Hi Mamas. Thanks ahead for all your help...
I was wondering when I might expect my daughter to finally be able to take a shower all on her own. She's 6 now and is getting better, but still doesn't always get all the shampoo/conditioner all over her hair, or rinsed out all the way, and managing the bottle of shampoo itself seems awkward. Is it her age or size, or do I just need to have more confidence in her and make her practice more? She has long hair, by the way, well past her shoulders.
I am just so looking forward to being able to say "go take a shower" and expecting her to do it all right all by herself. When did it finally happen with your daughters?
I am so glad to know I'm not the only one!
I like the idea of travel-size containers or pump bottles, and then I'll encourage her to do more herself. I'm sure she'll be happy to learn more independene--I'll tell her it's helping her get ready to be a big girl of 7. :)
Sounds like she'll still need help with rinsing for a while, anyhow, but I'm glad to know there's hope on the horizon.
My daughter is 7 1/2 and I still have to help her with it all. I was wondering the same thing. By reading these posts it kinda looks like I should let her go on her own and help when asked.
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My daughter is 7 1/2 and I still have to help her with it all. I was wondering the same thing. By reading these posts it kinda looks like I should let her go on her own and help when asked.
My 7 year old has been showering by herself since she was 4. The difference is she has shorter hair. There have been times when I have had to help her rinse the shampoo out when she has missed it. You can always get your daughter a smaller bottle of shampoo, travel size even, that you can refill. Show her the correct amount to use, rub her hands together. Kids tend to want to pour it in their hands and plop it on their heads. =)
At age 6 kids lack the gross and fine motor skills to do tasks such as washing hair. When my kid was that age I let her wash her body in the front, then I did the back and I shampooed and rinsed her hair ( she has very curly hair and rinsing the hair is alway a 2 people job). Let her shampoo first and then you take over making sure the hair and scalp is clean. Do the same with conditioner and rinsing.
My daughter is 6, and she has long hair. Just like yours, she doesn't get the shampoo/conditioner worked into ALL her hair, just some of it. She does rinse fully, but I think that's more a matter of it rinsing as she plays.
I had long hair as a child too, and my mother helped wash my hair until I was 9 or 10 and I had to learn in order to go on a long trip overseas with just my dad. My sister did too, and she washed & brushed her own at about 7 or 8, but she didn't do a good enough job and ended up having a HUGE tangle that I spent about 3 hours getting out when my mom would've just cut it all off.
We all use (and used) separate conditioner and shampoos, because the brushing is next to impossible with a combined product!
My daughters are 4 and 6, and just getting the hang of it. I throw them in the shower together (time is a luxury around here).... they can wash their bodies themselves, but then I squirt the 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner in their hands... that's the only part I help with. They do great washing their hair and rinsing themselves. It only took like 3 or 4 showers before they got the washing and rinsing down pat by themselves... But I definately would recommend any 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner, and teach your daughter to only use about the size of a quarter... that should teach her portion control. Good luck!!
N.-
Some kids can do the showers all by themselves fairly young, but my son is not one of them. He is 11 and I still need to remind him to wash his hair and his face. At 6, with long hair, it would seem to be asking a lot to be able to manage the whole process. I would put your daughter's shampoo and conditionersin travel containers so she can handle the bottles better or use the pump top bottles, but even those can require a lot of effort. To make it easier on you, can she take a shower every other day, with a face washing on the off days? What if she was taking a bath? Does that help?
S.
My daughter is 7 and we had the same issue! We found a solution that works for us! She is fully capable of doing everything herself, EXEPT rinsing her hair! So She washes it herself and either her dad and I go in and tell her if all the soap is out. I dont ever expect her to get it all out. THEN, once a week (more if her hair looks yucky), I go in and give her a good shampoo and condition and really make sure it is rinsed well. Good luck!
I have two daughters, four and two. My four year old will not take a shower, she doesn't like the water in her face. My two year old wants to shower 100 times a day! I guess it's just preference.
By the time they are six I'm sure I'll have some of the same issues. It is hard to get all the shampoo out of long hair. I'm guessing you'll have to step in and help her with the rinsing for a while. maybe you could go in and see if all the shampoo is out and if it isn't ask her to try again and then help her. I have a hard time getting all the shampoo out of my four year old's hair, it is also very long. As far as the bottle being awkward to hold, you could buy here some of those plastic travel bottles they sell and fill it up when it gets low.
I think if you keep encouraging her and finding ways to make showering a little easier you will see a big improvement in no time at all.
It's funny you posted this, because just last night my hubby and I were having this conversation with our 7.5 yr old daughter. We adopted the "sink or swim" approach and just sent her upstairs to do it herself. And guess what...it was a total success! Keep in mind, she has always had a very active part in doing the showers herself (minus the washing the hair) and it was usually me just sitting in the bathroom with her. My daughter has thick, curly hair and it is almost impossible for her to wash and rinse her hair all by herself. So we figured she can take her showers by herself and then when I have the time, I will just wash her hair.
Hi, my daughter is 7 1/2 - she's been showering by herself for almost a year but there have been several times she'll call me to help her rinse her hair. The past few months or so she is almost self sufficient! lol :-) although I still turn on the water for her and adjust the temperature. I think it might be a little longer before she can do that on her own.
Gosh - is something wrong with my daughter?? She is 11 1/2 and still has trouble getting all the shampoo out! We have been to high end salons, purchased $40 shampoos to supposedly help get the goop out that is stuck WAY DOWN IN HER HEAD! YUCK! We have shortened my daughter's hair multiple times, but it's always the same big circular area in the back/top of her head. My 6 year old son does it all by himself every other day without any trouble, except I help him adjust water temp.! Is there hope for my daughter? Do you have suggestions?? I don't want her teased at school because her hair looks so greasy and yucky if I dont' help her, but it's a nightmare every time I suggest it! HELP!
Hi Noell,
My daughter is seven. A few weeks ago she finally managed the shower nobs and informed me I no longer have to turn the water on and off for her. She also has long hair. Most of the time she handles the washing and rinsing, but occassionally I will help out. This is usually when I notice it is getting dry or too tangly.
I too was longing for the whole, "Go take a shower" days, but now that they are here and she is my youngest I am a little sad. Enjoy the mothering moments they won't last too much longer. :)
C.
