Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Bath hater. Need some advice

16 replies

Vitotitto · 10/08/2017 11:56

DS is 2. We used to have normal bath time since he was born and he was really enjoying it (despite having mild eczema and dry skin, so I never used babbles).

Around 5 months things have changed. He didn't like washing his hair that much before, but then he just started to hate it. It was getting more and more complicated to wash his hair. He screams like we are tourturing him, even when it's just a water!

So our routine now - when he has done poo, I'm telling him let's go to bathroom. He happily goes. We wash his bottom, it's all ok if I'm leaving him in his T-shirt or top.
If I'm taking it off he instantly starts crying and ask to go out of a bathtub. Confused
So I'm washing him twice a day after a poo, and warm flannel in the evening for the top and hair.

His hair rarely looks dirty (guess it's the dry skin type thing too) but still we have to wash it somehow.

No problems with hands, etc.
He also hates when I'm in the shower or taking a bath.

Today I needed a warm bath for some time (UTISad) and he was crying (more like a moaning) near bathroom so dad had to pick him up and was standing near me all the time I've been there.

We always talk and try to explain its nice and a lot of fun.

What we've tried so far..

Bubble machine (he loves it)
All kind of appropriate bath toys
Favorite toys
Water mills
Bathing with him
YouTube videos kids playing in the bath.
Eye shield

I'm getting a bit stressed with this.

What else could we try?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
Vitotitto · 10/08/2017 11:59

Sorry for the mistakes, using my phone

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 10/08/2017 12:01

Shower him take the shower head down stand him in the empty bath it is quicker and less screaming toilet wipes for his bottom

Original poster
Vitotitto · 10/08/2017 12:13

@MrsJayy thank you. Yes we do it like this eventually. He happily wash his bottom, but with hair and face it looks like it's escalating further.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Families General parenting
BertieBotts · 10/08/2017 12:22

If he likes showers that is a solution at least for now. Wash his face with a flannel. For hair it's more difficult but what we used to do was just do it rarely (like once a month! Blush) and just do it quickly get it over with and lots of cuddles afterwards. I think I'd go for the bath method rather than using the shower head so he doesn't become afraid of the shower head.

When he was 5 we managed a combination of escalating stages (starting with pouring water onto his back and moving slowly forwards) with rewards for each stage and a big reward for finally allowing the whole hair wash without panicking or complaining. We possibly could have tried this earlier but didn't think of it until then.

Short hair helps as it's less to wash. Does he like swimming at all? I wonder if he'd let you bath him with one of those wetsuit type swimsuits on? And DS became much better with showers after experiencing swimming pool showers which for some reason were less scary??

millifiori · 10/08/2017 12:27

DS was like this. It's (for him) a sensory overload issue (HFA). It got easier when i told him he was allowed to wash his own hair. I helped him, but the sensation of his own fingers in his hair and his own choice of when his scalp gets wet seemed far less scary to him. Still (aged 15) needs encouragement and prompting to bathe. One thing we did though, was keep the routine going each night so that he didn't turn into one of those water-refusing smelly teens.

Could you tell DS he can wash his own hair? Ask him how he'll do it and try and put him in charge of the experience as much as possible. May not work at all, but worth a try.

MrsJayy · 10/08/2017 12:41

19yr old dd used to let me wash her hair about once a week at this age i used a jug in the bath she used to put a dry flannel over her face was such a bloody palava sometimes you just need to go for it and let them be upset for a few minutes

MrsJayy · 10/08/2017 12:43

I used plastic tumblers let dd put water over her own head.

Cowbella · 10/08/2017 13:36

Someone on mumsnet recommended lush's lavender robot bath bombs for kids... he can put it in the bath and watch it whizz around until it dissolves...

medicalmumof4 · 10/08/2017 13:54

Why do you need to wash his hair? I rarely wash any of mine and they all have beautiful shiny locks.

The whole process sounds quite regimented. Can you not just run him a bath and let him splash about with some toys?

sycamore54321 · 10/08/2017 15:46

Could you let him play splashy games with a big basin of water on the kitchen floor, washing his toys etc to make positive associations with water?

Original poster
Vitotitto · 10/08/2017 20:19

@BertieBotts thank you. Well we had spectacular pool experience. Grin he was crying a lot, even when I just tried to wash myself and wash him (just body, not touching hair at all) so staff allowed not to wash him prior to the pool Blush. At that time it wasn't so bad at home though. We gave up the pool later as he wasn't happy going there.

@millifiori thank you. It want work unfortunately. All what I can do is just to wash him really fast, and then comfort with cuddles. I don't like it, but verbally it's not negotiable yet.

@MrsJayy yes, that's basically what we have now.

@Cowbella oh that's interesting. We gonna try it! Thank you

@medicalmumof4 we don't have strict regime at all. He used to play in a water. And it was not a problem to wash his chest and neck at least. At some point, he refused washing his hair. He figured out if he is still in his T-shirt, there's nothing to worry aboutGrin so we don't have problems washing bottom , I just wanted to bring back this joy of splashing and playing in the water. I'll leave his hair alone I think (will use flannel for now)

@sycamore54321 I'll try this too, thank you!

There was no problems, by the way, in his toddler pool, during hot days.

OP posts:
LeonoraFlorence · 12/08/2017 22:32

One thing that really worked for us when DD3 went through a phase of not wanting a bath was buying one of the inflatable baby bath ducks by munchkin. We put that in the bath filled with water and her toys and when she became more comfortable after a few nights she asked to climb out of the duck and into the big bath. Also made a huge thing of going to choose new bath toys (Tomy cone maker) but I'm sure you've tried that!
Definitely recommend the duck though, I felt really worried and tried everything! She loves the bath again now Smile

LeonoraFlorence · 12/08/2017 22:34

Would he go in with you or daddy? Are they any siblings/ cousins he could go in the bath and have a play with? It's so hard, I know a bit how you feel though DD was less extreme by the sounds of it.

Believeitornot · 12/08/2017 22:38

He doesn't need a bath and hair wash every day. I'd just go for once or twice a week with a wipe wash every day and shower maybe every few days.
With eczema you'll just make his skin worse. He's 2, not a sweaty adult.

Mine are 5&7 and we are moving to showers now but I stopped bathing them daily as babies when I realised it was destroying their eczema prone skin.

angea09 · 12/08/2017 22:44

My DD same. Eczema and would scream like we were torturing her.
Agree with previous posts - once a week baths if they have eczema. Eventually she got used to it - first would only stand then gradually put more and more of her body in over several weeks/months. Now loves baths. I'd just relax and give it a try once a week

Original poster
Vitotitto · 15/08/2017 21:16

Thank you so much ladies!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page