My 2 year old won't take a shower or a bath!?

Question

My step son Micah is terrified of water on his head. He won't take a shower or a bath without a fight! He kicks, hits and screams at the top of is lungs! He will hold his ears, so I thought maybe the water was hurting his ears so I got him ear plugs! That didnt help. I tryed takin a shower with him and we both ended up falling! Baths don't work either! Me and his dad talked to his mom about it and she told us to try washing his hair in the sink, he busted his forehead open on the faucet trying to get away? I just dont have any more ideas on what to do? Someone I need advice.....

The thing is hes ok in the bath as long as i dont wash his hair he has a 4 year old brother and they play in the bathtub just fine but as soon as I try to wash his hair he goes nuts!

His mom said she washes his hair in the sink, but it doesnt work for us!

Answer 1

Jessica does have some good ideas, especially about the playing in the tub fully clothed, then try naked then try to add water. If you don't already, make sure you have a few bath toys to help in know this is supposed to be "fun".

But is he completely terrified of the bath or is it just when you try to wash his hair? My son loved being in the bath but hated it when it was time to wash his hair b/c of water on his face/eyes etc. First I would get a dry wash cloth, and explain to him what i was about to do (rinse, etc) and that I was right here. But that it was real important for him to sit still, not move around while I was doing it or he would get water on his face. And if some did, I had a dry wash cloth right there to wipe his face immediately after each time I rinsed his hair. (you can also give him a wash cloth to hold on to to wipe his own face. It might give him some comfort that he has some control over what is going on) I also taught him to look up. Maybe you have wallpaper in your bathroom or you could put pictures way up high on the walls around your bathub so you can ask him to look up and descibe what he sees , or ask him questions about the pictures, etc. WIth my son (who has a great imagination) I asked him to look up at the ceiling and see if he could see the fairies flying up there. Of course he at first wondered where they were, and I said keep looking up or he'll miss 'em. He eventually saw his "fairies". So it became soemthing we would look for when it was time to wet and rinse his hair. (I know, fairies is a "girly" thing, but hey, I'm a girl and went with what i know) Now that he's a little older (3 1/2) all I have to do is ask him to look up and he does knowing it makes the rinsing/wetting much easier.

I just want to say that we forget that sometimes we have to teach our kids things we take for granted knowing. This is just one more thing.

P.S. what does his mom do for bath time?

Answer 2

It's going to be really hard at first because he will still fight you, but get a dry wash cloth. hold it on his forehead where it dangles over his face. Lean his head back and use either a cup or another wash cloth to get his hair wet. the first one will keep the water from getting in his eyes. then wash his hair. and do the same thing while rinsing. My son had the same problem and you do this and talk very soothing and calmly after a few tries you'll say ok lets wash your hair and he will ask for the wash cloth and will hold it on himself. Another thing if you show him on brother first and brother doesn't throw a fit it may be easier. Because every little brother wants to be like big brother.

Answer 3

Make sure he understands that you won't touch his head at all and just wash his body in the tub. As much as possible get him to do the washing himself if you can. Use a wash cloth on his face at some other time, don't even try it in the bath. My step-daughter was also terrified of water, for a while even a leaky faucet caused her to scream! Later on when he is older and more able, encourage him to wash his own face with a wash cloth. This worked with my step daughter.

Answer 4

A lot of children are afraid of water on their heads. My suggestion is to remove the fear by making him like it. How do you do that? Have him watch underwater cartoons or movies. For example, he can watch The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, or Shark Tale and he would welcome the water a little more, especially if you say "Let's play Finding Nemo!" or something like that. Also, try getting him toys that he would really like to play with in the tub, like a boat or a rubber ducky. Play with him beside the tub for a while, then try sitting in the tub, and he may let you put water on his head.

Bubble bath is also a good idea, too. Kids love bubble baths.

I hope my suggestions work!!

Answer 5

Maybe he sees it as a task that he is in no control over. Try making it fun for him. Let him turn the water on...even if he only has an inch of water in there. I always use bubbles and have little toys in there and if she is super good, I give her a little popcicle before she gets out, mess free. :) They have bathtub crayons, maybe see if he wants to wash himself? Man, I wish you luck that would be very stressful, but also try to think about how he feels in the situation, helpless while people poor water on you? yikes! Maybe he is really afraid. Would he poor the water on his own head? Give him a folded up washcloth to hold over his eyes...

Answer 6

Take him swimming, if there are any indoor pools. Make it a fun game. Then introduce toys into the tub and try to coax him in as a fun playtime activity.

You could even start with the toys in the tub, no water, and just let him play fully clothed. The slowly transist into a full fledge bath.

That's all I could think of. If he has a strong water phobia, you might need professional help.

Answer 7

I have a two year old daugter that was the same way.
Try using a washrag to get his hair wet and then put the shampoo in his hair and get a cup to rinse it out. Have a washrag ready for him to dry off his face when you are finished. Try to do it as quickly as possible.

I hope this helps you !

Answer 8

my son was the same way but once daddy showed him that putting water on his hair was cool he started slowly doing it himself with a cup and now he doesn't have a prob. when I do it. he still has his occasional fit but not like he used to. so maybe his dad could take a bath with him instead of his 4 yr old brother and show him its fun and it wont hurt him to dump water on his head and have him to it to his dad too. good luck.

Answer 9

I think it's a good idea to let him was your hair and then ask him if you can wash his, with a washcloth and not getting water on his face...

Answer 10

Get one of those cushions for the faucet first of all. I think every kid does that at that age - go from enjoy watering to fearful. He should grow out of it. Remember though fear is real. Water is a scary place for him.