Tween Hygiene

Sabrina - posted on 04/08/2011

I know this is an older post but I am having the same problem with my 12 year old son..he is a dirty kid! I hsve let him oick out his own hygine items and everythign..nothing has worked..not even the threat of bathing him myself..he just says "so its not like you havent done it before". Brushing his teeth..ha I cant get him near the tooth brush more than once every 2 days and hes getting so big hes almost my size and as strong so I cant hold him down like when he was smaller lol..

Wendy - posted on 07/04/2010

I went through that phase with my son. What worked for me was to threaten that if he didn't wash himself thoroughly, I would do it for him...you wouldn't believe how well that worked!

Julie - posted on 07/03/2010

i have a boy and i dont know if you ever smelt a teenage boy (peeww disgusting) he was a dirty begger and like you say you had to stand over him almost. i once filled the bath and shouted him up the stairs as if to show him something then just simply pushed him in. wasnt a clever thing to do but i was so frustrated. now i cant get in the bathroom because you cant get him out. my daughter was never as bad. its a phase and will pass. just keep up the nagging and the message will sink in. plus if you take her shopping and let her choose her own toiletries it might start to make her feel better. girls need girly mummy time and any issues you have are worked out easier on a shopping trip while you are both relaxed. think of a senario and discuss it as you shop making sure to keep your tone even and nice and chatty not mad and in your face.

Danielle - posted on 07/01/2010

My daughter is 12 as well and I am glad to hear that I am not the only one with this issue. I have tried to explain in a nice way the importance of good hygiene. I have told her that kids are very cruel and that she needs to shower, brush her teeth, and wear deodarant on a day to day basis. My dad always said to us that the walls listened better than we did. I so understand what he was talking about. Hopefully this phase will end VERY soon. Thanks for letting me know I am not alone.

Anna - posted on 06/11/2010

so glad to know that im not alone with this issue.

Jennifer - posted on 05/07/2010

To Martina, I am going through the bad hygiene phase and the constant laundry phase all at once. I guess I am just lucky!! LOL

Jennifer - posted on 05/07/2010

You are not the only one. my daughter is thirteen will be fourteen next month and when she showers it is obvious she does not wash. Her whole neck and back are black. I have to take a wash cloth and soap and literally scrub her off every day.

Martina - posted on 02/10/2010

It is just a phase you soon won't be able to get her out of the bathroom. Have you tried asking her to pick her own shower gel, deodorant etc. in the supermarket - ones especially for teens. Try to bring up the conversation with her friends as to which ones they use - she will want to be just like them. In another year or two you will soon be complaining about the amount of washing you have to do when she changes a few times a day or puts something in the wash that has been worn for an hour. My Kids speciality is putting clean clothes back into the wash when they haven't put them away as they think they haven't been washed. So I replaced the non-washing themself phase with the "Constant Laundry One".