WON'T HAVE BATHS ANYMORE - HELP!!

[Lolabelle]

My daughter is 2.4 and for no reason we can fathom refuses to get in the bath. We have tried forcing her (which was traumatic for all involved), leaving it and not mentioning it for a few days despite watching her turn a grubby shade of dirt and bribing her with chocolate (ashamedly a sure fire winner) but nothing will get her in that bathroom at bathtime!

We have been doing the bed/bath routine on her since birth and she used to love the bubbles and diffreent bath toys and has had no bad experience to cause it but what can we do?? Some days after playgroup or a particularly messy dinner she is covered and we can't never bath her again but forcing her is out of the question as she went hysterical and drew blood on my husbands stomach!!! NOt to mention she took a few hours to calm down hence pushing bedtime back and we felt appalling!!

I'm pregnant and running out of energy fighting her on this - any tips??

My dd had bath refusal for a while at that age, very strange but it passed. I wouldn't force her but what about running a bath, getting in it yourself and then letting her get in with you if she wants to ( no pressure)?
I think she will prob find it intriguing and different and it might do the trick
Also what about baths at different times of day, eg morning, when she's less tired?

MY ds goes through this every so often (he is similar age).
Now he usually has a shower instead. Or I strip wash him and leave the bath for a while (about a week).

Then I have a bath with him or get a new bath toy or something. I usually find he's much better if we completely ignore the bath for a while and pretend it isn't there (IYSWIM).

Ds usually starts hating it if his bum hurts or if he accidentally poos in the bath. Or once when he fell over in it.

Mine went through a phase of this at about the same age - I resorted to buy those colour bath cubes (Boots does these ones ) just to make the bath a bit more interesting.
I like you used to bath him every day, but when pregnant with #2 found it too tiring sometimes, so I've dropped it to a couple of times a week. I figure the dirt is good for them!!!!!

SO much sympathy, have just been trying to find my almost identical thread from recent past, can't find it. main strategy resulting from thread was -

don't force it at all for a bit, but continued to offer bath every eve, with face/bottom wipe as minimum alternative
take lo swimming instead for a bit
take ds shopping for exciting new bath toy
talk ds through evening routine at different times during day 'then we'll do this, then we'll do this'

i pers think swimming was the breakthrough

he is still reluctant but at least now enjoys it if he gets in

Well there wasn't a particular incident that put her off i don't think but the bath cubes may help but for the last 5 nights now i've been sitting in 3 inches of lukewarm bloody bathwater trying to act like i was having fun and she still looks at me with complete disgust!!!

I will never force her again as it was too stressful and swimming is a good idea as it will be a good excuse for a much needed clean but i know she likes swimming usually so it'll be interesting to see if she refuses to get in or not...

I will go shopping with her for a bath toy but she shes a very stubborn little girl and won't 'try' anything if she doesn't want to even if its really quite appealing out of principle but i'll talk about bath time and mealtime and routines a bit and lay off all pressure and see - failing that i'll be taking her swimming weekly for a good old clean!!

We had this problem with ds2 for a while. We were advised to get a little bowl/sink basin of water and let him stand in that and then take this to the bathroom and put into the bath and from there he seemed to go onto having normal baths again.

Really? Thats interesting, could do the bowl of water thing - even takingher clothes off nearthe bathroom is a 'thing' as she thinks we are all out to get her into the bath so bowl of water and putting it in th bathroom is a good idea to try...fingers crossed!

on the great litle trading compnay site ( i think) theres a shower hose things for kids maybe that could entice her.
this happened to my dd at 20mths and i wnet inot hospital and had ds, and coped that she was afraid of the soap in her eyes, she couldnt explain it ot me.

as the others say get in with her or go swimming in the baby pool if thats accessible to you

Why three inches of lukewarm water? My kids get into my bath with me and it's deep and hot and they love it! Dd is up to her neck!

WE told our DD she wasn't allowed a bath.... After a week she was begging me.. However I ddi have another child that was being bathed...

If you've got a baby bath around try using that on the kitchen floor, or even try washing her in the kitchen sink, sitting on the side and dangling her feet in. The novelty aspect may overcome her dislike of bathing!

When dd went through a phase of bath refusal she would more than happily play naked in a plastic box-ful of cold water!

could you get the baby bath out so she can bath a dolly? she might then want to join her...

sorry sue, just noticed your post!

We have had this a few times with my ds (now 4) and we just completely avoid baths for a few weeks.

We do 'standing up washes' instead.

I'm not sure why these phases start but I think its quite common.

I also don't think forcing baths helps, we tried it and like you said it is traumatic and pointless really.

One of the times it happened we had a bath break ,then I got a new bath toy and got in the bath myself one day and was playing with it, saying things like 'Oooh isn't this fun ' etc and he got in and started playing too.

I agree, the standing up option worked with ds.

When I was little and awkward, my mum would bath me in kitchen sink! I loved it, could see my reflection in the kitchen window. Try that as an option.