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Sensory issues/bathing

Ginlyn0Ginlyn0 member
in Special Needs

DS doesn't go for his OT eval until mid-July. But I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on things I could do to help him with bath time. He used to like bath time and he played in the tub. Then one day he didn't like it anymore. We have tried showers (with DH) also but he doesn't like that either. He screams and cries the entire time. I think part of it is the water and part of it is the being naked. I've tried different ways of trying to get him interested in playing in the water (bath paints, bubbles). He handflaps when we put him in the tub and then tries to climb out. I end up just having to wash him quickly and get him out. He immediately wants clothes on which I would think that would just have to do with him not wanting to get back in but he also doesn't like changing clothes and never wants to be shirtless in the house. So he immediately cries for his shirt while I'm towel drying him.

With the water, he had swimming lessons at 1 year old and he used to swim under water 3-5ft.He loved swimming and he loved bath time because we would practice our blowing bubbles in the water and sing the same songs they learned in lessons. He had no issues with our pool last year (we haven't put it up this year). Now he screams in any water Pool, bath, ect and even just trying to sing those same songs does not calm him down. He likes playing outside the water for example, we were at a pool party last weekend and he enjoyed throwing the pool toys in the water and likes to pick up things out of the pool water but he doesn't want to be in the water himself.

He has bath toys, lots of bath toys that he used to like, we have tried bath paints, bubble baths (those made it worse).

What can I do to help with bathtime?

DD(14),SD(13),SS(11),SS(9),DS(3)

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Re: Sensory issues/bathing

  • kcisthebombdotcomkcisthebombdotcom member
    I'm interested in responses to this. My daughter loves the pool, hates the tub all of a sudden. I've honestly resorted to two quick tub baths a week and sponge bash nightly.
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  • thetwinkies&Vivithetwinkies&Vivi member
    Would swimming trunks and/or a rash guard help with the clothes issue, orange even letting him wrap up in a small bath towel?

    Maybe the sensation of the water on his skin without clothes is too much. Maybe you could eventually work down to having him wrap wash cloths over his limbs.
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  • Ginlyn0Ginlyn0 member

    I don't think the rashguard and swim trunks would work since that is what he wears when we try to get him to go swimming and we have the same issue.

    However, maybe you have a point about a small towel (like a hooded towel) that would not be too heavy when wet and might make him feel better. We could definitely try that.

    DD(14),SD(13),SS(11),SS(9),DS(3)

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  • twinkjktwinkjk
    Why not just try a shower/bath with clothes on?  Wrapped in a towel as others said would probably be logistically easier though.  Smile
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  • aiche Umm Ayoubaiche Umm Ayoub member
    my daugther went through this she has sensory issues what helped her is I use to let her take a bath wearing her shirt and a pair of shorts then she out grew it and now she loves the bath and we have trouble getting her out until the water is all drained
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  • RdmaggieRdmaggie member

    My DD is 2.5 and also went through this... She had "swimming classes" at 10 months-1 year and never minded it. Suddenly one day she decided she hated the bath (and now that I think of it, it may have been related to changing her from her infant tub inside the regular tub - to just the regular tub...but I digress...) 

    For months I ended up just showering her and she screamed through it. Then I started running a bath and physically climbing in with her. She was still pretty pissed about it but after a month or so she was okay, although not pleased at all. Now if I mention taking a bath shes in there before I can get off the couch.

    I don't know if climbing in would work in your scenario or not, it didn't work immediately for us either but if nothing else take from my story that it can better.

    GL 

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  • Ginlyn0Ginlyn0 member

    Auntie- We actually had the same short sleeve shirt, shorts issue last month with DS. DD had clothing issues as well. She still has problems switching seasons and I usually have to have her store her boots and long sleeve shorts and pants or she continues wearing them even if it's 100 degrees out. But clothing/bedding is as far as her sensory issues go. It is tough going through this with DS.

    It doesn't seem to be the bath filling or draining that bothers him. We've tried it both ways (with him not in the room when those are done and when he is in the room). 

    I think I got some good suggestions to try. Thank you ladies!

    DD(14),SD(13),SS(11),SS(9),DS(3)

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  • malcivarmalcivar member
    We had similar issues with clothes at the end of last summer.  When I put long pants or long sleeves on him, he kept trying to roll the sleeves up or hike up his pants legs - like he couldn't stand feeling them go all the way down.  He eventually got over it - we just made a game of getting dressed and eventually it worked itself out.  He is now going through something where he doesn't want to SIT in the bathtub.  He'll sit in his kiddie pool but not in the tub.  He's got issues with water temperature - specifically regarding too-warm water.  His bath water, even in the dead of winter is relatively cool whereas mine is scalding hot 365 days/yr.  The cooler I make it the less he gets upset.  Sometimes I just resort to washing him up as fast as possible while he cries his way through it.  Sometimes halfway through the bath if I happen to splash him either on purpose or accident he'll laugh and then it's fun so we extend bath time a little bit.  I think kids go through phases.  My SIL's kids throw a fit when she says it's bath time so I think they bathe like 2 times a week tops.  Considering how um, stinky teenage boys can get, I'm really trying to instill a daily bath routine in Chris while he's still young.  *crossing fingers*
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  • houndbabyhoundbaby member
    Ds went through a phase where he hated baths and showers. DH and I would just bath him every 3-4 days by one of us taking him in, washing him as quick as possible and handing him off to the person outside the shower with a towel. At some point he changed from hating it to loving it and now he asks to take a shower 2-3 times a day, he doesn't care much for the being cleaned part still. I really don't know exactly what made him change his mind about showers/baths, but I think it was after the summer he was 3 and got to play outside with water sprinklers, kiddie pool, water table, etc.
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