Did I Do The Wrong Thing By Not Bathing My Friend's Autistic Child?

Alfe Mercado
Bathing a child
Shutterstock | 4187011

A woman agreed to watch her friend's child overnight when the friend's father had a medical emergency. The friend's son, who is autistic, was terrified of showers, so the woman cleaned him with baby wipes and a warm washcloth instead. The next day, the friend was angry that her son hadn't been bathed and accused the woman of not being sensitive to the needs of autistic children. The woman is now wondering if she was in the wrong. Read on to find out more about this delicate situation.

Unexpectedly watching autistic child overnight during medical emergency 🚨

miskatonicualum | miskatonicualum

A parent's anger over a sweaty, unbathed autistic child.

miskatonicualum | miskatonicualum

Compassionate approach to bathing autistic child with no tub. 😊

miskatonicualum | miskatonicualum

Navigating Autism and friendships is tricky. 💙

miskatonicualum | miskatonicualum

A heartwarming moment spent with an autistic child ❤️

miskatonicualum | miskatonicualum

Navigating social norms with autistic children - AITA judgment call.

miskatonicualum | miskatonicualum

Babysitting an autistic child: Baby wipes or shower?

Babysitting an autistic child can be challenging, especially when it comes to their daily routines. A woman agreed to watch her friend's autistic child overnight and opted to clean him with baby wipes and a warm washcloth instead of showering him, knowing he was terrified of showers. However, when the child's mother came to pick him up, she was livid that he hadn't been bathed and accused the woman of messing up his bedtime routine. The woman felt she did the best she could in the circumstances, but the mother's reaction left her wondering if she did the wrong thing. In this post, we explore the challenges of babysitting an autistic child and the different approaches caregivers can take to ensure the child's needs are met. Read on for a thought-provoking discussion on this topic.

OP is praised for accommodating an autistic child and avoiding a meltdown ☺️

cschmidtusa | cschmidtusa

NTA. Taking care of someone else's child overnight is a favor. Skipping a bath for one night is no big deal. Some people just need to learn gratitude 🙄

Right-Arm-619 | Right-Arm-619

NTA for not bathing friend's autistic child, friend is an a**hole for ranting on social media about it.

Mr_Ham_Man80 | Mr_Ham_Man80

Friend's overreaction to missed bath causes social media rant. NTA.

GreekAmericanDom | GreekAmericanDom

Clean night, pull-ups, and wiped bottom. NTA for not bathing.

princessp0rkchop | princessp0rkchop

Bathing someone else's child can be a sensitive issue 😬

Vulpix-Rawr | Vulpix-Rawr

NTA for not bathing friend's autistic child. Child sounds sweet.

calaakla | calaakla

Friend gets upset over child not having a shower 😳

jinxdrain | jinxdrain

You did the right thing considering his needs 🧼✅

PoisonIvyNumberFivey | PoisonIvyNumberFivey

Cleaning an autistic child with baby wipes. NTA 👍

[deleted] | [deleted]

Being sensitive to a child's needs is not wrong 👍👏. The parent should be grateful.

criminy420 | criminy420

Being a good friend doesn't always mean being a doormat 🙅‍♀️

Pharmacienne123 | Pharmacienne123

Babysitter refuses to bathe friend's autistic child, sparks controversy.

Forsaken-Knowledge12 | Forsaken-Knowledge12

Babysitting for free with no notice? You're golden! ✨

theamazinglula | theamazinglula

Friend overreacts to child's lack of bath, OP not at fault 😌

1955photo | 1955photo

OP explains why they didn't bathe their friend's autistic child 💦

AugustBabyLEO | AugustBabyLEO

Understanding the challenges of bathing an autistic child. 💦

Fritemare | Fritemare

Skipping a bath is NTA, trauma is worse 🙌

Suspicious_Safety_45 | Suspicious_Safety_45

Friend disrespects and publicly shames babysitter for not bathing child 💔

SaikaTheCasual | SaikaTheCasual

You were NTA for not bathing your friend's autistic child 😌

Mamertine | Mamertine

Friend expects free babysitting and insults you on social media? 🙅‍♀️

ShadAppNKissMe | ShadAppNKissMe

NTA for not bathing friend's child, but reconsider doing favors 😊

WutRTatersPreciousss | WutRTatersPreciousss

Choosing the right battles: NTA for not bathing autistic child 👍

SHarks_blade | SHarks_blade

Caring for a child with autism can be challenging. You did the best you could, NTA 🤗

whatsername235 | whatsername235

Autistic Redditor approves: NTA, you made the child comfortable 👍

byterffly | byterffly

Unprepared for unexpected overnight, NTA for not bathing child 🛀

C_Majuscula | C_Majuscula

Friend's ungrateful behavior leads to end of friendship. 🤷‍♀️

LoveBeach8 | LoveBeach8

Understanding and empathy can go a long way. 💜

Fernoohlalaa | Fernoohlalaa

Helpful redditor defends decision to not bathe autistic child 👍

Direct-Plum-3558 | Direct-Plum-3558

Friend expects bath for autistic child, gets shower, YTA.

strangr55 | strangr55

Confused friend refuses to bathe autistic child. NTA.

BriefHorror | BriefHorror

Offering free emergency babysitting doesn't mean accepting abuse 💪

Minimum_Reference_73 | Minimum_Reference_73

Understanding and empathetic response to NTA comment 🧡

rantsofrebellion | rantsofrebellion

Being a good friend and host, you did your best. #NTA 🙌

animalia80 | animalia80

Compassionate response to ungrateful friend's unreasonable request 🤝

ToughGodzilla | ToughGodzilla

Respecting boundaries and prioritizing safety. 🙌

PaddlingDingo | PaddlingDingo

Being a good friend sometimes means making tough decisions 💪👍

SadderOlderWiser | SadderOlderWiser

Helpful NTA friend, but entitled mother needs to apologize 🙄

WrightOff | WrightOff

You were NTA for not bathing your friend's autistic child.

TheUtopianCat | TheUtopianCat

Supportive response to not bathing friend's autistic child.

jocelina | jocelina

Standing up for a child's fear of showers. 🚿

gwacemom | gwacemom

You helped out in a tough situation, NTA! 🙌

ginger3392 | ginger3392

Understanding and accommodating children with autism is important ❤️

DustOfTheDesert | DustOfTheDesert

Gratefulness over criticism. 🙏 NTA for not bathing.

[deleted] | [deleted]

Friend's reaction to reasonable favor: NTA, she is.

DelurkingtoComment | DelurkingtoComment

Supportive comment section with NTA verdict and shocked reaction 😱

poochonmom | poochonmom

Handling an autistic child's bathing sensitivities, NTA wins 🎉

shadow-foxe | shadow-foxe

Kind gesture to babysit, washcloth cleaning is acceptable. NTA.

TCTX73 | TCTX73

Friend's ungratefulness after favor, NTA for not bathing child 🤷‍♀️

ThreatLvlMidnight01 | ThreatLvlMidnight01

Supportive reply to a difficult situation with helpful advice ❤️

Crazyhellga | Crazyhellga

One night doesn't make a filthy child 💩 #NTA

angelbuttons77 | angelbuttons77

Navigating a tricky situation with an autistic child 👍

NaturesVividPictures | NaturesVividPictures

A heartwarming gesture of care and kindness 🤗

CoastalCerulean | CoastalCerulean

Mother of autistic child defends OP's decision not to bathe.

cannaquart | cannaquart

Friend expects free babysitting and complains about it online 😒

UnicornsNeedLove2 | UnicornsNeedLove2

Setting boundaries is important. NTA did the right thing 👍

[deleted] | [deleted]

You did a good deed, don't let her rant bring you down 😊

Creepy-Bag-5913 | Creepy-Bag-5913