wispy, delicate hair. Look for brands whose accessories stay in place even with just a few strands of hair. No Slippy Hair Clippy, for example, has baby hair clips that are wrapped in Swiss velvet, so they are soft against your baby's head. A safe small magnet underneath the clips ensures a non-slip clasp that doesn't tug at her hair. This spares you from having to clip and re-clip and re-clip those little things.