HELPING WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF WELLNESS

 Autistic individuals never feel reassured when they are not able to predict events. They need to know what will happen in a given time. That means it is essential to talk through each bathing step with the child to know what to expect during the bathing process.   

It’s also important to choose Personal Hygiene cleansing items carefully for your autistic child to eliminate sensory issues of any unwanted smells or textures. 

 Most of us think of taking a bath as a relatively relaxing experience, but for someone who is sensitive to stimuli, (sensory issues) there’s actually a lot going on.  When parents bathe their autistic children, they face a variety of challenges.   A child on the autism spectrum may find bath time traumatic, which in turn makes it hard for whoever is bathing them. 

 This may be because they do not enjoy the sounds and feelings associated with being in the bath or the need to sit still.

Some of the things that may affect them negatively include: 

• Splashing or running water
• Water temperature
• Bathroom lights
• The smells of soaps or shampoos
• The feeling of soap on their skin
• The feeling of being towel-dried or wrapped in a towel
• The feeling or fear of getting soap in their eyes
• The sound of water draining

 As a result of these negative feelings, children may develop a fear of water. They may also get anxious about getting out of the tub and being exposed to the cold air or slippery surfaces.

 The best way to make personal hygiene or bath time more enjoyable (or at least less traumatic) for everyone is to limit a child’s exposure to potential fears as much as possible and play to their strengths.  

The one thing that will calm down the child during bath time involves having their favorite toys in the tub. Another idea is to have some wind-up toys in the tub because the child can watch the toys move through the water as children with autism are fascinated with the cause-and-effect phenomenon. 

It is also a good idea to provide toys with different feels and textures so your child can get used to varying sensations during bath time. This may help them accept the mixed feelings that are felt during bath time as long as it is not overwhelming in any way.  

 Children on the autism spectrum generally like routine. If bath time happens at the same time and in the same way each day, there may be less room for anxiety over the unexpected.  It may also be wise to schedule bath time a few hours before or after other stimulating activities, so the child is already calm and not overstimulated.  

Some autistic children are easier to bathe when they are distracted by toys. Here are a few bathtub items to try:

• Some children may like to pay with glow sticks in the tub watching the water light up or making rings to connect as a string of them. Take the rings and let them play by tossing it on the faucet and knobs. (Glow sticks can be inexpensively purchased at your local Dollar Store).
• Sensory sponges – The different textures will allow your child to choose what they enjoy most. 
• Bath crayons – These easy-wash crayons are a great distraction for children who don’t enjoy bath or shower time but do love to get creative. They let your child focus on something more pleasant, so bath time is over before they know it. 
• Let them wear their swimsuit and give them beach toys to play with and add a few Rockin Happy Rocks friends to bathe with them.

 In some cases, a shower may be a better option than a bath for a child on the autism spectrum. It will all depend on the individual and how they respond to the feeling of water on their skin.   Try both a bath and shower with your child, making sure you use a routine, pay close attention to water temperature, and eliminate as many scents as possible before deciding which they respond to best.   

 If your child is sensitive to sounds, fill the bathtub without them in the room. You may also keep in mind the height at which they prefer the water. Some children do not like to be submerged more than is necessary. 

 You can also perform a temperature check so you know the bath water will not be too hot or too cold for the child and cause them extra discomfort.  In addition, if you prepare a child’s bath ahead of time, you will have the chance to remove any items (such excess bottles) that might cause them anxiety.  If the soap stings a typical child’s eyes, it will feel much worse to a child with autism.  

Your child may have a meltdown when you lean back while bathing them. If so, then rinse your child while moving in a forward position because he or she will feel more secure. It is also a good idea to put swimming goggles on your child so that there is no soap, water, or shampoo going into the eyes.  

The washcloth you are using to wash the child must be gentle to the child’s skin.  The ideal thing to use to clean the child is a loofah because the soft texture. When bath time is over, the child will become cold quickly, and that will overwhelm them. Make sure as soon as bath time is done to have large beach-towels that are soft and sensory-friendly to cover them up right away from head to toe. 

Once they are dried and are kept warm with the towel, getting out of the tub will not be a scary experience either.  

 When an autistic child struggles with personal hygiene, he/she doesn't do it out of spite or willful ignorance. Children with autism spectrum disorder often avoid brushing their teeth due to a lack of social awareness and sensory sensitivities.   Medical professionals categorize these issues into hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity.  

• Brush your teeth together as a family giving them ideas to use different techniques. Sing a happy tune to focus their attention on that.
• Try using warm water! The shock of cold water could be a bit off-putting, and a simple adjustment of temperature could make all the difference.
• Change the toothpaste flavor. Try fruity, mint, and unflavored. ...
• Brushes can also be difficult for children with sensory issues. ... try a soft brush first.
• Go electric. ... or water pic

 Hyposensitivity means limited sensation or numbness in the oral region, often causing anxiety about the toothbrushing process. 

On the other hand, hypersensitivity is the heightened awareness of anything entering the mouth. 

For children on the autism spectrum, it can be unpleasant to brush their teeth if not performed with care as with any other personal hygiene.

  Parents always try to come up with creative ways to make their children brush their teeth to "Rock-A-Smile".

  Watch the videos below that contains tips and tricks to develop good oral hygiene of brushing teeth for sensory processing disorder and autism.