A shower instead?

Thank you so much everyone. He won't shower but I've tried not having him hear the running water. I make sure he's in another part of the house while I fill the tub a bit. Then I slowly and calmly get him to come to the bathroom. Keeping myself calm and enthusiastic for his bath has been working most days. Thank you so much for all your suggestions and support!!

I think you're going to have to isolate activities to determine what he's really afraid of at bath time. There's lots of things to be afraid of. My son used to hate the sound of running water, so we'd keep him downstairs until the tub was full. Maybe he's had an experience where he thought the water was too hot/cold and is afraid. Maybe he doesn't like the hard surface of the tub (I used to put a towel on the bottom of the tub so my son had something soft to sit on). Lots of kids are afraid of drains because they think they might get sucked down into it. He could be afraid of getting soap in his eyes, or it could just mean that bathtime is a lead-up to something else he doesn't like (bedtime?). But, I think @A MyAutismTeam Member has a good suggestion of the shower, if that works!

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A MyAutis...

Sometimes it can be excessive stimulation that leads to acting out. The sound of the water or lights or even the feeling of the water & temperature difference on his skin. Maybe try letting him fill the tub with low lights. I know it's a struggle. Hang in there and be sure to take care of yourself so you don't go crazy and it becomes more difficult to be patient.

My 3 year old grandaughter hasn't taken an official bath since the last part of the summer. She would go in our pool but seems scared of the running water and the bath itself. She used to love taking baths then one day didn't. I have been sponge bathing her. Every other day i put water in the tub and put her toys in there and just let her play outside the tub hoping one day she will go back in.