Almost 4 year old doesn't like to bathe
My son is almost 4, he loves to play with water. Just as long as he doesn't need to get cleaned. When it comes time to wash his hair he starts to freak out, crying, saying hes all done in the water and wants to get out. He doesn't like water getting on his face when I have to rinse his hair of the soap, even just getting it wet is an issue. I've tried using a wash cloth but his hair is so thick it takes forever to get wet. I've tried sitting with him and getting him to put the back of his head in the water but he hates it. He hates the shower even more. I'm at such a loss because bath time is such a fight and he could go forever without taking one if he could. Its been like this since he was around 10 months or something like that, it started young. I don't know what happened. He just switched one day from enjoying the water to absolutely hating it. I've even tried the crown thing that goes on the head to block the water from falling into his face but fights to get it on and will not use it.
He has so many bath toys and bubble baths and things that could make bath time more enjoyable for him. Its just the water getting in his face and getting clean he loathes.
Does it ever get "better"?
What are some ways you worked around this?
I'm at such a loss. I feel like a bad mom because he starts to cry, or get out of the bath etc and I lose my cool and start to raise my voice after trying to be calm and gentle with him.
Any advice or recommendations or anything at this point would be appreciated.
~From a tired, stressed out mom