How do I rinse shampoo off my son's head during a bath?

Question

He's almost 14 months old. He refuses to lean back (seems scared), and doesn't like it when I cover his eyes to take the shampoo out. I have one of those pitchers that goes against the head, but it won't work well since he won't lean back. He cries out of fear/discomfort if water goes in his eyes! What do I do? What has worked well for you parents?

Answer 1

I put stickers on the ceiling above our son's bath tub. I tell him to look at them while I rinse his hair. Before that I just used my hand and placed my thumb and index finger on either side of his forehead to block to soapy water. They also sell visors that block it.

Answer 2

I think a lot of kids have the same fears at bath time (mine was one).

Use "tear-free" shampoo, show him the bottle explain to him its special shampoo that won't sting his eyes (and be EXTRA careful not to get it near them just in case) and use a wash cloth to sponge/rinse the shampoo out of his hair. That way he only has to lean back a little bit if at all.

You could also try letting him cover his own eyes with a cloth (or help you cover them), something soft and dry rather than using your hands. This may or may not work, but worth a try.

I know it takes a bit longer, but going slowly and carefully using this method, you should be able to get the job done.

Answer 3

They're not going to tilt their heads back for a couple more years. I wash my sons hair with Johnson's Buddies Instant Foam Easy Rinse Shampoo, yellow bottle, pump on top. It's out of their hair in one rinse! Before I even use water, I use my hand to wipe as much of the suds off as I can. Then I hold my hand at his hairline, high up on his forehead, then pour a small cup of water on the sides and back of his head. I used a really wet washcloth to get the shampoo off the top of his head. Have a dry washcloth handy to dry his face. That shampoo smells great, cleans well, isn't harsh, and rinses out very easily. try it.

Hope this helps. Just remember, it's a phase. It gets easier.

Answer 4

I bathe my daughter with me. When it comes to rinsing, she lays her head back on my belly, and I use a cup of her choosing, or a washcloth to rinse the shampoo out. I cup my hand at ther hair line on her forehead to stop excess water from falling in her eyes. All the while, I say to her, "Am I being careful?" "Am I doing a good job?"
I've done this with her since she was about 10 months old. She is now 2 1/2

Good luck!

Answer 5

Try folding a dry washcloth and putting it against his forehead, just below the hairline. If you can get him to tilt his head even a litlle bit (tape a fun picture for him to look at on the ceiling?) then you can rinse it by pouring from a cup. This is what my parents did with all of us.

You might try placing a dry washcloth as above to keep water out of his eyes, and then squeezing water from a 2nd washcloth over his head. I have not tried this, but it might work.

Answer 6

You've gotten lots of great ideas. To tell you the truth, my son didn't tilt his head back till after he was 2. Then I told him if he didn't look up it'd get in his eyes and that's now enough to keep him looking up. Before that, I always rinsed his hair out using a wet washcloth. I'd get it sopping wet and squeeze it on his head. It was enough water to do the job, but not enough to make it get into his eyes. They make soft visors they can wear to keep water out of their eyes. I also tried using a shower handle, that can help if it doesn't scare him, but the washrag trick worked best for me.

Answer 7

My daughter is 14 months and every time i rinse shampoo i tell her to show me where is the light (which is right above her bathtub), that way she put her head back and I'm rinsing without any problem, any drop that fall anyway on her face-she smiling and trying to lick them.

Answer 8

This method requires having a laptop. Just download a cartoon your son will enjoy, ask your partner to hold the laptop high up in front of the child with the cartoon running - he'll tilt his head up for long enough for you to rinse off the shampoo and then some :)
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Answer 9

Try hooking up one of those shower heads with a handle on it. That way you can control the volume of the spray and where you put it. With a pitcher, when he wiggles, the water can run down into his eyes. Hope this helps. Oh, and you can pick up one of those sprayers at just about any hardware/Walmart/Lowe's store.

Answer 10

They don't like it because they don't like the water in their face. This is what worked REALLY well for me: The Shampoo Rinse Cup from Onestepahead.com

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/86186/442788/117.html

Answer 11

Get a cup and pour the water over his head. Have a towel ready and wipe his eyes as soon as you are done. Some things need to be done, whether he cries or not.