Toddler soap-dodger - help!

[NotQuiteCockney]

DS2 (19 months) is really really opposed to baths, and has been for a few months. He doesn't want to go in the bath, doesn't want to take a shower with me, and is generally opposed to being cleaned.

He's very happy to play with water, so I think the problem is being undressed (he hates having clothes put on or taken off), and not being in control. We currently bathe him in a baby bath on the floor, which used to be ok with him, but now isn't.

We'll have a proper big bath soon, and will want to use that instead, but every time I've tried to lure him into one, he's been opposed. Even with a milk buffet on offer (he's still bf), it's a non-starter.

I'm dreading the next round of nits, and annoyed by having a smelly baby. (I do wipe him down, and swoosh him through the bath maybe once a week. He screams.) Any ideas for how to lure him into the tub?

I'd just stick with the shower.
Quick in/out jump with you or dh will keep him sweet smelling.

I didn't manage to get him into the shower, last time I tried. He wouldn't even come near me. (Did manage to get DS1 in though, which was a first!)

He will play in paddling pools perfectly happily. I should probably stick the baby bath outside, let him run around in the buff, and hope for the best ...

Try a swimming cossie in the shower and some buckets/toys?
Otherwise,a bath outside sounds good.
My kids do this,and we have a hot water tap outside so it is all very luxurious!

He's only really been in pools at the local very grotty park - so just wandering in, in a vest. I'll have to try the bath in the front garden, see if that works. I'd really like to retire the bl*dy baby bath when we have a real bath.

I probably should entirely give up on forcing him into the bath, ever. I don't think it's helping. I am working on giving plenty of warning when he's going to have to have a bath, and telling him "no bath" when he doesn't.

Does he have a cousin/friend who you could get over to lure him in?
If he sees someone else having fun,it might be the trigger.

Hmm, that might work, particularly with his brother and the big bath. He used to love bathing with his brother in the baby tub (we used to sometimes get DS1, a friend of DS1's, and DS2 in a baby bath. Not much room for water, though!), and might come around to it in the new big tub.

I should probably take him swimming, properly, too. See if that appeals.

we have the opposite problem. dd1 wants a bath every day - more than once! 'a bath! a bath! i want a bath!'

When my DGS came to live with me aged about 18 months he had refused baths. When I tried to bath him he screamed. I was quite determined to make bathing part of his night time routine. We ran a bath every night, put bubble bath and toys in and he did scream but he went in. Every night. Then he started to become distracted by silly play initiated by me with toys and bubbles etc. Stoppped crying, and got used to it. It took a couple of weeks, but now he expects a bath every night and loves it. It might not be as important to you but in our case it was important so we did it. (There were other reasons too).

Have you thought about the paddling pool in the garden during the summer? Paddling pool, warm water and bubbles = bath.

how about getting some of those bath tints, to make it more interesting. or those bath crayons.