sixdogssixcats
06-30-2007, 03:56 PM
I saw Leigh reference my insane child in her response to you about some of Iain's activities so I thought I'd share what we've been through and done with baths.
Prior to January 2007, Catherine loved to take a bath. No fear ever. The she came down with a horrid case of psoriasis on her girl parts, only we weren't to get a diagnosis for months later. However, the raw, weepy skin caused her to scream in agony whenever any water got on it ... warm, cold, it didn't matter. I tried everything ... letting her sit in somethign in the bath tub, bathing her in the sink, etc. It eventually evolved into a two-person ordeal with me getting into the shower with her kicking and shrieking. I'd soap her up, rinse her off, all the while doing my best not to drop her, and then hand her to dh, who was standing by with a towel. The entire little bit of Hell on earth lasted about 30 seconds and we'd do this maybe twice a week. Of course, it was always preceded by much chasing her around and shrieking because she knew what was coming and that it was going to hurt her. Which it was, but we had to clean her.
Fast-forward to mid-April. A dermatologist finally diagnosed her and appropriately treated her. Her skin healed up beautifully and I decided it was time for her to get back into the tub. The bath tub was a no-go. So she and I went to the store and bought a hot pink plastic wash tub. It's small, maybe two feet across, just big enough for her to sit in. We started with it outside, and she'd play with toys in it -- her standing outside, not in the tub. After she was OK with this, I brought it in and put it on the floor of my shower. Still no deal, but she was willing to stand in the shower (I put a towel on the shower floor so she wouldn't slip) and play with the water I put in the tub (no shower water running while she was in there). I'd sneak in a rinse every few minutes and finally bite the bullet and shampoo her head when it was time to wrap up the "bath." This went on for months.
Just two weeks ago -- mid-June and I kid you not -- she decided it was OK to sit in her little pink tub in the shower. It's been six months since she last took a sit down bath in the real bath tub, but I'm not going to push her into it. She's fine in her little pink tub until she's ready. I watch her very carefully and when she has a psoriasis outbreak (like now), I don't even encourage her to sit in the tub. I know it will hurt, and I don't want to chance any back-sliding. It took us too long to get this far.
If KC likes to play with water, take baby steps and transition him from playing to at least being willing to sit in water. Maybe try a small tub that doesn't leave much room for slipping and sliding.
Prior to January 2007, Catherine loved to take a bath. No fear ever. The she came down with a horrid case of psoriasis on her girl parts, only we weren't to get a diagnosis for months later. However, the raw, weepy skin caused her to scream in agony whenever any water got on it ... warm, cold, it didn't matter. I tried everything ... letting her sit in somethign in the bath tub, bathing her in the sink, etc. It eventually evolved into a two-person ordeal with me getting into the shower with her kicking and shrieking. I'd soap her up, rinse her off, all the while doing my best not to drop her, and then hand her to dh, who was standing by with a towel. The entire little bit of Hell on earth lasted about 30 seconds and we'd do this maybe twice a week. Of course, it was always preceded by much chasing her around and shrieking because she knew what was coming and that it was going to hurt her. Which it was, but we had to clean her.
Fast-forward to mid-April. A dermatologist finally diagnosed her and appropriately treated her. Her skin healed up beautifully and I decided it was time for her to get back into the tub. The bath tub was a no-go. So she and I went to the store and bought a hot pink plastic wash tub. It's small, maybe two feet across, just big enough for her to sit in. We started with it outside, and she'd play with toys in it -- her standing outside, not in the tub. After she was OK with this, I brought it in and put it on the floor of my shower. Still no deal, but she was willing to stand in the shower (I put a towel on the shower floor so she wouldn't slip) and play with the water I put in the tub (no shower water running while she was in there). I'd sneak in a rinse every few minutes and finally bite the bullet and shampoo her head when it was time to wrap up the "bath." This went on for months.
Just two weeks ago -- mid-June and I kid you not -- she decided it was OK to sit in her little pink tub in the shower. It's been six months since she last took a sit down bath in the real bath tub, but I'm not going to push her into it. She's fine in her little pink tub until she's ready. I watch her very carefully and when she has a psoriasis outbreak (like now), I don't even encourage her to sit in the tub. I know it will hurt, and I don't want to chance any back-sliding. It took us too long to get this far.
If KC likes to play with water, take baby steps and transition him from playing to at least being willing to sit in water. Maybe try a small tub that doesn't leave much room for slipping and sliding.