tangled curls cry for help

I`m the very straight-haired mother of a two-and-a-half year old curly daughter. I always wanted curly hair, but I am not so sure anymore...
Anyway, she has very fine blonde hair that is curly at the bottom. Makes little ringlets. And it gets tangled like crazy. Being a toddler, she refuses having her hair combed, it must hurt a lot. Often I just let it be until she almost gets dreadlocks, then we wash it, put a lot of conditioner in, and I pull it apart gently by hand. Wash the conditioner out, put in a little more, and leave it in. Then, out of the bath, she will let me comb it. Blow-drying with the conditioner in it takes ages, so we let it air-dry for the most part. It is beautiful hair, but next morning, it is already tangled, and the vicious circle starts again.

I know, I know, we should just cut it short until she learns to put up with combing.

But I am wondering whether there is anything to do or put on it that will help it stay untangled or just less tangled? I figure she will have this problem for the rest of her life, might as well start dealing with it now. Thanks!