Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

Not sure how much longer I can cope

17 replies

RagingJellyBean · 16/06/2015 18:13

My 1.6 year old hates baths.
It came out of nowhere shortly after her 1st birthday...

As soon as you run the bath she gets agitated then when it comes to putting her in she screams & screams & screams and it's this horrible shrill scream & it makes me want to throw her out the window. Her bath is literally over in 60 seconds, I scramble to get her in, get her washed & get her out again. There is no distracting her.

I've tried everything. I've tried massive inflatable ducks, I've tried regular ducks, I've tried all manners of toys, I've tried toasty baths, I've tried cooler baths, I've tried baths in the middle. I've tried bubbles & bath bombs & getting in with her, I've tried showers & a combination of shower & bath.
She doesn't dislike water because she plays in puddles/plays with the soapy water tray at nursery.

Im exasperated & she now only gets 2 or 3 baths a WEEK because of how stressful it is on both of us.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 16/06/2015 18:18

She doesn't need that many baths. If it's that bad do it once a week - she'll be fine.
Lots of people like to bath their kids every day and that's fine, but it isn't the law that you have to.

HootyMcTooty · 16/06/2015 18:25

This too shall pass. Only bath her when you need to and be as quick as you can.

hesterton · 16/06/2015 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mariposa10 · 16/06/2015 18:44

People are obsessed with bathing children. Once a week is fine, just use wipes the rest of the time. She'll grow out of it eventually.

Quasicrystals1456 · 16/06/2015 18:47

Agree with others. I did a quick flick in the kitchen sink when mine went through this phase.

Don't stress it.

insanityscatching · 16/06/2015 18:54

Hopefully summer is on its way so get out the paddling pool chuck in loads of toys tea set, jugs, funnels, doll, animals and a squirt of baby bath and let her play. I used to fill mine when the sun had gone off the garden late afternoon so as good as a bath anyway.

Imnotaslimjim · 16/06/2015 20:05

Does it have to be a bath? In that situation I would flannel wash head to toe with a bowl of warm soapy water.

To desensitise her, try sitting her in the empty bath with a bowl of water to play with. Naked if you can so she can get wet. Try not to get stressed when you're with her (hard I know) as she will feed from it

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 16/06/2015 20:21

I know it sounds silly but do u sit her straight in bath? as mine panicked when it was slippy.

we had a plastic bath seat that suctioned to the bottom and I literally just filled it up to belly button.

strawberryshoes · 16/06/2015 20:24

My friend had this, the HV suggested that she play in the empty bath, and then when she was happy, put about 2cm of water in, just for splashing purposes and build up. I also agree that once a week bathing is plenty as long as you are cleaning her with a flannel when she gets dirty in between.

Sunflower1985 · 16/06/2015 22:36

My ds loves going in the laundry basket put in the bath. It seems less overwhelming.

ladyflower23 · 17/06/2015 12:37

My ds went through this phase. It lasted about 2 years but he's fine now! the doc actually told me to only bath him 2-3 times a week as any more dries their skin out and ds has eczema. So defo don't worry about trying to do it every day.

MioNome · 17/06/2015 13:16

My DS1 went through this. He pooed in the bath once and after that refuses/cried/screamed saying he was scared of "poo in there".... Lasted a several weeks, we just did flannel wash hands face and bottom. Had some success with a very shallow bath and bringung bubbles in to blow/play with.
He eventually just grew out of it.
He has about 2/3 baths a week now and actually his skin is better for it.
If it's too stressful don't do it. It's not worth it. How dirty can a child of that age actually get...?

Newtobecomingamum · 17/06/2015 16:22

Our son is 2 and we don't call it a bath we call it a little swimming pool.. So just before his bath we say right let's go and get ready to go swimming in the little swimming pool... We even put him armbands on the first few times as he went through a stage of not wanting a bath. He pretends to swim in there and everything, worked a treat for us!! Worth a try!

RachieS1986 · 17/06/2015 20:15

it seems to be a passing phase. both my ds1 and dniece went through it. came out of nowhere and left just as abruptly. hth I completely understand the frustration.

glowfrog · 17/06/2015 23:36

My 3.5yo has a bath once a week, maybe twice - they don't really need one every day! So don't worry about cutting out on the attempts when it's so stressful for the both of you.

Momzilla82 · 17/06/2015 23:40

I'm going to go out there. Have you tried getting in together? Worth a try? Make it a special thing.

GingerDoodle · 18/06/2015 19:22

Mine went through months and months of 1 a week or swimming or a dip in the hot tub as it was horrendous... Nothing worked. Then it clicked and now she loves them

Flip