Sensory Processing: Poor Tolerance for Bathing
Bath time, for some families, is a place for playing and learning. Who hasn’t put bubbles on their chins and pretended they were an old man or even Santa? Pouring water from one container to another to gain motor control and accuracy, even pretending toys are swimming in the tub are great ways to play and learn. For other families it can be full of destress, tears, and fighting. From babies to geriatrics, bathing/bath time can be stressful! Hopefully, I can provide some easy techniques to ease some of the stress around bathing. As always, please consult a therapist for more personalized recommendations.
First and foremost, when an activity causes the parent stress and anxiety, we tend to wear that stress in our body language, our tone, and demeanor. If you can’t fight the fight and keep your cool one night, then don’t! It’s all about choosing the battles you can handle. If a day has been particularly stressful, and your toddler just had a colossal meltdown in Target, maybe today isn’t the day to tackle bath time routines, as well. Or maybe pick something small, but don’t try to tackle everything at once. We’re in this for the long-haul! We’re working on making small, sustainable changes that we can build on over time.
One problem I see pretty often is a poor tolerance to hair washing. Hair washing issues can stem from a variety of places. Sometimes, children don’t like their faces to be wet. If we can work on desensitizing this at a young age, that may help prevent these problems from starting. However, if this is already an issue, what can you do? Inside the tub, offer the child a wet wash cloth and allow them wash their own face. Play with a water bottle to control how much water gets on their face. Using a spray bottle or showerhead to rinse the hair may be easier to tolerate. Prior to washing or rinsing, try firm pressure on the scalp, neck, shoulders, and back to prepare those sensory pathways for stimulation. Give the child a small amount of shampoo, and allow the child to wash their own hair. You can model how you would like them to wash it. If you want to use a cup to rinse, tell the child how many cups you will use, and count them out loud. Sometimes concrete expectations allow children to get through an activity that’s not particularly enjoyable. Saying “Ok! We’ll do 5 cups!” sounds much better than “I’ll be quick” or even “Almost done!” because those statements are too vague. Placing a mirror on the tub or shower wall may also help the child see what is happening versus just relying on what it feels like. During these stages, if the hair is not washed ‘thoroughly’ by the child that is ok! We’re going for a sense of success at this point, so celebrate everything!
Outside of the bathtub, you can try playing with uncooked macaroni noodles. Allow the child to use a cup and pour the noodles over their hand, arm, face, and hair. If you’re concerned about making a mess, go outside or have a broom ready! Making messes is a part of how we learn! Model how to play and what you would like your child to do.
Other general tips:
Keep the bathroom air warm. Try starting to heat it before the child needs to undress
Get all of the items needed before getting the child into the tub. It may add to the sense of anxiety if you need to leave or make a lot of noise looking for things in drawers, etc.
Try using a timer so the child knows exactly how long bath time will last
Give the child toys to play with. Use a doll to mimic washing hair/body while you assist the child in the same tasks.
Plan a preferred activity after bath time and use language like “First we’ll take a bath, then we’ll…”
Always use firm pressure when washing, and allow the child to do as much of the washing as possible. Allowing the child to have a sense of control may decrease the sense of anxiety around the activity.
If it doesn’t go against health concerns, using calming essential oils like lavender may be beneficial.
Allow the child to get dressed in the bathroom to help with transition period.
