advice on how to get your child to wet hair without freaking out!!!

Melissa - posted on 09/28/2010

My daughter hates water in her face I just sing a song "Look up to the sky (repeat)" and tilt her head up when pouring water. That way water doesn't go in her face. It seems to work. If she isn't paying attention or puts her head down I remind her that's why she must look up. I dry her face quickly or wipe away any water with my hand.

Lauren - posted on 09/25/2010

I also ask my son to look at the cieling which usually works, I tried to goggles but they weren't great ones and water would get in. Most of the time I take a dry wash cloth and give it to him, he just covers his eyes with it and tells me when he's ready. He used to freak out from the water too but has gotten alot better with the dry wash cloth.

Vickie - posted on 08/13/2010

My son has a severe aversion to water in his face, which gets interesting and amusing when we go swimming.

We started playing the swimming on our back game in the bathtub. So take a damp washcloth place it on his head, take the shampoo play the making bubbles game with this, then rub it into his hair telling him that he is now the bubble man. A few minutes later I tell him that it's swimming time and ease him down in the water and let him kick his legs and splash and make a mess of the floor. Which he loves.

I guess I should say that this works best when you are in the tub with him. It boosts his confidence that since mommy is there he is safe in the water.

I love the fact now that I can wash his hair and he actually looks forward to playing the bubble game and the splashing.

Fanchon - posted on 07/30/2010

I have my 3 and 4 year old do the same thing and honestly, sometimes it drives me nuts! But, to relax and be creative, it makes it alot less stressful! The goggles worked for a while with us too, but we just have them look up and we give them a dry washcloth to cover their eyes and it does help. Neither of my kids swim under water so I think it's all kindof fear of the "unknown". Hope this helps :)

MICHELLE - posted on 07/29/2010

my daughter has that same problem, this may sound funny but we bought her swmming goggles and every time i wash her hair i put them on her and it keeps the soap out, she loves it, and she call them water glasses. before it was so hard to get her to wash her hair i would be drenched after her baths, but she loves it, its more fun to see her with them on in her bubble bath.

Gemma - posted on 07/28/2010

you could also try putting something bright and colourful on th eceling to encourage him to look up at bathtime so the water doesnt go in his eyes, a picture of his favourite cartoon chrachter or something so u can say "look at mickey mouse" or whoever it is.

Gemma - posted on 07/28/2010

My daughter was the same, but she was like that a year ago, i can wash her hair now but it still freaks her out if any goes on her face,, we got one of those eye visor hat things, and let her wear that a few times at bathtime and just put the water on the back of her head to begin with so she got confident that it wasnt going in her eyes, and went from there, hope that helps! Good luck!
Gemma xx

Iridescent - posted on 07/27/2010

We try to get the kids to lay on their bellies and "swim", then lay on their backs and "swim" while I wash their hair. It generally works, and when it doesn't it's a scream fest quickly ended.

Elske - posted on 07/27/2010

Mine went through a stage like that as well and I got him to lie back in the bath with me supporting his head so his face doesn't get wet, but we can do the hair wash. I was strict and told him to choose between that and me throwing water over his head. Once they get used to that they get brave over time - I now battle to get them not to always wet their hair!

Heavenly - posted on 05/22/2010

I make it a game and count down from three and then pour and say yay and clap everytime i do it and it gets him smiling

Lisa - posted on 05/21/2010

My guess is that the bubble bath has burned his eyes on more than one occasion so he attributes the water going over his head with ouchy eyes. Try washing his hair before the bubble bath goes in. That is what I do! Good Luck!