16 month old hates the bath

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

This happened with DD at the same age too, and I can't remember what we did to improve things. Perhaps we just waited? Anyway, he's been screaming blue murder at even the mention of a bath for a month now. Nothing will placate him. I've just been quickly dipping him in - he recovers instantly once he's out!

Any top tips?

Is your sink big enough to bath in? Sometimes a change of venue helps. DD had her baths in the shower tray for about six months in four inches of water.

Some kids prefer showers! Our boys bath together and have lots of bath toys and a funky bath mat which seems to help.

Argh I just wrote a really long reply to this and it vanished!

I'll summarise:
-let him choose a toy to take in the bath with him from downstairs (one that doesn't ever make it into the bathroom)
-bath him sometimes without washing his hair (I think this is what's wrong with my dd at the minute, she's finally worked out that bath=hair washed)
-put him in, even if he's screaming, and persevere with games to distract him. I don't necessarily talk to dd, just talk loudly about how much fun I'm having to pique her interest. Sometimes it takes a while but she always comes round!
-Hardest of all - keep smiling!

Hope that helps. Those tactics seem to be working for us so far. And now I jinxed it! xxx

We recently had the same! She is happy with it again now back to climbing to get in which is lovely to see. We tried: not forcing the issue so few and far between, gave her a wash with a facecloth when necessary.
Showers with me
Baths with me and her dad (not all at same time!) this wasn't as effective as we'd expected
Swimming lots, she continued to find this fun. Baffling child!

New toys, bath crayons
Not washing hair. Even now I try to just use facecloth to wet and rub, to space out the proper washes.
Umm... And going on a beach holiday. Probably not the most practical suggestion! Maybe can persuade health visitor to prescribe it...

Lots of games with pouring water in sink
Oh have remembered a v good one. Sitting her in empty bath with toys and large basin of water. Then v shallow bath ditto. Think that's how we got her back it. Good luck! That was at 15 - 16 months