HELP! My baby hates bath time.

[Sash95]

Well that was an experience! I gave my nearly 1-month-old baby her first proper bath and nothing could have prepared me for her reaction. I made sure everything was ready, lights dimmed, she was fed and happy, water temp checked, I wrapped her in a muslin, and put some water over her eyelids and a little over her tummy before lowering her into the water, chatting to her the whole time.

She looked petrified. Screamed until she was sick. I feel terrible and the neighbours are going to think I was torturing her... it kind of felt that way. The whole ordeal lasted a grand total of 2 1/2 mins.

I'm being melodramatic but as a first-time mum I'm still wearing my L-plates so any advice would be greatly appreciated. I watched all the YouTube videos of babies gurgling and looking very happy in the water, so feel a bit hopeless. I thought she was going to enjoy it, am I being crazy?

We are having cuddles and milk on the sofa now, but I feel so guilty!

Oh luv , she will learn to love it don’t worry… put yourself in her shoes ( so to speak) you are being placed in water and have no control… I think it is quite scary for them the first few times. My DD screamed and went bright red… next time I tried again with lots of calm words and my big smiles and it went ok…

It’s only now 19 months on she screams if I take her out of the bath!!

All my bathing efforts were a total failure too. I wouldn't worry about it.

The best tip I ever read was "second time Mums just briefly dip baby in the water of older child's bath, then dry them off". I thought that was sensible. Obviously just up to the neck and back of the head, not the whole baby.

From reading your post the only thing I see is that you made a big deal of it, and maybe with more experienced Mums it would really be "dip and run".

Also I don't understand why you put some water on the baby's eyelids. Maybe skip that bit.

If it's any help, my son is 13 years old and still loathes baths. Never liked them. Still doesn't. Not planning to change any time soon.

My first daughter was like this and with every single bath or shower after until she was three. The neighbours must have thought we were torturing her. Somehow she grew out of it but we tried everything to no avail.

Second daughter was like it for the first month or so and then became completely used to it and is a proper water baby now.

My son hated bathing when he was born. However, I persisted, got rid of the baby bath and got a newborn bath seat and had the water at a decently (safe) warm temperature and he was fine. Couldn't get him out of the bath once he started to enjoy it!

I found it was sometimes the being lowered backwards in to the bath that scared my baby! So I’d slowly lower them to just above the water, wait until they seemed settled, then lower them the last bit. Worked half the time.

Why were you putting water on her eyelids? The simplest way to wash hair when they're tiny, if you have someone around, is one of you hold her over a basin, the other wash and then rinse hair. I wouldn't put water on their face though, just wipe with a damp flannel.

Don't make a big thing out of it, just quickly in and out.

Thank you. Rereading my post sounds like I made it into a big deal but in reality, it was the aftermath that just made it seem that way. The water on the eyelid thing was a tip someone gave me, to get them used to the water before going in. I tried, but it didn't work...

I was hoping we would both enjoy bath time together, but maybe that's something to look forward to in the future. For now, dip and run sounds like an excellent strategy!

I think it's one of those things, some babies love it some really don't. My first was not a lover of the bath time, and at 3.5 yrs still occasionally needs coaxing in. But my 2nd loved it. It's the roll of the dice!

You did everything right, you sound like a very loving and attentive mum so try not to worry. She will get there.

Bless you! My kids preferred warmer baths - the ‘recommended’ temp is actually quite cool.

My daughter didn't like going in the bath but was fine in the kitchen sink! As she got older I put her in a Bath seat so she was sitting upright and she likes that.

Well she needs to be cleaned!

Like or not she needs a bath.

Be a bit more factual!

Have you tried having a bath with your baby? I used to run a big warm bath for myself with baby bubble bath in and have a soak until the water had cooled enough and then add the baby. Being close to me made them feel secure and I even breast fed in the bath. One son was so relaxed he would fall asleep and just float while I held his head, or supported him in the crook of my arm. Easier if you have someone to hand you the baby and take them out afterwards and wrap in a warm towel.

Yeah don't start by putting water in her eyes 😆 Who would be happy with that?

Sometimes they just do hate it; they probably feel cold wet and unsure. But it's a fact of life, just get it done and she'll get used to it as she grows.

Just bath with your baby? Done it with all 3 of mine, skin to skin, very calming, they often fell asleep on me.

Some babies hate baths in the baby bath. Mine never learned to like them.

what did work was getting in the tub and then having DH hand dd to me. She loved taking a bath together. I wore cotton gloves to give me a better grip and for a built in washcloth.

She also enjoyed showering. We didn’t have a walk in shower so I wasn’t comfortable holding her getting in and out of the tub, but I would get in the shower, take my shower and let things get warm in the bathroom, then turn the water temp down. Put on my cotton gloves and DH would hand her to me for a wash, then back to dad who is waiting with a fluffy towel.

My DS1 hated baths until he was about 18 months old. DH used to take him in the shower instead and hand him to me once he'd been washed. He loved it.

DS2 was the opposite!

Mine were never keen on baths so I just washed them with a cloth. They liked baths from toddler age so we did them from then.
As long as they are washed the method doesn't matter.

As PP said, go in with her.

My last one screamed too and I was only calm because it wasn’t my first time. Bless you I promise it’s not something to worry about.

Now that she’s too big for the sink we are also dip and runners!

-Mum of 3 wishing you luck.

My eldest was so calm she shit all over me.

Never. Again. 😂

Op you checked the temperature to make sure it wasn't too hot, are you sure it wasn't too cold?

DH and I like complete fuds obsessed with the idea it shouldn't be too hot for your elbow. Our PFB screamed like we were killed them.
We bought a bath thermometer thing and realised the water was too cold.
Water should be similar temperature to you'd have yourself.

I agree with this. Use your own judgement, Its bloody freezing at the recommended temperature!

You've had loads of advice so I'll not say anything other than you sound like you're doing a fab job, you've kept baby safe for a month and you're happy to try new things to see what works.

Babies are funny things, they get you used to one thing then totally change their minds, usually in front of an audience when you say "they always do x". Hey ho.

Were you in the bath too?
Bath together is much nicer