As a parent or grandparent, you know that certain things seem to trigger meltdowns in children. Whether they’re experiencing big feelings or have lost a game, those tantrums can come on in a hurry.
And then there are those everyday moments that are seemingly benign to most people, including children, yet you can’t put your finger on why they trigger your child so much. You might ask, “Why do toddlers scream when washing hair?”
Even beyond the toddler years, if a child hates getting their hair washed, sensory factors may be at play. Although 5 to 17 percent of the general population experiences sensory issues, as The University of Kansas reports, it particularly impacts children with autism. In fact, 90 percent of children who have been diagnosed with autism have something called sensory processing disorder (SPD).
With bathtime meltdowns, sensory processing disorder may influence how kids feel about getting their hair washed more than you realize. Although it can be frustrating for you, as you carry out what you believe is a mundane task, it can help to put yourself in the child’s shoes and understand their sensory overload with hair-washing.
Ahead, we detail the sensory triggers that can bring on hair-washing tantrums, the physical systems that can affect the process and how an occupational therapist might be able to make things easier.
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It’s Not a Tantrum: The Hidden Sensory Triggers Behind Hair-Washing Meltdowns
Dr. Diane Knoll, OTD, OTR/L, an occupational therapist who specializes in mental health and sensory support, says that there can be several individual reasons why hair-washing triggers a child’s meltdowns or a combination of sensory triggers.
“Sometimes, the tactile transition of getting undressed and dressed for baths and showers can be hard for children. If a child is sensitive to temperature regulation, this can also impact the transition,” she explains. “Some children have a hard time with the feeling of wet on their skin, especially with their face, and so that can be another reason. Other children may have tactile hypersensitivity with their scalps, and with these kids, you will also see hair brushing as a challenge. The water pressure used can also feel painful to their nervous system.”
These children may also struggle with the action of tipping their heads back, which she says can be “destabilizing to their nervous system.”
“When this is the case, you will see this present in other areas of function,” she points out. “This child may also be cautious or avoid playground equipment or walking on uneven surfaces.”
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Hidden Sensory Systems Overloaded by Bath Time
Vestibular system
The vestibular system centers on your inner ear, which can factor into balance and spatial awareness—and there can be vestibular sensitivity while hair washing.
“When the head moves in space, fluid shifts inside the inner ear, bending tiny sensory hair cells that tell the brain where the body is in relation to gravity,” Dr. Knoll explains. “In children with vestibular modulation differences, sometimes called ‘over-responsiveness,’ tipping the head backwards can cause overload of the system. Their brain interprets this movement as a loss of control and sends false panic signals that make them feel unsafe.”
Vision impairment
“Tipping your head back in space also causes a loss of visual grounding, and a child may have a more difficult time orienting themselves in space,” Dr. Knoll reveals. “Light sensitivity could also play a role here. If a bathroom’s light is too bright, tipping the head back would increase the intensity of the light stimulus.”
Unintegrated reflexes
Dr. Knoll calls this the “Moro reflex,” also known as an unintegrated reflex that’s triggered by “a sudden backward movement or extinction of the head.”
In other words?
“It is a startle reflex, and meant to help a baby’s survival by getting them to respond in a way to get a caregiver’s attention,” she explains. “It is typically integrated between four and six months, because this is the time that children develop more postural stability and mobility. If it is not integrated, it can go on to cause significant stress in children as they gain more mobility developmentally.”
Sensory overload
Hair washing, by its very nature, carries a certain amount of auditory and olfactory overload, which can include the acoustics of the bathroom and bath scents, as Dr. Knoll notes.
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2 Occupational Therapy Tips for Hair Washing
Luckily, there are some sensory-friendly hair-washing techniques you can turn to help your child or grandchild.
First of all, Dr. Knoll is a big advocate for something called the “before, during and after approach,” which was originally developed by an autistic occupational therapist.
“The goal is to prep the nervous system before an activity, use coping strategies during a potential trigger, and help calm and recharge the nervous system afterward,” she states. “For hair washing, this might mean doing ‘heavy work’ before starting, using adaptations like a shampoo visor, no-rinse cap or partial wash cap alongside a calming fidget during the wash, and resting with a weighted blanket in a rocking swing afterward.”
It’s also key to “give your child a voice,” as Dr. Knoll says, which involves letting them make choices about what helps them feel calm. She notes that some examples include letting them choose between two shampoo scents, selecting a fidget to hold during hair washing or deciding on lighting adjustments, like dimmed lights or a projector.
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When Should You Seek an Occupational Therapy (OT) Evaluation?
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If you’ve tried these tricks and your child continues to struggle with hair washing, should you consider visiting an occupational therapist?
“I typically look at whether sensory differences are impacting other daily routines beyond hair washing, as it’s rarely an isolated issue,” Dr. Knoll explains. “Often, it takes a bit of detective work to uncover the underlying cause of a child’s behavior and determine if sensory processing is playing a key role. An OT evaluation helps tease that information out to give families a much clearer picture of what is happening.”
It can also be beneficial to specifically seek out what’s called a “neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapist.”
“A neurodiversity-affirming therapist respects a child’s sensory boundaries rather than trying to force compliance,” she notes. “By honoring their nervous system and helping them understand their internal cues, we can adapt the environment and build genuine coping skills without causing trauma.”
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Dr. Diane Knoll, OTD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist who also specializes in mental health and sensory support.Hence then, the article about occupational therapist wishes parents and grandparents knew that kids who hate having their hair washed may be reacting to more than water was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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