How Old Was Your Child When They Stopped Using "Tear-free, Kid" Shampoo?

Updated on September 08, 2011
D.P. asks from Beverly Hills, CA
27 answers

I am asking this question for my son.
He believes he is "too old" and "too manly" (he's 8) for kid shampoo.
Do your kids still use tear-free kid shampoos? Or just regular shampoo?
Any suggestions for "manly" products for him for the bath/shower?
Thanks!

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So What Happened?

So...I guess it's beyond time to switch. He loves Axe Body Wash and spray. He's even begun using a little splash of the AquaVelva after shave now & then. Nothing like a well-groomed man!
He'll be very happy to see these answers today after school!
Thanks, Mamas!

Featured Answers

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

My son's 12 and I don't think he cares what he washes with.
He's good with what ever I get him to use, although I think he'd be just as happy using dish soap on his hair.

4 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Hmmm....I think it was age 11 or 12, when I got some beloved Axe products for my oldest son and girly stuff for my daughter in their Christmas stockings. Axe is awful but it's what all the tween/teen boys use.

Unless you want him smelling like the pimp of 3rd grade, I would stick with something neutral and basic and clean smelling - maybe something totally gender neutral (like Suave) or something with "sport" in the product name.

3 moms found this helpful

D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi, Denise:
Take him to the store and
let him pick out what we
would like to use.
Just a thought.
D.

2 moms found this helpful

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

Actually now. I've switched to a sulfate free shampoo and conditioner ...I forget the name but it is with coconut oil etc. Kids are 6, 4, 20 months. I make sure they cover their eyes with a washcloth. No O. has had a problem so far. Their hair smells great and is shiny..and for my daughter she's especially happy because this shampoo and conditioner helps manage the tangles in her long hair. While I forget the name you can get it at Target and Walmart. It is in a brown bottle

3 moms found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

If he's asking, it's time. As long as your son will keep his hair clean, let him try another shampoo. Warn him what happens when it gets in his eyes - he''ll find out by experience anyway.

Ask him if he has a brand preference (maybe he doesn't, but doesn't want to use "baby" stuff). If he doesn't, try him on a basic shampoo that doesn't smell like flowers. Or let him try his daddy's manly shampoo.

2 moms found this helpful

B.F.

answers from Toledo on

Buy him a trial size bottle of "manly" shampoo and see how he does. That way you dont have ahuge bottle you dont know what to do with if it doesnt work out. My DD's are 3 and 6 and I still buy tear free for them.

2 moms found this helpful
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C.D.

answers from Washington DC on

My son is 9 and still uses the kid shampoo. I see no harm in it. When he's ready for something more manly he'll let me know I'm sure.

2 moms found this helpful
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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

My kiddos stopped using the baby shampoo around age 2. I just used mine on them.
In regards to "manly" products my boys use their dad's Old Spice body/hair wash or my Philosophy - LOL either they smell like musk or Birthday cake.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

2 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

My daughters (6 and 7) use the same shampoo I do, and have been since they were probably about 3 and 4... until the baby came, and I was buying tear free stuff again, and they started using it. My 7 year old still uses my shampoo and conditioner, the 6 year old likes the Johnson and Johnson, then uses leave in spray detangler.

Maybe bring your son to the store with you and let him pick something out. Head and Shoulders make less feminine smelling shampoos that are still pretty gentle :)

2 moms found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

I never used kid stuff on my kids. They never got soap in their eyes. They probably learned early on to shut their eyes. ;)

2 moms found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

11 or 12?

I'm not kidding! Isn't that nuts?

:P

2 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Houston on

My daughter had just turned 3 when we stopped. She keeps her eyes shut tightly! :) It makes her hair softer to use my shampoo/conditioner.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter is 6 and just made the switch from Suave Kids to Dove after a visit to the hairdresser who told us it would make her hair more manageable and she was right!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.F.

answers from Youngstown on

My older boys are 9 and 6. My 6 yo no longer uses "baby" shampoo. Hasn't for the last couple years or so. He can keep his eyes closed so no soap gets in. I buy them Axe body wash and body spray(they love to smell like men!) We probably have two scents going at O. time. They just use my shampoo. It's treseme for curly hair but they hardly have any hair so it doesn't matter what they use as long as they clean their scalp.My 9 yo was about 6 when he decided he wanted to use "man" shampoo.

2 moms found this helpful

H.G.

answers from Dallas on

I stopped by 2 yrs. I think 8 is too old too. My reasoning is the older my kids got the more they sweat and I just don't think the baby shampoos clean good enough, ya know? Good luck mama

2 moms found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Savannah on

My son is not old enough yet (still a baby!) but when I was little, I used regular shampoo around 1st grade or so. Unless there is another issue to consider such as sensitive skin or something like that, I'd let him try regular and if he has problems you can switch back.

Edited to Add:
You are very lucky your little boy wants to be well groomed! At that age my brother hated to shower and would even try to "trick" my mom by just running the water!

2 moms found this helpful

C.W.

answers from Lynchburg on

Hi denise-

I ought to use tear free as I am always getting out of the shower with a blood shot eye ball from a shampoo crisis!

I might be 'inclined' to get some 'manly' shampoo bottle...and place tear free IN it if it is really an issue...

Subterfuge...although not generally recommended...can sometimes be a mother's friend!

Best Luck!
michele/cat

2 moms found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Tallahassee on

If your son is asking to switch, then I would let him.

My daughter is 5 and she still uses Suave Kids tear-free shampoo. I tried to switch her a few months ago but she got shampoo in her eyes and that was the end of that for awhile. It doesn't really matter to me what we use on her hair. We'll switch whenever she's ready.

2 moms found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from Cincinnati on

My son is 4 1/2. Currently, he is using the kid shampoo. However, we plan on making this the last bottle. Once it's gone, he will start using the regular shampoo. He is doing pretty well at showering by himself (we still set the water temp for him) and we believe he will be fine.

2 moms found this helpful

B.S.

answers from Lansing on

My girls are almost 6 and 4, we haven't used kid shampoo at our house for well over a year now.

1 mom found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Greg and Nicky still use it and they are 9 and 11...haven't found O. that isn't too stringent for their hair...

Greg would like to try the Old Spice for men....oh my!!! Not sure if I'm ready for that - but when this bottle is done - they have the Old Spice lined up....

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

My kids are 2 and 4 and sometimes use regular shampoo, but as soon as it gets into their eyes (like others have said), it's back to the baby shampoo. I think if he's asking, he's old enough to switch. Plus if he's washing his own hair, he should be able to choose what kind (if he doesn't want the 'baby' kind anymore).

1 mom found this helpful

K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

Good question~ My son will be 5 in a few weeks and I still use it... Although I use normal conditioner on his hair.. He has very sensitive skin, so I think I'll continue to use kids body wash, until he complains he's too old also :0)

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

i never used it, i was just super careful and when they hardly had any hair id just use water to clean it, maybe a dab of conditioner.

I think 8 is old enough definitely

1 mom found this helpful

S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

Our son is almost 4, we stopped using kids shampoo on him about 6 months ago. His hair is super thick and it doesn't get it clean at all. With our 2 year old we use both, just depends if it's a quick bath or play time, if she's filthy or sweaty.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

Go ahead and get him adult shampoo. If it gets in his eyes, well, maybe he'll see he's not ready after all. My girls have been using whatever is in the bathroom since they were about 5 and 7. I still buy the 2 in 1 "baby" shampoo out of habit. But we were just at my mom's house last weekend and they used what was in there (I think it was Pert Plus). Personally, I think he's plenty old enough.

1 mom found this helpful
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