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Original poster

1 year old hates the bath

10 replies

FHaran · 24/10/2011 08:13

Hi there,

Has anyone got any ideas for my 1 year old who has suddenly started to dislike his bath? He disliked it in the beginning as he had eczema but this cleared up and he was really enjoying it up until he was teething again two weeks ago and now he screams uncontrollably. Any ideas for different toys? We have alot but not helping at the moment.

Many thanks!

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CosmicMouse · 24/10/2011 08:16

Mine goes through stages of not liking it too. Not found anything that works aside from letting her come round in her own time. She's 27mo and is another terrified of the bath stage at the minute. Just washing her instead and not pushing it. I'm sure they'll both come around.

Original poster
FHaran · 24/10/2011 16:48

Thanks CosmicMouse. Its great to know its not just my little boy! I hope they both come around soon!

OP posts:
EverythingsNotRosie · 24/10/2011 16:53

I was about to post something similar. DD is 11 months and has always liked the bath until a bad bout of nappy rash. Now she point blank refuses to sit or lie down and just screams. We haven't got a shower so that's not an option. Any ideas?

matana · 25/10/2011 13:55

Bathtime has turned into one big trauma from beginning to end here too. DS is 11 months and used to love bathtime, happily lying there kicking his legs around. Now he whinges, complains, cries, screams from the moment we try to take his clothes off. Actually he has turned into a nightmare whenever we change his nappy, put his clothes on, or take them off. The rest of the time he's fantastic - happy, smiling, lovely. I don't understand what's happened! Is it a developmental thing that all babies goes through?

thesurgeonsmate · 25/10/2011 14:04

We had a phase like this just after dd was one, and I pressed on with baths, but it turns out she wasn't very well, and when she got better it all lifted. I felt a bit bad that I had persevered. On thing I did try was getting a game of some sort going in the bath with her toys before she got in, which did sometimes distract her so that I could lift her in.

CosmicMouse · 25/10/2011 17:02

We very much just respect DD's wishes. She's very clear she does not want to go in the bath or have her hair washed. She obviously has her reasons. I'm not going to force the issue with her this time, any more than I have previous times. I don't think it's going to help. So hair washing is having to wait, and we're flanneling/baby wiping her down instead. She's not dirty and doesn't smell, and whilst it's not ideal it's not bothering anyone.

They often choose to exert their control over very specific things IM(limited)E. Food is another common one.

My DD is going through some big developmental thing around people leaving and her being left. We've had a week away from Daddy, and have had to leave her for some medical appointments. These were all things out of her control, and that she is struggling with. Therefore I'm not surprised in the slightest that she's grappling with power/control issues generally, and it's her bed/bathtime routine that she's latched on to.

They are fascinating creatures when you think about it and analyse their behaviours a bit.

Eleanora · 26/10/2011 12:43

We had something similar with DS aged about 1. His problem with the bath was that he was so active, crawling around in it, standing up, turning taps on, emptying the plug etc that he would almost invariably slip and fall, landing on his back half submerged in the water. He would then scream and have to get out straight away. Just the feeling of wet hair would make him scream (I think he thought he had fallen in even when he hadn't). We bought a non slip bathmat and he has been much better since.

zayla · 27/10/2011 19:19

Things we did to get DS who was just under 1 over his fear of the bath:

  • have some baths with us when it was really impossible to get him in, he was happy to go in with us but not by himself
  • make sure bathtime was a fun as possible, lots of toys, singing and games
  • pretend to put him in the bath but not actually put him in. I'd stop just short of the water and then lift him up again. He found this absolutely hysterical - apparently laughter can be a way to work through fears and I think this may have helped.

It probably took about a month I would say. Still have hair washing issues though!

smearedinfood · 27/10/2011 21:24

DS 14 months was being tantrummy about baths. Getting in with him was sort of working. Bath xylophone has changed that for now - 10 quid from elc.

brettgirl2 · 28/10/2011 09:58

Get in yourself and let him play nearby. He'll then be desperate to get in!

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