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Behaviour/development

2year old terrified of the bath

10 replies

heslimedme · 11/05/2016 20:11

We had an incident about 3 weeks ago - my twins were both in the bath splishing about happily and before I realised what was occurring one did a big sloppy poop in the bath. I didn't handle it well - I was home alone with 2 babies in a poo soup, I scooped them out but there was fallout and had to try to stop them both escaping covered in poop, get all the poopy toys out etc, get a bowl to stand them in to hose them off while trying to contain the carnage. I cried, they cried. It was just horrible. Since then the pooer has refused to get in the bath. Some gentle coaxing this eve while the other splished about happily didn't work, not does singing speckled frog song which she loves or'look how much fun sister having' type comments. We already have some DH attachment issues as he does the child care while I'm at work so this was a thing we all enjoyed and now I don't have that even. She's able to tell me she doesn't like the bath but not why when I've sat her down to try and talk about it with her. Any advice would be much appreciated, I need to clean my baby!

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Move2WY · 11/05/2016 20:15

How about a plastic box to bath them in. Start elsewhere in house move slowly to bathroom, then in box in bath and eventually remove box.

Same thing happened with my niece and this fixed it.

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AmserGwin · 11/05/2016 20:16

Can you get in the bath and see if they will come in with you? Worth a try

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heslimedme · 11/05/2016 20:21

I did suggest me getting in with them a few baths ago and also today but she says 'don't like it' so not sure that'll get her in. The box idea sounds interesting, DH also suggested doing a bath at a different time of day, morning perhaps.

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Ifiwasabadger · 13/05/2016 10:12

Mine is terrified of the bath at almost 3. We have a wash in the sink every night. It can't last forever....and I don't want to make her upset. Works for us.

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RiverTam · 13/05/2016 10:16

Just wash them for the mo, they don't need a daily bath.

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Lifejustbounces · 13/05/2016 10:24

I had the same problem, with my 21 month old, after a poo in the bath incident. She refused to get in the bath for a few days and then would stand in the bath but was very unhappy about it and wouldn't sit down. That was probably 4 weeks ago now and she's back to normal so hopefully it will slowly pass for your's too. I ended up taking a tube of bubbles into the bathroom with me and would ask her to sit in the bath before I'd start blowing them, it distracted her enough to forget about the poo. Maybe there is something that you don't usually do in the bathroom with her that she'd enjoy and would help distract her?

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InsaneDame · 14/05/2016 20:58

My DS developed a fear of the bath after an incident of a different nature. We got over it by doing 'puddle' baths for a week or so - literally an inch of water covering the bottom. He loved the idea of it being a puddle and sat down instantly. We then gradually made it a little deeper each night. Now all is fine!

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InsaneDame · 14/05/2016 20:59

He was 23mo at the time.

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museumum · 14/05/2016 21:02

If she's scared of pooing again maybe try with a swim nappy first?

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heslimedme · 29/05/2016 19:31

Thanks all for the comments. We seem to be over the worst of it. DH been doing baths which seemed good for getting DC in there and we've just bought some steps so they can get to the sink and are using these as a fun way if getting in the bath. So I think we're heading in the right direction.