What should I do to make my child apply lotion on his dry skin?

Question

I am a single mom with 1 son who is 13. Ever since the winter came around I felt he had dry skin on his entire body. Where we live the snow is packed and its very cold it, so thats probably what caused the dry skin. His skin almost feels like sandpaper its so bad.

I knew I had to get lotion, so I got Nivea Body lotion, its a new bottle easy to use and it is supposed to break down bad dry skin.

I give him short baths, and I tell him he has to apply lotion on his entire body after his bath right away. I only rub lotion on his back where he cant reach it.

But I noticed that the bottle of lotion is still just about full besides when I do his back, and his dry skin is still excatly the same and I found out he is obviously not even using lotion, his back has improved a little beacuse thats where I did it my self.

The next time I lotioned him head to toe and I thought after that he would want to do it him self. I don't know what to do anymore, please what I am to do?

ps. i dont bath him i run him baths lol

Answer 1

Ok, there are bigger issues here other than lotion. Your child is 13 and you run him baths? My 8 year old son gets himself in shower. He has been getting himself in the shower since he was 5. Your 13 year old son should not be taking baths. He needs to shower. He needs to turn the water on all by himself. You are raising an incompetent man who will need his wife to do everything for him because you won't make him do things himself. My 8 year old does his own laundry and makes his own breakfast and lunch. No he doesn't cook but he makes his own cereal or toast and he makes his own sandwiches or microwaves his own soup and whatnot. You need to cut the apron strings and make your son learn to care for himself. What is it going to be like for him when he turns 18 and moves out on his own and doesn't know how to do anything for himself? Do you want your son to fail in life? If you don't make him learn now he won't be prepared for life. If he doesn't want to put lotion on himself then let his skin crack and bleed and hurt and he'll figure it out.

Answer 2

First of all to get him to use lotion I know can be very hard. I have a guy friend that has a lot of dry skin and every time I offer to let him use my lotion he always turns it down and i always wondered why. I found out that it was because the lotion was sented./ Giving a guy sented lotion to put all over him will make him fell like he is girly. So to get a real guy to use lotion try going to a dermitologist and describe your sons condition to him. He will sugest the best type of lotion for him. Make sure you ask him to not sugest one that is sented. You can also use another tactic which is telling him the consequences of his dry skin. Dry skin can get so bad as to start cracking and bleading. Which can be very VERY painful. So describe to him that if he dosent put the lotion on then he can end up in pain from the dry skin. He will realize you are right and he will use the lotion. Hope I have helped!!!!!! Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

The lady said that she runs him baths, she doesn't bathe him. Sheesh. There's a difference. She's trying to help her son.

My advice to you. Go to a dermatologist, and see if there's something that they can give him. Make sure he's getting plenty of fluids, dry skin is a sign of dehydration. Vaseline will help. I use Johnson and Johnson's herbal naturals. It really is good and doesn't feel greasy.

He needs to be hydrating his skin and self. You could scare him by showing him an image of a person who is old and not taken good care of their skin and say," This is what you'll look like if you don't take care of your skin".

Best of luck and I hope you can get him to moisturize!

Answer 4

um, it is vedry odd i must say that you are giving him baths still, just keep doing it head to toe until he gets too embarassed and does it himself. Also, mark the bottle with a sharpie where the lotion reaches to the top of the bottle and say that if its still at the same line by tom, u r still gonna do it for him! GL

Answer 5

The fact that you said YOU give him short baths is really weird. I have to agree with a lot of the other people....he should be showering by HIMSELF. He's 13!! I have an 11 year old daughter and 9 year old son...who shower themselves, do their own laundry, get their own cereal in the morning and make their own lunch for school, and each have their own chores that they have to do everday. I know your original question was how to get your child to apply lotion himself...but it appears that you do everything else for him...why should he do it himself? You need to let him be responsible for himself...otherwise he'll grow up to be an unmotivated individual who will expect everyone to do everything for him...I feel sorry for his future girlfriend/wife....

Answer 6

Maybe take him to a dermatologist. He just might have something a little more severe and he/she would be able to prescribe or suggest a new kind of lotion. Plus he would be able to see that it is not just "Mom" concerned.

Until then, try to get him to take a bath with oatmeal soap or a milk bath...

Good luck! :O)

Answer 7

I say brivary or even try to talk to him about why he should use and possibly tell him what will happen if he doesn't lotion his skin

Answer 8

Run his bath and put baby oil in it, should do the trick

Answer 9

My mom for my hands sometimes puts vasaline on at night and then puts socks over them. Then i go to sleep and it sokes in.

Answer 10

if he's 13 you shouldnt be bathing him and rubbing him down. he's a grown boy and if he doesnt care he has dry skin than just leave him be.