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bathing?

char xx

hi does any1 have problems with bathing?my son is 3 non verbal asd,bath time is a nightmare hes always hated the bath,he gets so scared,his body tenses up he covers his ears and screams and screams, and screams,he hates the water on his head,cries so much he struggles2breathe,he shakes and looks so petrified tht i cant stand seein him like tht i end up taking him out the bath,i dont know what to do,i feel im doing wrong by taking him out the bath as its like im taking the easier option,but i dont want to put him through it.

  • We haven't had the problems like you are having.  However, my son will refuse sometimes and scream and run through the house.  What I have found that helps is he is obsessed with Netflex movies.  He has certain shows he loves to watch.  I tell him if he takes a bath then he can get on Neflex.  It works about 90% of the time.  He doesn't like his hair washed though.  So most of the time I just use a wet wash cloth to wash his hair, so I am not dumping any water down his face. 

     

  • When I was little my mum used to put both me and my sister in the bath, and we'd always take in a load of toys. There was also a soft flannelish whale that used to stick to the back of the bath so I wouldn't freak out from leaning against the cold sides, though most of the time I was chasing a wind up fish or frog around with a plastic dinosaur. Bubbles were also big fun :)

    I think it was mostly distraction techniques, while I was busy making myself look like pappa smurf in bubble form she'd attack me with a flannel. But since I had the choice (and the wind up toys were thrown away) I've taken to showers instead, I just feel safer standing up for some reason.

     

  • Hi Char,

    It took my autistic son a long time before he was happy to have a bath. He is now 4 years old and having a bath is no longer a problem. I think what helped him most was:

    1. initially me having a bath with him to reduce the anxiety;
    2. introducing a mini plastic watering can and boat;
    3. introducing an illustrated flannel

    My son has a "Nemo" flannel and when I bought it, I never in a million years realised how useful it would be at entertaining my son in bath, whilst also being educational. Without boring you, I spontaneously developed a story/song around "Nemo", which has just hit a note with him and has really made bath times easier.

    This is how it goes. I know that this might make me sound insane, but hey it works. You have to do the actions with the flannel as you're singing and start by holding it up vertically so your child can see the character on the front.

    Nemo is a happy fish. Nemo is a happy fish.
    He likes to jump. He likes to jump.
    He likes to dive. He likes to dive.
    He likes to twist, twist, twist, twist, twist.
    He likes to swim. He likes to swim.
    He like to stroke. He likes to stroke.
    He likes to float.

    Most of the actions are obvious, but for the stoke part of the song, I simply drag the flannel over his leg or arm just to get him used to contact with the flannel. I end by lying the flannel flat on the surface of the water and we watch it gradually sink. He now recites the whole piece himself and has learnt a decent number of verbs in the process.

  • Hello Char

    I am sorry that you are having such difficulties at the moment.  I am afraid that I have never experienced the problem that you are concerned about but I  have posted the link below for the helpline who might be able to help you

    http://www.autism.org.uk/Our-services/Advice-and-information-services/Autism-Helpline.aspx

    Good luck 

    ColinCat x