Bath Time - Chicago,IL

Hi M.,

I bought one of those little pitchers with the soft rubber part (like the mom below referenced) but my son freaks out at being tilted backwards--I think he feels out of control). My sister's three kids love the pitcher, though, so I guess it just depends. My son is 2 now, but ever since he was a baby, the only way he would let me rinse his hair calmly is with a washcloth. I just keep rinsing it out in the tub and squeezing out the excess water over and over. It takes more times over his head than simply rinsing with water would, but he's calm, he doesn't feel off kilter, and doesn't get shampoo in his eyes. I look forward to using the pitcher some day, but for now, I just use a washcloth and everyone's happy.

Another suggestion one that worked for us with my daughter, was to put a sticker on the ceiling and tell her to look at it until I was done rinsing . This ensured her head was in the right position.

My daughter had the same issue and the only think thatworked for us was a visor like head protector that you put around there head and it keeps the water from there eyes. we got ours at Target for a couple bucks. here is a example i found just to give you an example http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&it...

What about trying a mommy and me gym and swim type class at the YMCA? The time spent in the pool with you may get her used to the water to make it through bath time. My son never hated bath time but once we started swimming classes at 6 months he started to really enjoy bath time. Good luck!

My daughter went through that too. It used to break my heart :(. I started letting my daughter "help" me wash her hair and rinse it. It took a few weeks but it really helped. Hang in there. It wont last forever.

my now 3 year old divine use to do the same thing i would make it in to a game i would splash her a laugh then i would make her splash me after a little bit i washed her hair when the water got in her face she laughted and splashed me try it i hope it helps

I bought something at walmart that basically is a cup with a handle that has a soft spot so it can go against the childs forehead and then tipped back and the water does not go in the childs face. I use it on my 9 year old daughter who still freaks out if she gets water on her face, and also on my toddler aged son since he was old enough to sit upright. It takes a little more control with the younger one, I still use one hand on his cheek to hold him in place( I try to tilt his head back a bit if I can) , then one hand on the handle of the cup/bucket. I will say if you can use a shower that has the hose attachment that is adjustable, ours can be set really low, and some days that is easier. As soon as you can teach her to hold a wash cloth over her eyes that helps, I got my daughter to start pretty early with peek a boo ( I use a dry wash cloth) She has always fussed a lot about hair washings. Also if it is too stressful in the tub try washing her hair in the sink, especially if you have one of the hand held sprayers...I used to let my daughter lay on her back on the counter with a towel under her neck, Never walk away! But you have to be creative sometimes! = ) Lots of luck
B.

Have you tried the shower? Out of necessity (my hubby works out of town, so I have to get me & baby ready every morning), I started taking her in the shower with me when she was only 5 or 6 months old. She doesn't mind the water spray on her head (she crawls back and forth across the tub by herself). She gets a little slippery, but I haven't dropped her yet--and it makes thing so much easier on me! I can just let her sit in the tub and play while I clean up, I wash and rinse her, I let her sit while I dry and wrap up, then I dry and wrap her up. She still loves her "fun night" baths, but she enjoys the shower and it gets us both clean in record time!

Hi M., I know you feel horrible washing her hair and she is freaking out. My son is 3 years old and just now he is easing up but still cries when i wash his hair.
When he was smaller he would have an absolute FIT when water even spayed on his hair. He has gone with unwashed hair for 2 weeks. My Mom, would cry with him because he was so tearful, the whole thing was just too much. My husband was NEVER any help, so he about to be ex in matter of weeks. Males in general feel incompetent when it comes to babies or lazy your choice. To me it's always about desire to do something.

Anyway, I always wash his body first let him play and not until the very end wash his hair. Babies get over it, I think we get more traumatized sometimes than they are. Afterwards I ask him how he feels, and now he tells me he feels "shiny" and actually seems to really enjoy being clean.
Try to focus on the positive even if you have to fake it and the kids will pick up on that. Most babies hate getting their hair washed so don't be too hard on yourself, it will work out.

I used this foam pad that I got from walmart and it kept my children and now my grandchild from slipping. I was able to lay them back and rinse their hair without a problem. The foam makes laying back comfortable, safe and it only cost about $4.00 so it is affordable. It is yellow and has the shape of a babies head,shoulders and upper body carved out so you can see how to lay the child. I just stopped using the one for my granddaughter when she was about 2 1/2. Now we have a Dora bath mat that keeps her from slipping. Hope this helps.

They sell these little visors for bathtime. Try babys-r-us or some other baby store. They worked for us.

Someone told me to try a pair of goggles like for swimming to keep the water out of her eyes!! My youngest one liked the idea of the goggles!! I think the sticker on the ceiling is a neat idea too!! Good Luck
LoriW. A SAHM with 4 kids ages 12,10,6 1/2 & 4 1/2
One possibly 2 with Aspergers ( high functioning autism)

Try the bath visor. I'm fortunate that my kids love the water, but my friend swears by this - you can buy online at One Step Ahead. Here is a link to it:
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

Good luck!

My trick is this. I shampoo my son's hair at the end of the bath. I rinse as much in the tub at the back of his head as I can without getting it in his face. Then when he gets out of the tub I wrap him in a towel (arms in - like a burrito). I then sit on the edge of the tub with him in my arms and his head over the tub - face up. I take a pitcher of water (fill this at the beginning of the bath) and pour it over his hair. It doesn't ever get in his eyes and he actually says it feels nice. My son is now 4 and I still do this. Good luck!

Hi M.!
My two boys are 10 ( almost 11 ) and 5, and both of my son's HATED getting water in their eyes. In my experience those bath hat thingies didn't work; however, I would tell them to look up as high as they can, and sometimes I would tape a picture on the ceiling above their head, and say look up at the sky, do you see the ( birdy, cloud, etc ) use your imagination here. I would then use a clean dry wash rag over there forehead and eyes, and tell them I'm going to rinse 8 times, and take the cup of water ( the bigger the cup the better ) and show them how many 8 times is first, then say back back back, good job, look at the clouds, or stars, good girl, etc etc, and then done, and clap together??? If water drips in their eyes, wipe it quickly and say how proud you are of her!! If they scream and throw and tantrum, explain that that is when the water gets in their eyes the worst, if they're calm, and look at the sky, it so much easier!! Hope this helps!! And know she'll grow out of it soon!! : )