Our daughter, from birth, loved the bath so much that I actually dreaded it because I would end up soaked. I would have to change my clothes after each bath because she would go so nuts and laugh and splash. Last weekend, my in-laws were visiting and my mother-in-law bathed her Friday and Saturday nights. Friday night I didn't notice anything awry, and Saturday night my husband and I were out at bathtime. Sunday night, when I bathed her before bed, she screamed like I was hurting her. I wondered if she had a bladder infection, or if the water was causing her pain somehow. I washed her quickly and then got her ready for bed. The next night, I couldn't even get her in the water because she was so hysterical. By Thursday night, I forced her to have a quick bath because she hadn't been properly washed all week. Today is the following Tuesday and she is still very upset by it. We are at my mom's now, in a new tub, and she still doesn't like the bath. I brought up the possibility to my husband that something happened to her (she fell in the tub, got water dumped on her face, etc) when my MIL was bathing her, but he got defensive and angry that I implied it was her fault (I admit that I am often critical of her style and it irritates my husband). But, she does dump water on our 3 year old's head when she bathes him and he hates it. Anyway, can anyone think of a reason why all of a sudden for 7 months, a kid LOVES bathtime, and now literally overnight it becomes torturous?! I am so sad each night, I want my happy, smiley baby back!
Thanks!
Our daughter is almost 10 months now and loving the bath. Thanks everyone!
E. -
Spot cleaning on a towel or in the sink is a way to get around the bath. And, one idea to help her feel comfortable in the bathtub again is for you or her dad to get in the tub with her.
hi E.,
all of a sudden my 7 month old started hating the bath too! one night when he was in the tub i turned on the water and he freaked out, i assumed from the loud gushing sound of the water, and ever since then he will not sit down in the tub, and clings to me. my husband has to hold him while i wash him! i'm a little behind on checking my mamasource emails, so maybe you got a bunch of advice already from other moms on what to do. if you get some good advice, can you please pass it along to me??? thanks!!
I would suggest a bath toy or two to help make baths fun. Also, you don't need to bathe your baby every day -- every 2-3 days is fine as long as you clean her hands face and diaper area. I would also make sure that the air is not too cold in the area where you are bathing her.
Best,
R.
I had a very similar experience with my daughter when she was about 1, but no one else had bathed her. I took her to the doctor thinking she had a bladder infection.
It also was also a phase. It passed quickly.
Maybe try a new bath toy? One that would require her to be in there. Like tub crayons?
Sounds like a pretty typical 'phase'; our son loved the bath then hated it for a while and now loves it again. Your baby needs a bath, so keep doing the super quick bath and hopefully, eventually she'll grow to love it again!
One suggestion that might help her enjoy bath time is to put her in the tub with your son. I've been bathing my 11 month old with my 3 1/2 year old daughter for the past few months & she absolutely loves getting in the tub with her big sister. She, too, went through a phase of not wanting to take a bath but now runs over when she sees me turn the water on. Good luck!
Our daughter developed eczema, and we now can only bathe her 1-2 times a week. Perhaps your MIL used a harsher soap, by accident, and her skin is irritated? Our girl's eczema was nonexistent until the dryness of winter kicked in about 6 weeks ago.
Talk to your MIL, if you can without showing anger, to ask her if it happened to her too? Maybe you two can work together to figure it out and maybe prevent another incident if it was something traumatic.
well i also experience that change my son who loves baths now at one point began to fuss during his baths. so i sang to him a familiar song something that soothing that i would sing to him before bed or a fussy time. just so he can relate the bath to a soothing experience or moment and just t inform u babies dont need baths7 days a week. good luck and relax u will figure out a solution with basic motherly instinct. like learn her expressions babies have feelings they just cant express themselves as clearly as us. good luck and enjoy these learning times.
My daughter hated baths from the second her cord fell off. Easy solution, my husband and I showered together a lot (sexy and saves water!) and just brought her in with us (not so sexy but still fun). Maybe your daughter would like the change of pace! My daughter is 7 now and still, showers are for cleaning and baths are for playing in. :)
The same exact thing happened with us. Although my MIL didn't necessarily do anything different, my daughter at about 15 months suddenly was terrified of the bath after my MIL visited. It was a phase. I think the security/ routine of our bath style was disrupted when MIL gave her a bath. It was just a phase. We just backed off, and tried to let our little girl rediscover the fun of a bath. In the meantime we just washed up at the bathroom sink to stay somewhat clean. Put some toys in the tub or let you daughter splash the water in the tub while standing outside the tub. Eventually, she will want to climb in and play with the toys and water. Just listen to her limits, and she will feel secure again.
E., It is probably better not to criticize your MIL since you don't know for sure she did anything. We all defend our mothers and as I learned as the years went by my mom has done just as many irritating things as my husband's mom. Just a marriage tip after 28 years!
Rather than worry about what happened I would work on a solution. As a child development specialist I would suggest reshaping the situation. Bath her in a playful, different situation. Maybe a small plastic container or even a baby swimming pool. Do it outside the bathroom and don't put her in the water. Put really cool toys in and then see if she reaches to get it. Maybe you could blow bubbles while she is in there to distract her. As she adapts to the water again you could slowly go back to the bath. Will she bathe with her sib or with you? Maybe that would be different enough that she will see it as a different event.
Good luck. A.
