Help with Bathtime

Hi N.,

I too have a 23 month old and she absolutely LOVES taking a bath. She started to not be too interested in baths, and then we bought bubble bath and now she loves them. We also have these little bath toy animals and before she even comes in the bathroom we line them up along the tub, start the bubble bath, and she runs in and pushes all of her toys in the tub, then says, "Clothes off. Diaper off." Once she gets in the tub she loves playing with the bubbles and washing herself. It has been a great tool to teach her all of her body parts by allowing her to wash her own arms, belly, etc. Now we are moving on to try to teach left and right. She use to get mad when I would take fun time out to wash her, so now I lather up and tell her we need to put bubbles on her left foot, belly, etc. Good luck!

They do go through phases. My DS just turned four and currently hates baths. But there have been other times when he has loved them (and hated them). It's a matter of experimenting - like others have said, different soap, different toy, etc. (If I tell him he gets to dump water on daddy's head (not mine - hee hee!) he'll get in, for instance.)

We have gone through periods where we just have to say, "Sorry. You're really dirty and need a bath and if you don't climb in we're going to put you in," and sometimes have had to bathe him as he stands in the tub and cries the whole time. Those are very quick baths.

But just like everything else, this too shall pass, and in a couple months you'll be fighting with him to get him OUT of the tub to go to bed. :)

Good luck!
L.

We had the same issue with our daughter when she was about 20 months old. We started taking her into the shower with us and now she loves both the bath and the shower.
I think just changing it up a little helps. It can be hard to stop playing and sit down in a confined area and get washed (even with toys). But taking a shower is a whole new adventure that our daughter really loves. It also takes less time to get her clean.
If you do go the shower route, just be sure you are in there with your son the whole time and you may need to put a nonslip pad down to help him keep his balance.
Good luck!

Hi N.! My son did the same thing around the same age. I think it is common. Usually something will scare him about bath time that will make him afraid. The nice thing is that at this age, they forget things pretty quickly. I had talked to his Pediatrician about it and he recommended giving him a sponge bath for about a week. Then reintroduce the bath. We did this and it worked! At first he wouldn't sit down in the bath. I wouldn't get mad at him or yell for not sitting down. I would have my hubby help me to watch that he doesn't slip or fall while I would bathe him. Then my hubby and I would start splashing the water and laugh...acting like we're having fun. It took about another week until he sat down comfortably in the water again. I hope this helps!

Hi N.
I totally understand where you are coming from. My dt went through that when she was younger than your son. She ended up outgrowing up, but wasn't pleasant going through it.

What about fun bath toys? Do you have any or maybe need some that are more age appropriate? That was one thing that helped my dt. Some cheap/fun ideas are ice cube trays? Plastic baskets with side slots. Or if you want something a little different, check out this website: www.iambabycrazy.com/adecker - there are lots of fun and unique bath toys.

Have fun and don't stress about it, it's just a phase...
A.

My daughter went through a phase like this. We bought her crayons she could use in the tub and she's been fine ever since. He'll grow out of it eventually.
J.

Have you tried a shower? You get a little wet, but it's doable and usually a bit quicker.

Put his swim trunks, or whatever, on him and call it playtime. Let him play in the tub for a little while. It could be as simple as getting shampoo or soap in his eyes or his mouth. Make it fun with colored soaps he can write on the tub and himself with, boats, etc. and have 5 or 10 minutes of play before you wash him. Stay with him and play a little too. He will get over it sooner that way.

You might also try getting some new toy and introducing it at bathtime. That might do the trick--I know it worked with my daughter when she was a bit younger and didn't want to bathe. It was enough of a distraction for her to get interested and get in the tub. Good luck!

We always put our kids in the shower with one of us. They loved it and it is much faster than a bath. They still enjoy baths, well the younger one, the older two prefer showers now.

He could be to tired. I bathe my kids every other day and it seems that if I give them a bath after dinner we are happier than if I waited an hour. I have also been trying to get them in bed by 8:30. My oldest just started kindergarten and I have noticed that if we go to bed after 8:30 we are crabby the next day.

Also change the soap sometimes just the slightest change can make all the difference.

A lot of it depends on how you're doing it. Not trying to say that you're doing it wrong...just that have you tried letting him play with some bath-toys (measuring cups, plastic cups, little boats from the dollar store, something!)?

We had big time troubles with our oldest until my mother cleaned the sink and "swam" her around in it, from then on she did great!

Both of our daughters LOVE bathtime, and we do give them time to splash around a little, and they get to bring toys in there too.

If none of that works, try getting in the tub with him.

Good luck!

take a shower, or bathe him in the kitchen sink!

also, new bath toys work miracles!!

and kids don't need baths every day...

Find some bath games. We have a Sponge Bob ring toss that's a huge hit. We also play ice cream shop w/ a plastic ice cream scoop and a couple of large plastic glasses and bubbles, of course. If there is another male sibling willing to take a bath with him, that can help, too.

I have bath toys for my infants and toddler they are washasble markers and books that u can color with and if a bath tub doesnt work i use the kitchen sink they seem to be less afraid and up to taking a bath in it. plus floaty toys dont hurt either.