Bath Time Tips for Autistic Lils
From an Autistic & Disabled Lil
Utilizing Visual Schedules, Routines, and Easing Transitions
Schedules and Routines - Getting Organized
To start… introducing visual schedules and routines as well as using transitions easing methods, in my experience, practice, and observation, results in overall less stress and lower spoon expenditure.
Take time to come up with a bath time schedule - Which days out of the week will you take your baths? Once you know create a visual schedule for which days this will be.
Coming up with a routine - This can have as few or as many steps as is appropriate for your needs. Write it out. It can be as few or many words as you like/need and with/without pictures. You can choose to take this visual routine and put it in a large clear ziploc or a page protector with the open side taped up with packing tape, or choose to laminate it and put it in your bath space for you to refer to.
Be Prepared - Think about what you need for after your bath: clothes, lotion, pants, etc. and during your bath: wash, bath toys, water rag/loofah/net sponge/etc… make a list of both of these things. You can choose to put pictures too or just words. I find it helpful to keep my after bath things list in my room and carry it with my to the bathroom after I have together everything from in my room and to keep my during bath things list in the bathroom.
Easing Transitions - Working with, not Against Your Brain
I know I reaaaally struggle with transitions surrounding bath time… going from hot to cold and and cold to hot and dry to wet and wet to dry plus the act of transitioning itself make for the perfect recipe for a meltdown. Some transition tools and methods I find helpful are:
Musical Timer - Play x number (predetermined number) of songs, when the final song goes off - Transition. If you would have a hard time keeping track, you can do what I do… I have playlists for different tasks and they have set numbers of songs on them and I play them in order each time so when the last song comes on I know to transition. Ex. (After this 3 songs/this playlist, I will get my things together for my bath or After 8 songs/this playlist I will get out the bath… etc.
Visual timer - Use a visual timer app to help with transitions. There are sooooo many! I have a water one!
The before mentioned visual aids also assist in easing stress around transitions!
Preparing the Space You’ll Return to After Your Bath
Having a nice, cozy, and comforting space to return to after your bath is preferable because you’re setting yourself up to be able to get out of the bath and take a nap or unwind and not to be overstimulated.
If you are taking a nap: set up your sleeping space - darken the area, get your blankies and stuffies ready, gather your nap time drink and paci, etc. and place them in your sleeping space. If you sleep with media playing (music, tv, stories, etc.) already have this on and playing for when you walk into your space.
If you are not napping, set up your space for an unwinding or calm time period - have soft or sensory lighting on, get a cozy spot made up for either calm time or a low stimulation play time, get any toys/sensory toys, quiet time activities, stuffies, etc. that you would like to have and put them in your space. Also, gather any snacks and drinks you want for after your bath and place those in your space and put on calmer music or a lower stimulation toddler/kids show/movie
Delivering Positive Reinforcement
Give yourself Positive Reinforcement for Bath Time - Positive Reinforcement is the idea that when a stimuli is added (think plus/positive) a behavior or series of behaviors is more likely to occur because it is reinforced by access to whatever the stimuli is. The stimuli can be access to a preferred item, activity, movie, etc. By associating nonpreferred tasks with positive reinforcement, it makes them become less taxing.
Get a separate sheeet for stickers. Earn one for yourself each time you complete your bath on bath day. How many spots your sticker sheet has, how often you earn something, and what you earn when it’s full is up to you!
In ADDITION to this - do something you highly enjoy/prefer to do after your bath and remind yourself you get to do it when you’re done throughout the bath.
Bonus points if you add a section on your visual bath routine (discussed in “Coming up with a Routine”) at the bottom that says “After my bath I get to…” and in the blank, either… draw a picture, write words with a dry erase marker, or print & laminate pictures of what you will get to do afterwards!
Enhancing the Sensory Experience of Bath Time
Setting the environment during bath time can significantly reduce the likelihood of overstimulation. Some things to keep in mind are…
Lighting - Have soft low level lighting. Instead of using the big light, try a wave or galaxy projector or just a cute nightlight or string lights, possibly around the mirror.
Smells - Try to avoid using overpowering scents in your bath routine, opt for things like lavender, chamomile, oat, and/or other light/baby scents if you’re able.
Soundscape - Play softer, more soothing kids or toddlers music such as Laurie Berkner Band or lullabies. Another couple of options are to put on white noise of your choosing (waves, rain, etc.) or to watch an episode of a lil safe show while in the bath.
Tactile (Touch) - Add things that feel nice and/or are nice to play with such as: bubbles, bath books, squirt toys, water cause and effect toys, light up bath toys, bath rattles, etc.
Give yourself grace n be kind to you!!
