She won't bath!!!!

[EmziixBo0o]

My 2 and a half year old wont bath at all! First it was she didn't want her hair washed, then it was a case of she didn't want to bath on her own.. So she use to ask to come into the bath when I was.. & now she just don't get in the bath at all! Anybody know of any tricks or tips? I think she won't get in because she knows ill wash her hair! She got in the bath yesterday for my dad then started crying when he got the flannel!p

 

[CormacksGirl]

Hiya hun!! Maybe try making bathtime more exciting, I throw some glowsticks in the bath and switch off the lights Adam loves this!!! As for the hair washing I'm not sure what to suggest maybe one of those shampoo rings you put on their head? Hope you find a solution soon!x

 

[DCS]

We have lots of toys in the bath. And recently started letting lo put the bubble bath stuff in. And he loves it. Also could try bath crayons. Even I love them. Or the bath wash pain stuff.
With the hair washing thing, isit because she is scared of getting it in her eyes? I hate shampoo/ water in my eyes, and I properly freak out. But when I was younger my aunty used to give me a " magic flannel" just before ahe would wash my hair she would warn me. Then she would hand me the magic flannel folded up and ask me to hold it over my eyes, she would then sing my fave song while she rinsed it out. Worked a treat. I refused to wash my hair without my magic flannel for years after that.

Also could you maybe ask her to bath her fave dolly and wash her hair, even let dolly use magic flannel.
Honestly, I have no real
experiance, just suggestions.

 

[EmziixBo0o]

Ah thanks girls!! Definitely will try the glow sticks & also the magic flannel!! I think she is scared of it getting in her eyes if I'm honest! X

 

[DaisyBee]

Megan has been going through this and here is my advice. STOP washing her hair!!! Lol really! Get her excited about the water again. We started saying let's play in the tub and no washing and Megan started more excited about being in the water again. She was so scared of washing hair and she also didn't want it getting in her eyes and ears. She was seriously petrified of it. She needs to get over the fear of it before she will feel safe in the tub again.

We had tried making her wash her hair, or sneaking it in, but things were just getting worse. So she has been having playtime in the tub, we put bubbles in and got some fun new toys. No soap, no shampoo. I didn't touch her at all, no pouring water from me, etc.

Last night she took a bath and she purposefully would get her hair wet by herself. She layed in the tub and her whole back of her head was in the water, and while sitting she would put her top of her head in the water. Last week I did use shampoo once. It's huge progress for her. It won't be long before I'll be able to use shampoo regularly again. And she feels like bath is fun again. No fear. It's gone from being stressful to fun. No pressure from us has helped a lot.

 

[willow25]

Ive had the same problem, I now wash her hair downstairs, wet it, put shampoo and conditioner on it, then lie her on the worktop on a duvet holding her with one hand and rinsing her hair with the other, it takes minutes and means that bath time is just a fun time !

 

[Fluxuspoem]

Hi its a phase that they go through, my little one hated a few things:
1. wetting washing her hair and water going on her face : Solution, we had a little towel and the moment water touched her face we would towel her face dry, eventually she would ask for the towel herslef when the face got wet. Solution two: taught her to lean back so water doesnt go on her face

2. Scared of the shower head : Solution: wash her with a cup - less screaming or fear

3. Hated the feeling of sponging, we just dont use sponge or flanel, she is oversensitive so we are just using our hands ot wash her.

Most importantly we did try to minimise baths for a while, instead of every night we did 2 a week and a lot of dry washing till we introduced new toys and exciting activities in the bath. Also I would second not washing the hair for a while till the negative feeling goes.

Its all sensory stuff, some children are more sensitive then others once we start miminising what is upsetting her, bath times will be fun again

 

[Mrs Doddy]

Yep I have this problem to "no bath mummy" is all I get !!