Bath time issues..

[worldcupbaby]

We are having a few issues with DD atm (posted on in toilet training too if anyone can help)

DD is 3 this weekend... she is terrified of having her hair washed... I dont mean like shes playing up or just being stubborn etc she is terrified...

We only wash her hair on a sunday, but all week she will ask 2 or 3 times a day if its hair wash night, and on a sunday she will keep saying she doesnt want a bath that night and wants to go straight to bed.

She screams, climbs out the bath, shakes, kicks, punches etc.

We've bought her goggles and hair wash hates, covered eyes with flannels and towels, tried different shampoos, let her pick her own shampoos etc, tried using different methods of hair washing, sponge, cup, shower head etc... tried different places, eg, bath, shower, over sink... nothing changes her mind!

Avoiding washing (as Ive had suggested) isnt an option or a route I want to take... does anyone have any other ideas? Please... Im willing to try anything!

During the day, when the weather is nice, take a big bowl or plastic box into the garden and take her barbies/dolls/teddies/my little ponies etc outside. Let her help fill up the bowl with ncie bubbly warm water and then do some role playing. Start off by saying they're having a bath and then perhaps you couold wash their hair and ask her to help. perhaps then, leave her a while to play it on her own and see what she does/says etc.

Does she go swimming? If yes, does she get her hair wet? If she doens't, perhaps you could get her enroled in some swim lessons where you don't go in with her but the teachers do. That way,she might be more tolerant when they do splashing/going under etc. Hope this helps?

I think that's a good idea. Mine is 3.8 and she has the same problem. Although, her problem tends to come and go.

I don't think there's anything you can do that will stop it all together. Speaking as someone who really has tried everything and she does shake aswell sometimes. I would say just keep going with what you're doing. Do you give her lots of praise when you manage to get her hair wet without her screaming. Even if it's just one jug full, or has that never happened. Have you tried getting in with her and letting her wash your hair at the same time?

We scrapped the bath and put her in the shower with one of us. That worked for about a week and then she wanted a bath again.

She's still not a fan of having her hair washed. She usually holds a towel in front of her face while we do it and she's not so bad.

Hope this helps.

Why is avoiding washing it not an option? What harm will come to her if you don't wash it?

DS2 went through this for a vlong time. TBH in the end I gave up washing his hair, it was too stressful for both of us! He's now fine with it. As Lacking pointed out, he didn't come to any harm, he didn't start attracting flies, his hair really didn't smell or anything, honest

Avoiding washing is not an option cos it didnt cure the problem... she just went months without it and then when she got her hair dirty and full of paint it was actually worse to suddenly try and wash that it ever was before we gave up on it.