Bathing

Anything could have scared her. She could have slipped or even watching the water go down the drain. I would keep the water level low, cover the drain with a wash cloth, always be right there by her side to smooth her. Never leave her unattended (not that I am saying you did). Maybe you can take baths togather until she feels safe again. Try bubble baths, my childre have so much fun with the bubbles. They also have crayons that you can color with in the bath tub. Maybe some music playing, just make it lots of fun. She needs to feel safe.

I have a daughter that turned one on 10/13 and she went threw this to. It lasted about 4 weeks. I have no idea why but all kids go threw this. All of my other kids did to. Be reassured that she will love taking them again. Dont worry. Hope that helps.

I don't want to scare you, but get your child to a doctor to get ears checked and such just in case. This happened to my son very recently. He just turned 2 in March. Well he all of a sudden started screaming in the tub and shower and come to find out he had a tumor behind his ear and the water was getting in and causing more pain and swelling. My son came within 24 hours of death. It may sound stupid, but I think it would be better for you to get your daughter checked then let it go. My son's tumor had been growing since he was born. It wasn't actually found until the did the surgery. We were very lucky. He had ear problems but we didn't know it because he had no symptoms until the very last minute.

I wish you all the best and hope it is something simple.

My daughter went from sitting in the tub not not liking them overnight. (exactly as you described) Oh boy! We settled on having her stand up in the tub and have the faucet run continuously (not a shower though). With 'helping' in the tub, (squirting the soap out of the jar and such, holding a cloth up to her face so soap does not go in it.....) she seems content. For awhile my husband and I hated bath time because she screamed and such! Her playing is putting water into a plastic cup and pouring it out - that is all she wants! (getting in and out quickly is a key we found that helped - think of all the money we have saved on bath toys!)

Her younger brother is just the opposite and sure likes the tub and water!

Good luck!

I had this problem with my daughter at around the same time. After buying a pile of tub toys, what finally worked was the crayola tub crayons. I took the lid to a large tupperware container and let her draw on it like paper. We drew all over the tub, the walls and on her. She loved it. She still had little episodes of crying every once in awhile, but they seemed to be milder. I also bought the crayola bath paint too. She is now 3 as still loves to draw on herself and the tub. Don't worry, she knows the difference between tub crayons and real ones and has never used her real crayons on anything but paper. I hope this helps.

I had to laugh when I read your request. My son did the exact same thing. It's frustrating isn't it? I just gave him a bath tonight, a short one mind you because he tried climbing out. I'd love to hear what advice people have.

P.

My oldest daughter had the same thing. She was pretty much indifferent towards baths and then became terrified of water very quickly.

Anything can trigger it. From soap in the eyes, to a tiny bit of water making them cough. Torri couldn't even stand swimming.

She does much better with it now but she's still worried I'll get soap in her eyes or something, and she reminds me of it every time she takes a bath.

My daughter went through this as well. We just tried different things and she eventually worked through it. Different toys, bathing with the child and just making it a quick bath. It was hard for us because we lived in an apartment at the time and I still wonder what those people were thinking when they would hear her scream. But one thing that worked and took awhile to break the habit was my husband put on swimming trunks and climbed into the tub with her and let her wash his hair and scrub his back. So that may be another idea is to let the child wash you instead of washing them. Going one day without shampooing or scrubbing won't hurt them if this works! After reading the one comment about the child with a tumor, I would say that it would be worth checking it out with your doctor just to rule out anything with the ears. Good luck and just use ALOT of patience!

That happened with my son last Feb, 2 months before turning 2. It lasted for over a month, and nothing seemed to help. I couldn't figure it out, because he had nothing traumatic happen with water to cause it. I even tried taking a bath with him, and he still screamed. I don't have much advice to give, it seemed like it was just a phase that had to pass... I just kept putting him in the bath even if he was screaming, and tried to be overly careful about getting water in his face or anything he didn't like, and encouraged him to play with his toys, and over about a month, he got back to normal. I never figured out the reason for it. The first time he screamed was at a swimming pool, he hadn't been swimming in about 6 months, and refused to even get in the water, and just screamed when we got close. Then it continued on to every bath after that... I thought he was scared of the size of the pool, but he really loved his baths, had always screamed for getting out before that, so I never really understood the reason. I do know of other people who have been through similar things, and it did pass... sorry I can't be much more help than that!

I had the exact same problem with my daughter. I started getting in the tub with her during bath time to show her that there wasn't anything to be scared of and about two weeks later she returned to normal. It might be worth a shot, good luck H.

would she take a shower with you? My son loves both showers and baths. Its worth a shot if you haven't tryed that.

My son went through the same thing around that age. We started putting very little in the bath and working up from there. We also bought bath books that he could hold while i gave him a bath. I have also heard of people getting into the tub with their child. Maybe have her sit on your lap in the tub while you wash her.

I figured out that my son's issue had to do with water getting in his eyes. To this day he freaks out if water gets in his eyes. I tought him to tip his head back around that age and things have been much better since. We also took him to swimming classes (he now "swims in his pool" - the tub and will put the back of his head in the water). Try to get her used to the bath and then introduce swimming classes once she is better about taking baths.

It is a stage!! My oldest daughter, who will be 2 next week, hated baths, loved them, hated them and now I can't get her out of the tub!! I know it is frustrating but it will get better. My youngest, 8months, hates bathes now so I am at both ends of the spectrum. Good luck!