18 month old suddenly hates bath time

[kimberlina]

DD used to enjoy baths and strop a bit when getting out.

Suddenly 2 nights ago she started crying as we walked into the bathroom. I coaxed her into the bath but she just screamed throughout. I checked it wasnt too hot or cold with the thermometer but really couldn't see any reason for this change of behaviour.

The same thing happened last night and tonight.

There is no obvious reason.

What should I do? Do I force her into the bath or will that just make her worse? Or do I let her skip bathtime but then she has won the battle?

Please help. Bathtime used to be such fun and now I feel really stressed

My DD started doing the same thing at about 19 months. We had no idea why, she would just sit in the bath and sob. Torture!
It will pass but we used to put her favourite toy on the windowsill to watch her.

Thanks. I'll try that but at the moment her eyes are screwed shut with the screaming so I doubt she'd notice it ....... but anything is worth a try

It wasn't fun on holiday when she was screaming the place down as if she was being murdered!
Now I can't get her out.

Hmmm thats funny, exact same thing just happened to me with my 17mo...

She started screaming as soon as I starting getting her undressed and didn't stop roaring until I got her out!

I think it's my fault as I let her have a shower with me on Saturday and she really really hated it and screamed.

I'm going to leave it a day or two and try again, maybe get DH to give it a go and see if that makes any difference

I had the exact thing happen with my DS at that age. I couldnt understand why.
I stopped bathing him every night and just bathed him about 3 times a week and got in with him which seemed to gain his confidence again. After about 2 weeks of this he now loves his bath again and is happy to go in by himself. Got the problem the other way now, he doesnt like coming out of the bath!

Same thing happened with my DS around 2 years old. He just grew out of it for a while although now hates his bath again at 2.5 years... He now has a bath roughly every other day and doesn't get quite so het up. Once he's in there he loves it though! I think he's just testing us... grrrrrrrrrrr.

Well I'm mighty relieved that it's not just me! Perhaps it's a developmental stage? I'll try skipping the odd bath and see if we can gradually get her to enjoy them again. I wondered whether it was because she knew she was going to bed - but she is actually getting off to sleep without a murmur so it really is the bath that she finds so objectional

it might be worth doing bath time after breakfast for a while when she is not so tired. My DS enjoys his more then.