Bathtime & Swimming

[LOZZYLOOLOO]

Hi

My ds is 4 months old and my dh and I have never had a problem bathing him, he actually really enjoyed his baths so much so he would lie back with his eyes closed and looked relaxed.

However, over the past 10 days my ds has taken a dislike to water and screams whenever we give him a bath or take him swimming.

The water of the bath is at the recommended temperature but this doesn't seem to help, he still screams the place down.

The only thing that has changed from our normal routine is that he has very mild eczema and we have been putting on hydrocortisone cream prescribed by the doctor.

Can anyone suggest any possible reasons as to why my ds now dislikes his baths ??

Also do any of you have any suggestions as to how we can make bathtimes more enjoyable.

I look forward to hearing from anyone

[dejags]

Could it be because it's getting cooler and he is feeling chilly?

You could try warming the bathroom in advance.

[TeriS]

It may be the eczema - sometimes this can be painful in the water, especially if you use bubblebaths.

I had this with my DS when he had nappy rash - he refused to sit down in the bath and would only stand as it hurt his bottom.

Just a suggestion....

[LOZZYLOOLOO]

Thanks for your messages.

My dh and I are planning on bathing our ds tonight. I will try your suggestions and let you know how it goes.

[carla]

And try Junior Oilatum bath stuff too.

[KangaMummy]

Have you tried either you or DH getting in the bath at a time different from bathtime ie on sat early afternoon and then the other one bring in DS and put him in the bath just for a few minutes with one of you still in the bath. then the next time at a different time again with the other one in the bath.

This may make him assocciate the bath with not haveing to have "a bath"

HTH

[WestCountryLass]

Do you have to cover him in cream? Maybe he is crying as he has learnt that is coming? My DS always hated being creamed up when he had excema.

[LOZZYLOOLOO]

Sorry for the late reply but we have been away for a few days before I return to work ? yuk, what a thought.

Anyway, my dh and I bathed our ds last night and tried some of your suggestions.

Instead to putting him in the bath with us, as that was what he had been doing, we have gone back to square one and put him back in his baby bath.

When we put him in the water he didn't seem to mind too much at first and preferred to sit rather than lie back like he use to do.

However, when I did lie him back to wash his hair he started to cry.

I haven't tried the Oilatum stuff but will try and get some this week.

I haven't really thought about giving him a bath at different times of the day as we were doing so well with getting him into a routine of, bath, bottle and bed, but I will certainly give it a go.

I don't have to cover my ds in cream he only has very mild eczema on his arms and shoulders, but saying that it does seem to be that when his upper body is covered in water he starts to cry.

Will keep you posted on how we do.

[KangaMummy]

Sorry I didn't mean for you to stop doing your routine of bath bottle and bed as that is brill if it works I meant that you tried a extra bath at differnet times just for play rather than for the bbb one.

IYSWIM

[LOZZYLOOLOO]

I tried giving my ds a bath this afternoon (1400 hrs), he was ok before hand but as soon as I took his clothes off he started crying. I continued with the bath and added his rubber ducks but he still cried, but no sooner had I got him out of the bath he was smiling and cooing like it was going out of fashion !!

[KangaMummy]

Oh dear sorry my idea didn't work

I can't think of anything else atm but will give it some thought for any other ideas.

[LOZZYLOOLOO]

Thanks Kangamummy