Bath towel
A rough terry towel against cold, damp skin can feel like scrubbing instead of drying, especially across the shoulders and back. The steps below show a softer order for getting dry after the bath.
Bath towel
A rolled-up blue bath towel.
About this visual support
Rough fabric on cold, wet skin is one of those details adults often miss, but a child can react to it strongly. Across the shoulders and back the nerve endings sit close together, and a quick rub becomes uncomfortable rather than soothing.
The pictures in this set break the drying down into manageable moments: wrap the body first, pat instead of rub, leave the head for last. Seeing the order in advance removes most of the surprise, and surprise is half of the resistance. On especially sensitive days, a towel warmed on a radiator softens that first cold contact.
One concrete tip: dry the arms from wrist upward so the next touch is predictable. Once the routine sticks, the cards come out less often, but they are useful to fall back on during a tired evening. To build the whole post-bath routine with a timer and check-offs, you can try Routined free for 14 days.