How can I get my toddler in the bath to wash his hair he's terrified!?

Question

Every time I mention the word "Bath" my three year old son go's mad, I have trouble getting him into the bath and when he's in, he does a death roll like a croc to try to get out, as for washing his hair thats vertially impossable, he is more than happy to go in the swimming pool but he cant have a hair wash in there, I never had this problem with any of my other four children and I think im fighting a loosing battel. I will take any advice given. Thanks

Every time I mention the word "Bath" my three year old son go's mad, I have trouble getting him into the bath and when he's in, he does a death roll like a croc to try to get out, as for washing his hair thats vertially impossable, he is more than happy to go in the swimming pool but he cant have a hair wash in there, I never had this problem with any of my other four children and I think im fighting a loosing battel. I will take any advice given. Thanks I have tried the shower, toys me in with him, his siblings its just like he don't want to be clean his scalp now has dirt practically incrusted in it, its his first day at pre-school on monday and I would love him to be clean and tidy (even for just one day)

Answer 1

Get into your bathing suit, and hop in there with him! Make it seem more like a swimming pool. Buy some of those soap bath paints (that way it doesn't seem like he isn't getting into the tub to take a bath)and instead of telling him he's going to take a bath, tell him that he and you are going to make 'tub art'. Have some fun with him making 'tub art' and when you think he's relaxed, ask him if you can wash his hair if he washes yours, and have fun giving each other funny hair do's. It's worth a shot- it worked with me and my sister when she was little and refused to take baths.

Answer 2

I have a 2 yr old boy and a 4 yr old boy and something different works for each of them :)

The 4 yr old likes me to fold a DRY washcloth into a small rectangle (just large enough to fit over his eyes) that way when I am pouring the water on his hair he can hold the washcloth over his eyes so that it is protecting his eyes and his face (HATES having running/dripping water on his face)

The 2 yr old on the other hand is MUCH less cooperative (but then so was the 4 yr old when he was 2 LOL) he has a "bath visor" its a foam visor that looks like a hat without its top... when you wash the childs hair it keeps water away from their face.

As for the bath alone (no hair washing involved) try some of those "bath dyes" the ones that change the water color but dont stain your kid. Or the "bath crayons" theyre crayons made JUST for the bathtub so that the child can draw on the walls and such in the tub. Foam letters and shapes also work wonders as they can "magically" stick them to the wall and all of these are easy cleanup because none retain water that can get nasty. I also recommend (and yes this will be a pain but its worth the effort) letting him have a bath where you arent "bathing" him.... he just sits in the tub and plays, mommy close by but not touching him, washing him, washing hair, none of that... it will allow him to realize that the tub itself isnt scary :)
P.S. also very important (for the childs own security as he is adjusting) do not fill the tub above the childs belly button while he is sitting flat on his bottom (usually at that age youre talking about maybe 2 inches of water)

Answer 3

I think hes scared of the water and shampoo going in his eyes, do you tell him to close his eyes? Don't flood him with water thats quite scary, use drops at first and then increase it gradually.

Don't use the word bath anymore, change it to something else and don't make the fact that he doesn't like it into a big issue, pretend you haven't noticed and that each time when you try something new, the objective should be to have fun, not to wash his hair.

Take him to the swimming pool and play games with him there, like you could throw some rings to him (and your other kids) and see who is the first to go under and get them.

Have water fights with him in the garden.

Maybe let him wash your hair while you're in the bath. And then he can wash his own hair?

Buy one of those fun shampoo bottles, like action man or something and let him put it on.


(by the way I don't know if its ok for a 3 year old to do some of this, as I don't have any kids myself, but if its ok, then try it)

But don't worry because he will get over it. Good luck!!

Answer 4

ask him some questions find out why he doesn't like his hair washed some kids hate getting water/soap in there eyes other hate the feeling of water over there heads. get in the bath and with him and show him how to lie in the water with his head back and have his hair washed, no water can get onto his face this way. Let him play if all fails wet a flannel with water and wash his hair with it, don.t worry about shampoo this will wash his hair just as good for now. Give him time they do come around . also if you take him swimming wash his hair in the shower buy some kids shampoo that want sting his eyes.

Answer 5

As with anything that children show resistance to you need to slow things down and try to advance in small steps. Try firstly to get him in the bath without all the fuss. Still make him have a bath but don't try to wash his hair and do not try to negotiate with him. I suspect that however this started out it has now turned into a fun game which he is winning when you react, so don't! The game will cease to be fun when there is only one player! Once you can get him to sit in the bath calmly try washing his hair but take it slow and tell him what you are doing don't try to sneak up on him. He obviously isn't scared of the water so I think that once you break this pattern you should find that he will be fine. You will need to do this over a period of days or possibly weeks. You might find it easier to get one of his siblings or Dad to bath him occasionally in the meantime as he might not play up for them in the same way, and might be able to get his hair washed. If this is the case you will know that this is a game he is playing with you. Hope this helps, good luck!

Answer 6

This will pass, but in the meantime, consider washing his hair in the sink, (hairdresser style) before his bath. That way he won't associate anything negative with the experience of the bath. When he gets in, give him lots of toys. Distract him with those bath fingerpaints or bath crayons (both made of soap) or maybe tub letters or boats or something. After the bath is a pleasant experience for a while, you can eventually broach the hair washing thing. Another help is an inflatable pillow and letting him have control over the shampoo.

Answer 7

Try using your old baby bath that you first used when he was just born, just sit it in the sitting-room at first and ask him what toy he would like to take with him, you said he will go in the swimming pool so why not let him wear his swim shorts in there too? My daughter hates the water going in her eyes too but I bought a little rubber rim cap that stops the water going onto her face, I got it from the supermarket. She still cries sometimes but I just ignore her and usually have to hold her down until the job is done. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, now and again I might just say 'tuff, you're getting this done and thats that'. I know she will eventually grow out of it.

Answer 8

Mandy said most of what I was going to say, will just add this. He may be worried about water in his eyes. Once he's happy to play in the bath, get a hair washing shield, probably mothercare or boots may have them. It is like a huge hat brim, with no top, so the hair is exposed. The brim is elasticated so it grips the head, and no water gets onto the face. I have ultra sensitive eyes, water clear water hurts, soap, shampoo, etc really burn, i have every sympathy with him.

Hope you soon get this worked out. :-)

Answer 9

Perhaps you could try putting some of his pool toys in his bath or ive seen these bath crayons where kids can scribble on anything in the bath and it just rinses off. Maybe you could try running a really shallow bath just enough for him to splash in and gradually add more water everytime he has a bath. Goodluck

Answer 10

My three-year old was like that. A girl though. She slowly started seeing reason after i told her i would chop her hair off and she would not have long hair like her friends. They should allow a hair wash in the swimming pool shower though. If they don't you should complain. How are you supposed to get the pool chemicals out of your hair?