Struggles with personal hygiene

Oliver went through a phase of this, although just with brushing teeth. Had to sing as we were doing it. We've always alternated between shower and bath too so he has a choice. It's really hard , maybe try getting her to run her own bath whole your there. Put her own bubble bath in. Buy a dolly that has hair. I used to have one when little with thick hair and I was always washing it. For nails get her to pick a colour to paint her nails as a treat after they have been cut? Xxx

Not all the time, but very frequently. You’re right though; it has to be done. Hoping this phase passes quickly x

Brody went through a phase of this, I could not get him near the bath. He’s a lot better now, he’s obsessed with farm animals so we take those in and he washes them. Teeth brushing can still be hit and miss for us, sometimes he’ll let me do it and other times he’ll do it which mainly consists of sucking the toothpaste off. He has an older brother so we make it into race between them (or me or Dad) which gets him actually brushing! But I do feel your pain, we had to go very slowly and softly with him which is hard when you just want to scream 🤯 hopefully it will just click and get better ❤️

@Claire yeah the bath is definitely our biggest struggle I think it’s because she hates the hair wash which we have limited down to once a week now but she still won’t go anywhere near the bath even if we aren’t washing her hair, we flannel wash her so she’s still getting clean but it is a nightmare with her fear of the bath. She’s pretty good at brushing her teeth herself but she won’t let us go over them to make sure they are properly done 😩 maybe I should just let her be and let her do it on her own? She has an older sibling too but she’s autistic and doesn’t like teeth brushing either so you can imagine what it’s like in our house at those times 😅 x

@Ruth thank you Ruth, I tried to bribe her with all sorts today to let me cut her nails they were so long and she keeps scratching! She’s got eczema too so I need to keep on top of her nails but she just goes mental the worst I’ve ever seen her. I will try the dolly for bath time though, that’s a brill idea xx

@Kerrie do you use scissors or clippers ? We have tommee tippee clippers and I find them great. Never had a bother with his nails thank god. It's annoying how quick they grow though. I know it's a sign of good health, still annoying though haha. I hope it gets easier for you xx

What have you tried? We have an electric nail file and I let my LG do my nails first, then her own, and then I try to go over it if she’ll let me! Or do it when she’s asleep! In the bath, we have a shower attachment and she loves doing her hair with that. She also feels more grown up in the shower so we sometimes give her a shower. I also use this time to name body parts and get her to wash herself with a sponge and soap. I model it and say “can you wash here?” or “can you wash your tummy?” etc. She fights me with tooth brushing so I let her do it herself and brush mine at the same time, modelling to her “have you brushed up here?” etc. It doesn’t always work but it’s better!

@Ruth we have the tommee tippee clippers too and have always used them, I also do my nails and her sisters nails at the same time to try and make it easier for her but she screams “mummy no no” and goes mental 😩 she’s absolutely fine after once she’s calmed down it’s just a battle for that 5/10 minutes it takes 😅 xx

@Hannah I tried to do it when she was asleep the other day I managed one nail but then it woke her up 🫣 she’s a very light sleeper. With bathing we’ve tried the bath and the shower, tried getting in with her asking her to help me wash my hair first, bathing with her sister, her favourite toys in the bath, bubbles in the bath, bath foam, no water in the bath, wearing her costume in the bath, nursery rhymes (all her fav things) she just won’t go in the actual bath at all. She’ll let us flannel wash her and she loves playing with water over the bath but will not get inside the bath. I’m hoping with the warmer weather coming and having the pool out that it might help her with it. She’s actually very good at brushing her own teeth she just doesn’t like when I want to go over them, maybe I should just leave her to brush them herself?x

@Kerrie it’s so difficult when they are so strong willed! I’m trying to prepare my LG at the moment so we discuss expectations of behaviour before we do a task and I ask her to repeat those expectations to me… I’m struggling with her wanting to do everything at her own speed, especially when we’re in a rush. I’m hoping that all my words and instructions will eventually sink in, but pushing too hard makes her take 2 steps back and I have to start again 🤦🏼‍♀️

We let maxi join in with helping wash his hair and body etc, he also baths with big brother and he shows him how to wash his hair and will etc and they play games tipping water over each other etc! Nails I do when he’s really tired and he’ll sit for a cuddle