2 y/o 4a/b with water phobia, HELP!

doubletea

It has been a struggle getting my 2 y/o 4b into the tub for bath time, but she has been okay with it up until a few months ago. At her school the playground is pure dirt and and the sand would just be caked on her scalp. I think frequent washings during this time has just made her hate bath time. I got a water visor which she despises. I've tried bargaining with her, and explained to her about holding her head back so water doesn't get in her eyes. She just stands up in the bathtub and cries. I've thought about dry shampoo but with our hair type I don't think this would work so well. If anyone has dealt with this or has any tips, please help me out! (also posted in Parent of curlies). I'm at the point where I may just try to wash it while she is sleep!

my3curlies

I have my kids lay across the countertop on their backs and use an attachment to wash.

multicultcurly

my3curlies wrote: »

I have my kids lay across the countertop on their backs and use an attachment to wash.

My mother and her sisters also did this with my cousins, sisters and me until we were about 7. It made it easier on everyone and no child fought back. :-)

redlipstick

multicultcurly wrote: »

my3curlies wrote: »

I have my kids lay across the countertop on their backs and use an attachment to wash.

My mother and her sisters also did this with my cousins, sisters and me until we were about 7. It made it easier on everyone and no child fought back. :-)

Me too. And laying still my mom had time to detangle, which was the real issue (so please, be patient and gentle with your little one's hair - the anticipation of that process ruined many a bathtime for me). There is a cheap attachment that can be found at Sally and it's pretty universal for a round faucet.

doubletea

I told her last night we would try the sink option today, she still seemed kind of leary of it...hopefully this works!

Ml001

Offer a washcloth for her to cover her eyes, too. Another idea, if she doesn't want to cover her eyes, is to find something up on the wall for her to focus on - hang a picture if you have to. Yet another idea is to have another adult or older child talk to her about her favorite topic to help distract her while you wash. (All of these while she is laying on the counter over the sink...that is definitely the best option.) These all helped my son quite a bit. As he got older he just used the washcloth but when he was really young he didn't like the idea of covering his eyes.

Kitathena

I agree with using the sink. Maybe while she's on the counter and you're washing her hair she could hold an iPod or some other fun device in front of her while you're washing her hair. I do this while we are detangling because it makes it a special treat.

My almost 2 year old hates get her hair washed too. Something else I've done is wrapped her in a towel on my lap while I kind of hold her over the tub and wash her hair with one hand. It's a pain but for some reason she feels more comfortable.

I was also going to suggest that since it's so dusty where she plays, that maybe she could wear a hat while outside? Maybe you could ask them about that, it would cut down on your having to wash it as much. Good luck!

Korkscrew

Kids are so peculiar in what they like or don't like. Am waiting with baited breath to hear how it went :blob8:

doubletea

Awesome suggestions everyone, but things did not go well. That is a great idea to have her wear a hat, which we actually entertained, but her school said there is a no hat policy (?) I would think outside it wouldn't matter, but oh well. So I did get her on the sink, but this child would not lay down. Things went well until we got to the rinsing out portion on the front of her hair. I like the idea about her holding a cloth over her eyes, the ipod is a great idea too...hopefully next week things go smoother with the new ideas.

newbraider

Too bad they don't have a no dirty playground policy.

Ml001

If you were using the sprayer to rinse, try a cup - or soaked washcloth to squeeze water out of - to rinse that front part. Hopefully the cloth over her eyes or the iPod will help.

Also, as my son got too big to lay on the counter, he would stand on a chair and lean over the sink. There are issues with that, too, but it is effective. (Issues like him holding the washcloth up so high I can't easily rinse the front part, not leaning over far enough, etc.)

Good luck!!