• Feeling isolated? You're not alone.

    Join 20,000+ people who understand exactly how your day went. Whether you're newly diagnosed, self-identified, or supporting someone you love – this is a space where you don't have to explain yourself.

    Join the Conversation → It's free, anonymous, and supportive.

    As a member, you'll get:

    • A community that actually gets it – no judgment, no explanations needed
    • Private forums for sensitive topics (hidden from search engines)
    • Real-time chat with others who share your experiences
    • Your own blog to document your journey

    You've found your people. Create your free account

Trouble brushing teeth, taking shower and Bowel moments

mylilman

Member
Hi All,
I have a 7 year old son, who refuses to brush his teeth, or take a shower ( we do not have a bathtub). He is very comfortable with bath tubs, but we now moved and have only walk in shower. He has difficulty or I would rather say , that he is terrified sitting on the bathroom sink and do his #2. Please help.
Thanks
 
Those are not something we can effectively speak to as a text-based forum. Your best bet is to work on improving your communications with him. Seek out a therapist that is recommended by your local affiliate of the Autism Society.

For a short-term fix, my wife bathes our 31yo, ASD3 daughter in a Rubbermaid storage bin, filled with a shower hose. (My daughter does not object to showers, but it is easier on my wife to do so.)
full
Whenever my wife asks me to bathe her, I just put on swim trunks and hop in the shower with her.*

*FYI, Rain Man's [Kim Peek, 1951-2009] father used to shower with him (even in adulthood).
 
Last edited:
Maybe giving him a soft washcloth, some soap he picked out. Have him suds up, pointing out areas that need washing, then he simply jumps in shower and rinses, cutting down time in shower. Eventually, he will become more comfortable with a shower. Can you get a handheld sprayer that he can hold, (not sure of age of your child).
 
Maybe giving him a soft washcloth, some soap he picked out. Have him suds up, pointing out areas that need washing, then he simply jumps in shower and rinses, cutting down time in shower. Eventually, he will become more comfortable with a shower. Can you get a handheld sprayer that he can hold, (not sure of age of your child).
Thanks will try handhelpd sprayer.
 
Sorry I mean on the toilet sink
Had to look that up!

"A toilet sink, often referred to as a lavatory, is a small sink typically found in bathrooms, designed for washing hands and face. It is distinct from a toilet, which is used for waste disposal, and is usually mounted on a vanity or wall." Some of us tend to refer to them as a "vanity sink". -A vanity consisting of a countertop with a sink and cabinets underneath.

In taking care of a girlfriend's daughter, I used to put her on top of the vanity with a towel underneath her bottom to clean her up from the waist down after she'd routinely wet the bed and her pajama bottoms in the middle of the night.

Usually she'd be half awake at best, which made things a little more difficult given she'd often fall asleep on the vanity, and even occasionally on the toilet. Children can be a handful at times relative to personal hygiene. Though not as complicated as was her alcoholic mother, always conspicuously absent fast asleep. With her daughter always preferring to wake me up to take care of her. :confused:
 
Last edited:
You could put an inexpensive calander on the door, and every time he brushes his teeth and showers, then put a happy face on that day. Then, a month of good behavior could mean a visit to the museum, or go let him pick out ice cream or whatever he likes doing. Then, at some point, the calendar will disappear as he becomes accustomed to handling his hygiene needs.
 
Hi mommy,

Love and affection is preferable. Sometimes you must be Hard and ask Daddy? This is a question. I'm lately since [2009] diagnosed ASD 1 and i had many collisions with the sewage in Iraq [around 1992], and my mom bathed me everytime. I came to Norway [1994] after my father.

Once when i was maybe 5 [around 1992] years a disabeled boy peed me in my face, and i don't remember i got sand in my eyes but my mom bathed me. And i didn't blink when the boy peed me in my face.
 
Hi mommy,

Love and affection is preferable. Sometimes you must be Hard and ask Daddy? This is a question. I'm lately since [2009] diagnosed ASD 1 and i had many collisions with the sewage in Iraq [around 1992], and my mom bathed me everytime. I came to Norway [1994] after my father.

Once when i was maybe 5 [around 1992] years a disabeled boy peed me in my face, and i don't remember i got sand in my eyes but my mom bathed me. And i didn't blink when the boy peed me in my face.
He's a dad.
 
Hi All,
I have a 7 year old son, who refuses to brush his teeth, or take a shower ( we do not have a bathtub). He is very comfortable with bath tubs, but we now moved and have only walk in shower. He has difficulty or I would rather say , that he is terrified sitting on the bathroom sink and do his #2. Please help.
Thanks
Embarrassingly enough, I was pretty resilient to potty training and basic hygiene as a child. So I relate to what your son is going through. I remember as a kid being more comfortable doing it while standing rather than squatting. What helped with me was potty training with those baby wipes as those we're a lot less stressing than toilet paper as a kid.

I also loved my bathtub. I would stay in there playing for hours and when I eventually got too big for it and had to move on to the shower I was distraught and cranky. Usually showers can be a bit dark, your visibility is like blocked by the shower curtains and the grip-tiles on the floor are cold and uncomfortable so it can be pretty stressful. What worked for me as a child is to bathe sitting down rather than standing even in the shower. But idk
 

New Threads

Top Bottom