Water Phobia
My son has a strange water phobia. He hates having water squirted at him, poured over him, or sprinkled on him in any way. I tried to give him a shower instead of a bath once, and he screamed and cried through the entire ordeal. Today was water play day at daycare, and as soon as he saw the bathing suit I had laid out for him, he started whining, “I don’t want to go to water play.” I assured him that he didn’t have to go in the sprinklers and it was okay to just wear the bathing suit to school. He eyed me with the suspicion of a boy who’s accustomed to his mother sneaking vegetables into his food.
He’s also terrified of swimming. Last year I enrolled him in a Mom and Baby swimming class. He sobbed his way through the first three classes, arms locked around my neck in a death-grip. By lesson #4, he started to relax, and during the last two lessons, he eagerly enjoyed them. I want to enroll him in swimming again, just to help him lose the fear of water. And yet, I have a feeling that there is no way he’ll go for it. 
Do your children have any fears? How have you helped them overcome those?
P.S.–in another funny moment, a stranger complimented him on his Superman cape and shirt, saying, “I like your shirt.”
My son: “Yes, I’m sure you do.” :confused2:
Michelle posted in Parenting @ 7:34 am | Viewed 1439 times
Suzanne Says:
That’s a tough one. My oldest was scared of swimming lessons at first, so we just waited and tried again. But he was never scared of water as a rule. You might try to getting him to play with water at home more, in the backyard, before he has to participate in an activity at school. He’ll be more relaxed at home.
Sharon Says:
My middle child hated water. Was scared to death to go into a pool unless he was velcroed to either mom or dad. Nothing we did helped. He just had to get over it on his own.
When he was five, he went from clinging to one of us to swimming like a fearless fish all in the space of a few months.
We still shake our heads over it.
Brian Says:
My wife’s nephew had the same fear while we were on our family vacation this year. It helped him to see how much fun his cousins were having in the water. He didn’t want to feel left out. (Of course, the fact that we strapped enough flotation devises to him to keep an aircraft carrier afloat helped give him the confidence he needed.)
:batman:
Michelle Says:
Suzanne–we turned on the sprinklers one hot afternoon and both of my kids ran screaming the other way.
They are mutants, I’m afraid.
Sharon–I can dream!
Brian–Nice to see you! So you think the Baby Jihad flotation devices were a good thing? I swear those look like explosive vests. That’s a great idea about having a get-together…
Amy K. Says:
My 3yo does okay now, but he used to be scared of water spraying on him, just like your guy. Actually he still won’t go in the sprinklers, even though he did really well at swimming lessons and puts his head under all the time. Kind of irrational, huh? I hope they’ll outgrow it.
Rene Says:
My son was like that until he hit the age 5 then suddenly the water phobia disappeared. I remember it being a total pain trying to give him a bath. He’d scream every time I washed his hair. Don’t know what happened to end it, it just stopped. But he’s kind of a weird kid.
Katie Says:
For the most part just remember my parenting mantra, “And this too shall pass”. They mostly outgrow it and all the tricks in the world don’t help. Can’t hurt - don’t really help.
When he’s sixteen and you can’t GET him out of the shower - you will look back on these days fondly. Or not.
Trace Says:
:cheer:Hey Michelle, congrats on finishing the book! YOU ROCK!!!!!!:rocker:
Melissa Says:
My daughter has a fear of doctors. I attribute it to the pediatrician doing a sneak attack on the day of her kindergarten physical, giving her the immunization shots without me even knowing about it so I could prepare her. I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but ever since, she’s been terrified of doctors - even the dentist. She always asks if she’s going to get a shot - even asks if Mommy is going to get a shot at the chiropractor!
—I have a fear of water, too. My parents even got me private swimming lessons. Didn’t do a bit of good. I still can’t swim.
Tori Says:
Superman cape and shirt, saying, “I like your shirt.”
My son: “Yes, I’m sure you do.”
LOL!!!!
Danica Says:
Michelle, I have a similar phobia. It’s not so much a phobia as the fact that I do not like the feeling of water spraying on my face. I hate having water touch my face. It completely creeps me out. It’s hillarious to watch me swim, because the whole point of swimming is to avoid getting water on my face. If I get any water on my face, I immediately wipe it off.
With your kids, part of it will come with age, as they get older, they’ll be more okay with it. Give them opportunities to play in the water in a non threatening way, like having boats in a bucket of water, or even (I shudder to think of the mess my children make when this happens), let them “help” you wash dishes and play in the dish water. Don’t use this as an opportunity for a sneak attack, but just let him enjoy the water in his own way.
Cheyenne McCray Says:
My family thinks it’s funny, but I hate water on my face. I won’t swim, but I’ll play in the water, and I get mad if they splash me in the face. Well, grouchy.
But I hate it even when I wash my face in the shower and have to put my face in the streaming water. 
Larissa Says:
My son was very similar. He would scream bloody murder if we put him in the shower. He eventually just got over it on his own, but not until he was around 5 years old.
Michelle Says:
So I guess we have about 2 more years before he’ll lose the phobia. Oh well. He’ll get there. Thanks guys! :headspin: