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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have a fear of water and never bathed or showered as a kid. I used a wet washcloth in front of the sink. Like no shit, four times a year. If I smelled nobody ever told me that. I didn't start showering until about 7th or 8th grade, and only every other day. I'm white and pale too. [/quote]

OP here. My kid loves the swimming pool. This is NOT a fear of water. It may be fear of soap. But don't project your fear of water when I already wrote that it's not fear related. [/quote]

OMG.  What a mean response.  I'm going to assume you are just stressed out.  Think about what you just said.  You DO NOT KNOW why our kid won't shower or bath but YOU KNOW its not fear related?  Sorry, but you don't.  Maybe he is afraid of the water that comes from the shower and bath itself.  Maybe he read a book about something coming out of it.  Maybe its the drain.  Maybe its the sound.  Maybe his skin gets easily irritated and the shower makes it worse (this is why I hated showers when I was little but I couldn't express it).

The first thing you have to do is open your mind to the possibilities that it is fear related.  The second thing you have to do is acknowledge you may have made it worse by letting him avoid it (it is easy to do).

I suggest doing two things.  First, sit down and calmly ask your son to explain what it is about the shower.  If he says he doesn't know, ask him specific questions.  What if we used the hose outdoors? (I don't really suggest doing this, but it helps figure out if it is the bathroom or being sprayed with water). What if you stood in the tub and used a cup and water?  What is the worse thing he thinks will happen?  Is it the shower/bath?  Is it the feeling after?  Does he get too cold?  Too hot?  Keep gently prying.  You may stumble into something.

The next thing you need to do is plan a regular schedule of bathing/showers.  No excuses.  Calmly enforce it.   The first few times will be hell.  But after awhile, unless it truly is something like skin irritation, he will realize that it is not that bad.  Or at least accept the badness is part of the day.  My son was that way with flossing and lotion.  He hated them both.  Now, he says he doesn't like it, but it is just part of his day.[/quote]

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