I think that is what is going on here, and the water in the ears and on the face, which happens cause they fight so much! I am making a list of this stuff to address in OT tomorrow and that will be one of them. What did they do that helped? My kids will actually lean forward and dunk the top of their heads in the water, so I don't think its the water.
Thanks for bringing this up. Maybe other people won't have to wait 8 years to figure out their children's sensory issues in the bath like i did.
The tilting head issue is officially called "gravitational insecurity." I'm sure it was a major contributor to my son's shampoo problems, and I *know* it contributed to his potty training problems (on the big toilet he probably felt like he was sitting on the edge of a cliff, and who could relax and pee in that situation??).
Water in the face is an obvious problems, but it took me a long time (yes, 8 years!) to realize that water in his ears was just as big of a problem. Even though my son is quite verbal, he wasn't able to communicate about what was bothering him in the bath.
Recognizing his sensory issues and dealing calmly with them has helped make shampooing easier (not easy, but easier).
just a little tip to parents whose kids fear bathtime. I know eveyone's kid is different but my son HATED bathtime and I discovered it was because he had a fear of his head being tilted backwards (for shampooing). He felt like he was falling when I tilted his head back a little. Once I realised that and addressed it with OT he was happy in the bath, and with water, and soon was happy putting his head back too..
BTW this is him a few years later with his head tilted back and heading for the water
pix removed - there are more trolls trolling...
Washing my son's hair is still a hassle. He leans forward, moves this way and that way anytime it comes to rinse the hair. He will not take a shower - which was a big problem at camp this summer as that is all they had. He just started this year loving the pool ONLY if he had his goggles. I have always asked him why he can't stay still when trying to rinse the shampoo out and he says ''I just dont like the water in my face" - even using a washcloth to cover his eyes does not help. He has trouble articulating the reasons why he doesn't like certain things. I wonder if he also feels like he is gonna fall. Thanks for the tibbit.
Marti