Washing Myself

Becoming independent with washing yourself is an important life skill that can give a young person a sense of pride and achievement. For some children washing is great fun, playing with their toys in the water, as they get older some will enjoy a relaxing soak in the bath. For others washing can be challenging.

Things to consider:

> Does your child prefer a shower or the bath?
> Can you make getting into/ out of the bath/shower easier?
> What does your child like and dislike in the bathroom.
> Can they get the shampoo/body wash out of the bottle?
> Are they able to wash their body?
> Are they able to wash their hair?
> Can they tell when all the shampoo is rinsed out?
> Can they dry themselves?

Some information for this webpage has been drafted using resources from Greater Glasgow and Clyde Children’s Services

General Hints and Tips

> Have a consistent routine for washing your child including the time of day, what you use to wash your child and the order that you wash your child.
> Ensure your child is safe in the bath, shower or standing at the sink. Have a non-slip mat on the floor. If your child has balance difficulties, sitting down can be easier for them as your child will not then have to balance and think about the steps of the task.
> Encourage your child to become independent with one aspect of washing first. For example you put the soap on the wash cloth, then give it to your child to wash their body.
> Increasing their body awareness through games, for example: Simon says or singing songs such as head shoulders knees and toes.
> Let them choose their own toiletries/flannel/ body puff/mitt -Using a mitt can help them keep it on their hand. A child might be more willing to use Batman body wash or a particular smell.
> Give them control of the water (pour the water over their head using a jug /hold the shower head). This will help the child to feel more in control of what is happening.
> Use pump action dispensers if they find it easier (also helps with quantity control).
> Use a mirror to check if all the shampoo is out. Prompt your child to look in the mirror to check if all the shampoo is out, or get them to rub their hands over there head and check if their hands are bubbly.
> Many children benefit from visual prompts of the steps of a routine such as showering. These are available from websites such as Do 2 Learn.
> Have the pictures in a place that the child can see them e.g. laminated and on the wall of the shower, and prompt your child to look at the next picture in the sequence rather than telling them what to do.
> Don’t forget to praise your child for their successes and attempts at being independent. A sticker chart can be an effective way to keep your child focused on developing these skills.

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Hair Washing

Hair washing can be a tricky experience for some children, young people and adults alike. If your child has sensory differences, they may find it hard to have their hair washed or to wash it.

A child may experience touch as overwhelming or even painful, or they may not register the touch information making hair washing a confusing experience. If another person is washing your hair, then it is not possible to control how much pressure is being used to make it more tolerable, you also can’t see them as they will be out of the line of sight. This means that another person may be rubbing your head in an unexpected way or place, or that they are touching your head in an uncomfortable way.

If someone experiences movement difficulties, then they may find it difficult to maintain a good sitting posture in the bath or find it hard to stand in the shower. They may find it difficult to step in and out of the shower or bath, tilt their head for the shampoo to be washed out, or they may find it hard to sit still for long enough to have a wash or wash their hair.

If a child has proprioceptive difficulties, they may struggle to get their hands to their head or to move around all of their head to wash their hair. They might find it hard to rinse their hair.

“Hair washing can be a tricky experience for some children, young people and adults alike”

Preparation Ideas

> Think about the environment- remove clutter, dim the lighting, use calming (slow, rhythmical) music during bath time.
> Role play using dolls or other toys to wash their hair or get them to wash mum, dad, or sibling’s hair first and then it is their turn.
> Use a picture schedule to show the sequence of hair washing. You may want to add a reward at the end.
> Keep hair short. Long hair takes more washing time than your child may be able to give, and combing time is likely a nightmare as well.
> Use earplugs to protect ears and the noise of rushing water if your child will leave them in.
> Apply deep pressure before bath time. Give a massage or hand hugs up and down arms and legs. Try the use of a heavier blanket or vibrating toy 10 minutes before bath time.
> You can also use this method in the bath by placing a folded towel across their lap. As it becomes wet it obviously becomes heavier and may provide the sensory input and pressure needed during a time of stress.
> If your child appears to struggle or have difficulties with getting in or out of the shower/ bath then see if a small step might help them to reach the side of the bath easier.
> Ensure your child is able to maintain balance in sitting or standing and no additional support or equipment is indicated to help them in the bath or shower.

Hair Washing- The Task

> Sing a song so the child knows what is coming next: “This is the way we scrub your hair, scrub your hair, scrub your hair, this is the way we scrub your hair, when we have bath time. This is the way we rinse your hair…”
> Make it a fun game. A water pistol, spray bottle, or squirt bottle can do the trick of wetting and rinsing.
> Try either unscented or strongly scented soaps and shower gels. For example some children with sensitive sense of smell and taste may find ‘normal’ soap or shampoo unpleasant. Other children (often those who smell or taste everything) may prefer strongly scented soaps and shampoos.
> Pour it on. Instead of bringing the head to the water, bring the water to the head in a jug or container, or try a showerhead that can be pulled away from the wall and used as a sprayer.
> A solid shampoo bar would enable a child to control the tactile input and give themselves deep pressure while applying shampoo.
> Place the shampoo in your hand before rubbing into their scalp, as the trickle of shampoo being poured onto their head can be too stimulating.
> A thinner baby shampoo is better as it rinses out more easily than a thicker shampoo.
> Try a pump bottle and get them to pump out shampoo, it will keep their hands busy and gets them involved. It will also measure out the right amount of shampoo.
> Try just shampooing and rinsing the ends of your child’s hair at first and slowly work up to the whole head. If it is a particularly tough week, sensory and behaviour-wise, then try a no rinse/dry shampoo.
> If possible encourage your child to lather their own hair so that they can control the amount of pressure applied.
> Try a shampoo brush. This may give your child more feedback and enable them to better tolerate hair washing.
> Go face-first. Leaning forwards may not be as threatening to your child as leaning backward, since he/she can see where she’s going.
> Try different methods of rinsing off. Some children may like the deep pressure of a large jug of water being poured or a hand-held shower hose. Others may like more control and a different pressure, and prefer to trickle water themselves; offer a small watering can, hand-held shower hose, cup, or jug for them to try rinsing.
> Count the number of rinses.
> To keep soap out of the eyes purchase a visor, wear swimming goggles or hold a flannel to cover their face and eyes to prevent soap irritation.