I need some help!!

nici84

My 3yr old is TERRIFIED of the bath. I dont know why, shes never had a bad experience (except getting on my nerves). She hates to have her hair washed, or even touched. Its getting bad! I just gave her a bath, and she has a new thing about washing her barbie's hair and the soap she used for barbie she put into her own (thats what I get for turning away to get a floor towel out). Well when I went to wash it out she was SO freaked out that her whole body shook, I tried to calm her down and everything and she just kept crying and pulling away. Everytime shes gotten to me Ive been able to turn away or cut her bath short, or have her dad watch her so I could walk away for a minute, so I hope I havent scared her, but then again shes always been scared, I just cant get her to even try to let me help now..... I dont know what to do anymore.

CD+AL

Is she scared of the water or specifically a bath?  Have you tried a shower, or is part of the problem that she doesn't want the water on her face?  Does she let you mess with her hair at other times, or is it just a problem when you're trying to wash it?

nici84

She wont let me even brush her hair or touch it. And shes fine with say getting into the kiddie pool. its just the bath tub, be it for a bath or a shower, Ive tried both. I even thought it was just me for awhile so I had her dad and even tried my mom giving her a bath and it was the same thing with everyone.

ecoppins

Is it the bath or the hair? My kids love the bath but hate to have their hair washed or brushed. We do a bath every night, and hair every other night or so. You may want to try just having a bath w/o really washing her. Just let her play in the water with some toys and create a good experience unconnected to washing her hair, face etc. We do bubbles (J&J baby body wash) and let them play while I drink a glass of wine after dinner. It is really relaxing for us all. We have a few rules, no standing, no splashing faces (aka sisters) and water stays in the tub.

On hair nights, I tell them after they have had some nice play time and happliy annouce that it is a hair night! I give them some choices in the process and make it quick. Hair nights mean total cleaning. I let them have some soap and wash their arms and pits and feet etc. They love to get their toes and nails brushed with the little scrubber. Then we rinse that off and we do hair. First choice, do they want me to dunk them under the faucet, to swish their hair like a mermaid in the water or pour water over the head. (Usually the mermaid option) Then they get shampoo and I get some and we bubble up the head. If they're in good moods I pull out a little mirror and we have some bubbly styles. then I pour water carefully over the head. I also rub them down with lotion after they get out. So it is really last rinse they don't like bc or water in eyes and the vunerable nature of leaning back.

I would first focus on make the bath a possitive experince and then making washing a good one. You might take her out to a store and let her pick out a new tub toy and say you are going to have a new kind of bath.