Toddlers aversion to water

So DS has always hated having water on his head/face so showers or washing his hair in the bath has always been a trial. It was too the point we stopped swimming lessons cos we were just ending with hysterics at even lying in the water with his head on my shoulder. However in the last month its progressed to refusing to even get in the bath or shower and he's had maybe 3 proper washes in that time, the rest of the time I've been sort of wiping him down but its not the same as having a bath/shower and his hair desperately needs a wash!
We've tried ignoring his fear, reassuring him, bribes with new bath toys, special bubbles etc but its getting worse rather than better...
Anyone have any experience with this? Any suggestions?

sent from my watzamajig so may not make sense....

Its really not the weather for it, but I would normally have suggested something like play outside under the sprinkler or with the hose. Do you have any swimming pools nearby that have those fountain/sprayer things that come from the floor and above?

Sorry, but nothing else - just didn't want to read and run. I have the opposite problem - can't get my kids out of the damn bath without hysterics.

we don't really have that problem here either. but DD does like 'painting' in the shower. i spray shaving cream on the shower screen and she fingerpaints in it while having a shower. you can also add food dye to make coloured paint.

here are some more ideas for bath play

http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com.a...h%20Time%20Fun

DS1 was the same. We just had to stand him in the bath with one of those shower heads attached to the taps. He would control the shower head/water & we would wash him. Hair we would give him a wash cloth to hold to his eyes and quickly rinse with the shower head.

He grew out of it just before he turned 4. He now swims & loves the bath. Still not so keen on the shower except at swimming & hair washing can be painful at times for us all.

Don't know if I have helped. Hopefully in some way x

He could have a sensory issue with water, I'd ask an OT for some advice