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Behaviour/development

DS (1.5) suddenly terrified of baths - any help out there? He' s a bit grubby by now..

11 replies

Luxmum · 23/03/2007 13:58

Hello,
usually my DS LOVES baths, and every night he struggles to get into the bath while he still has his clothes on. On Tuesday all of a sudden he got very quiet when I took his socks off (the last to come off), and then burst into tears when I picked him up, lifting his legs away from the bath so as not to touch the water.. (he didn't touch it, so it's not like he burned his feet). I didn't make a fuss of it, just gave him a cuddle and we put his PJs on and went to bed as normal. The next night, the same thing happened, but this time I made sure the water was extra tepid so it couldn't be something like the water being too hot, and I got in with him. He was like a cat scratching to climb up my neck, and sat sniffling and complaining on my lap in the bath for a few minutes. I got him to relax enough to pour water on his toes, but he was plain terrified of letting go of me. So yesterday, my DH tried the same thing, with equally crap results. It's been 3 days now and he's getting a bit grubby and I need to wash his hair. I just don't understand the sudden fear of water, we always check the temperature of the bath before we put him in, and he usually has to be pried from the bath complaining, as he loves it so much. We sit beside the bath and talk to him while he is in it, he is never alone, the bathroom is always heated before he gets into the bath so it's never cold... am I missing something, or is this an annoying new 'phase'?
Have you any ideas of how I can get him used to baths again?

OP posts:

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MellowMa · 23/03/2007 14:02

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bran · 23/03/2007 14:06

Do you have a shower? My ds loves having showers, especially if dh or I are in the shower too.

You could try encouraging him to give a doll a bath or buying some new bath toys with him.

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MellowMa · 25/03/2007 13:27

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akent · 25/03/2007 17:08

My 14 month old did this as well. Turns out, she was exhausted and couldn't cope with a bath. We moved bath time half an hour earlier and she was much happier.

Also tried bathing in the morning and bathing with Mummy. Some success.

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MamaG · 25/03/2007 17:10

I'm going to try that mellowma, tonight. My DS freaks out completely in the bath

I'll let you know how I get on

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MellowMa · 26/03/2007 10:55

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MerlinsBeard · 26/03/2007 11:01

you could try just having a tiny tiny bit of water on the bath. so its mopre of a paddle than a bath but its a start. and gradually build up the water.

you could also try getting in tehre with him
Both mine have done this for different reasons and are ok with it now. Try not to lwet him see you get stressed about it - hard i know!

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kolakube · 27/03/2007 08:16

My DD did this at around the same age. We threw all those multi-coloured balls into the water before she got in and that seemed to help.

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powder28 · 27/03/2007 08:23

Our ds went through this as well. Eventually I got the baby bath out that we used for our youngest,and he didnt hesitate in getting into it. I would put loads of towels on the kitchen floor and then he would get in himself.
Eventually i got him back in the big bath and hes fine now.

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KifA · 27/03/2007 08:27

we had this.

sponge baths

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Luxmum · 27/03/2007 12:54

Thanks, we tried the shower, and that worked, but of course he wouldn't get down out of my arms, just snuggled into my arms more. So I got wet myself, but couldnt wash.. But at least we got his hair washed. I might try moving his bathtime, as we don't have a little tub for him to sit in. Maybe I should get that too. Thanks for all the suggestions, it's given me loads of ideas.