Help!! Toddler afraid of bath!!

[Ganners10]

Not sure where to put this thread so going to try here! DS up until this week has been absolutely fine at bath time and had a bath every night with no fuss. Now he screems like mad and will climb out of the bath as soon as ive managed to force him in it! Both me, hubby and older siblings have tried getting in but that doesnt help and he screems for us to get out like the bath is a really bad place??? The only thing i can think of is he is scared of the plughole? Although its never bothered him before neither has he shown any interest? He hasnt had a fall in the bath or anything that would put him off it and otherwise loves water eg-Showers and swimming pool! Any ideas or advice pleeeeeese!!!!

How old is he?

DD has just gone through a phase of doing this. She is 17 months and has had a bath almost every day since she was born then about 2 months ago she suddenly decided that she hated the bath and screamed and clung to me/DP whenever we put her in . It wasn't worth the fuss so we just did a quick wash at the sink most days and only stuck her in the bath once a week unless she really needed a good wash. Then this week she has asked for a bath every evening and we struggle to get her out. It's probably lazy parenting but if you can get away without the bath then I'd just leave it for now. Loads of my friend's kids have gone through this and it doesn't seem to last. It did happen around the same time she cut down on her naps and was very tired in the evening, I think it was just too much fuss for her when she was sleepy.

Mine went through this at about 2 as well - it started with us staying at a house with a much noisier plughole. I just washed him down with a flannel for a week or so and then bought him a really exciting (if you're 2) new Thomas bath toy and he forgot all about being scared, although he always made sure that he and all his toys were out of the bath before I pulled the plug out for a few weeks.

My dd did this age 14 mo, a couple of months ago - I posted almost the same message!

And she stopped screaming in the bath almost as quickly as she started, after about 2 weeks of screaching, suddenly one day it was ok.

When she seemed scared, I used to stand her in the empty bath to wash her in the evening, which she minded less than with water in it.

I'd like to think all my hard work helped cure her fear, actually I think it was just a phase that passed as suddenly as it arrived because there seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to why she was afraid for 2 weeks and then suddenly fine.

Thanks for your posts. DS is 2 yrs and a couple of weeks old. He likes going in the shower in the mornings with daddy so at least he's getting some kind of wash i suppose. Will try just giving him a wash in he evenings for a while and try the bath again in a couple of weeks.

If he likes the shower, don't fuss about the bath. Clothes take most of the dirt at this time of year! And it's certainly not worth upsetting them before bedtime.

When you try re-starting the bath, maybe some bubble bath or a new bath toy will help.

when ds2 went through this,we got him a plastic goldfish called elvis who loves baths.i used to run a bath for elvis and sit there singing our bath songs etc.soon ds2 wanted to join in again.yes i am loopy.but elvis still lives in our bathroom-ds2 is now 5!

I think this often happens as your DC is becoming 'size aware'.

Very young children don't have much spacial awareness, outside of what 'feels' best/worst (swaddling, cuddling etc) so as this develops, it is often irrational to the LO.

If he is reluctant to get back in his bath after the break OP (good idea, don't sweat the small stuff, best advice ever) maybe try putting a baby bath full of water in the big bath? Might make him 'measure it up' and feel safer again

HTH