My boys, ages 6 and 8, have lately been refusing to shower in the morning and throwing fits about it. They have to shower in the morning because they are bedwetters and I don't want them to smell like pee.
This morning I had to literally throw my youngest in the shower. How can i get them to shower in the morning and not fight it?
2007-12-20 05:37:12 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Make the shower more fun. Give them a can of shaving cream to play with. I have the opposite problem. My kids want to take showers in the morning, and we don't often have enough time! If there's shaving cream and I let them play with it, they have a ball. If you give them a squeegee to play with, that will add to the fun.
Bedwetting isn't as unusual as most people think at this age. Shaming the kids into not wetting the bed will not help, as I'm sure you've found. Some kids just don't wake up when their bladders are full. It's so easy for others, and hard for some. I've been through this too! Not an easy solution, so hang in there!
Try the shaving cream -- that should help. You could also put a few drops of Eucalpytus oil on a washcloth to make a spa shower (also good during the winter months). Any chance of a quick dip in a bubble bath? That might be fun.
Hope these suggestions help!
2007-12-20 10:51:28 · answer #1 · answered by Liza 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is possible that the morning routine is to chaotic for them. Maybe they need to get up earlier so they don't have to rush so much. Also, along with taking away privileges for misbehaving, set up some kind of reward system for doing well. Make a chart with everything they need to do in the morning before school on it, and for everyday they do what they are supposed to do they get a star. 10 stars(or how many ever you think is appropriate) will earn them some kind of special treat...like staying up late on Saturday night, or getting their favorite meal for dinner, or a small toy.
2007-12-20 07:05:34 · answer #2 · answered by missbeans 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell them they can't eat breakfast until they shower, make them go to bed earlier if they refuse. If you can, take something that they really like away every time they refuse, in my house its a fave toy or a special snack. After a couple days of behaving it is given back (well, the toy anyway), but the lesson is usually learned.
2007-12-20 06:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by SillyMe 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Can you get them up a little earlier so they can take baths? When I was a kid, I thought baths were much more fun than showers.
Maybe take them to the store and let them pick out some fun or cool new shampoo or soap?
Honestly, that's all the advice I have. Sorry. Good luck!
~Raja
2007-12-20 05:43:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Let them go to school smelling like pee. Other kids will tease them and they'll shower in the morning from then on.
2007-12-20 08:24:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
put them in a COLD shower fully clothed and tell them that any time they refuse this is what is going to happen. after the first time, i'm sure they will happily get into a nice WARM shower on their own.
or you can let them go to school once smelling like pee. i'm sure the teasing from the other kids will convince them of the need to take care of their bodies.
2007-12-20 05:54:38 · answer #6 · answered by 4Xthe fun 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I agree at 6 and 8 they should have out grown this. Have you spoken to their Dr about this? Otherwise as an answer to your question. Perseverance........ keep fighting it, every morning till it becomes a habit to them and they realize that they will not win. Once that happens they will do it own their own. Good Luck.
2007-12-20 07:04:01 · answer #7 · answered by Petra 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most times when you put pressure on children about wetting the bed, it just causes further anxiety (and thus more bed wetting). I would focus on the showers for now.
Sometimes kids wont take your word for it. Have a doctor explain the importance of cleanliness.
2007-12-20 05:47:30 · answer #8 · answered by Charlee's Mama 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Put them to bed earlier, wake them up earlier. Tell them that they don't get to play video games all day, if they don't take a shower now. Or take away their favorite toy or activity.
Good Luck!
2007-12-20 06:49:10 · answer #9 · answered by panepanelli 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tell them that they HAVE to shower and it is agonizing for the people around them to have to smell their urine all day. If they still refuse, they lose privileges. It's hygiene and it must be done.
2007-12-20 05:41:17 · answer #10 · answered by That Gay Guy for Da Ben Dan 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋