My Son Won't Bathe

I know how you feel! My step daughter will be 10 in April and she refuses to take a bath. Like your son, she will stand in the shower with the water running for 30 minutes and hardly get wet. We have gotten to the point that we sit with her every night and make sure she washes. We bought a clear shower curtain so that we are sure that she gets clean. We also tell her the importance of bathing, but she doesn't seem to care. So, when it's my turn to sit in with her I instruct her on what to wash...wash your face, wash your neck, wash your arms, wash your body, and so on Several time when she just refuses, I will take the washcloth and wash her from head to toe, except her privates and butt, that I make her wash herself. It is embarrassing, but hopefully she will get tired of having someone sit in with her to make sure she bathes. I tell her all the time that it's sad that an almost 10 year old can't take a bath by herself, that she is acting like a big baby!!
As much as you may not like it, I would try by sitting in the bathroom. Maybe he will start taking a bath just to keep you out of the bathroom. I also tell my step daughter how she will begin to smell without bathing, how kids will make fun of her. I am even told her about how she could get infections.
Good luck, T.

FIRST,LET ME START BY TELLING YOU I ALWAYS TYPE IN ALL CAPS,I HAVE A NERVE CONDITION AND IT'S JUST EASIER FOR ME TO DO IT THAT WAY!WITH THAT SAID.HAVE YOU TRIED SCARE TACTICS LIKE YOU WILL END UP GETTING LICE A FORM OR BLOOD SUCKING CREATURE THAT IS FROM NASTINESS?OR SCABIES THAT COMES FROM NOT BEING CLEAN AND IT WILL CAUSE VERY ITCHY RASHES THAT CAN BE SEEN ALL OVER THE BODY INCLUDING THE FACE AND TURNS INTO BIG RUNNING SORES.AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK TRY TELLING HIM THAT THE SOCIAL SERVICES WILL TAKE HIM AWAY FROM YOU IF THE TEACHERS AT SCHOOL CALL AND TELL THEM THAT HE IS SMELLING AND LOOKS DIRTY.AND IF THAT FAILS THEN TRY TAKING HIM TO THE PEDIATRICIAN AND GETTING THEM TO TALK TO HIM AND EXPLAIN TO HIM WHY BATHING IS SO IMPORTANT. AND I'M SURE THAT PRETTY SOON HE'LL BE NOTICING GIRLS TELL HIM THAT GIRLS DON'T WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH A BOY THAT SMELLS LIKE STINKY BUTT!!GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR BOYS!!SINCERELY,T.

Maybe you can try a shower instead of a bath. He may find it more fun, if he is used to taking baths all the time. Something new...plus, maybe it will make him feel more like a big kid...maybe taking him and letting him pick out his own soap and shampoo that is his own, and showering! Good luck!!

My first reaction when I began to read your post was just throw him in the tub with his clothes on. My mother did it to me once and after that I knew she met business and never gave her a problem about getting in the tub again.

Then as I read on I began to wonder if there was a deeper issue going on with your son. The fact that he puts his hands in the water but not his whole body was red light for me. My first question is: Does he like to go swimming in the summer or run through sprinklers. If the answer is yes then I think he is just trying to be obstinate and I would go ahead and try putting him in the tub with his clothes on. If the answer is no, I would start watching your son more closely. It may be the feeling of a shower that he doesn't like. What else does he not like to feel that you have noticed.

I hate to even mention this but it could be the first sign of austism. As slight as it might be, it still might be there and it might even be the beginning of something much bigger.

The first thing I would do is ask him why he doesn't want to bathe and then probe him from there. If you can't get to the bottom of it, I would take him to his pediatrician.

Hope this helps.
K.

Our oldest is 12 and has become lazy this past year. He takes a shower all right but hates the combing his hair and brushing! So we told him if you want to act like a baby we will treat you like a baby. We then proceeded to comb his hair for him and stand there while he brushed his teeth, my husband sometimes doing it for him. He hated it so much that he does everything great now, hoping we won't be back in the bathroom with him.Ask your son if he wants to take a shower now instead of a bath. If not resort to cleaning him for a couple of weeks. I know you mentioned a younger son, just put them in the bath together and wash them both up. If your younger son plays toys in the tub I wouldn't allow the older one to play also. I hope this helps and from my understanding all boys go through this phase, if you just continue to be consistent it will pass and he will be clean!!

I know someone has already mentioned this but letting him take a shower instead might help. And also letting him pick the soaps is a good idea too. Good luck!

no bath, no TV, no desserts, make him bathe. Pick him up and put him in the water or tell him you will have to tell his teacher. she will help. It is a health issue..see school nurse.