1yr old won't sit down in bath

[chiara71]

in the past 2 weeks dd has been stubbornly refusing to sit down in the bath, after using a bathseat for months.

She's always loved bathtime since she was a newborn and recently she was excitd at all the new games she could do in the bath, but now from one day to another she simply refuses to sit down which leaves me trying to bath her and wash her hair with one hand while holding her with the other. NOw besides this being dangerous (I'm constantly afraid she'll slip), it makes it impossible for me to wash her hair without dripping water all over her face (which she typically hates).
I guess I could buy a shampoo shield, but the point is how do I get her to sit down again?? Has anyone had a similar problem?

(I know my sister has, she resolved it by having a bath with her dd, but I'd hate to have a bath with her every night if I can avoid it)

Thank you for all your suggestions!!

I don't understand people saying how "dangerous" it is to let babies/toddlers stand in the bath. It's only dangerous if you don't take the obvious safety precautions. 2 people said they have one non-slip matt but doesn't cover the whole bath. Then just use TWO non-slip matts.

It's dangerous to let a baby run around upstairs, too if you don't have stair gates. It's dangeous to take baby in a car especially if you don't use a car seat. I'm sorry to sound so pushy, but I'm baffled why this anybody would try to "force" their child to only sit in the bath when there is such an easy & cheap alternative.

Hang the matts up to dry after bathtime, though, nasty bacteria will grow in the suction cups, otherwise.

chiara
my daughter refused to sit in the bath. I worried about it. My mother said is the water too hot? I sneered privately. My mother put in more cold. DD sat down.

Get dh to do bathtime

(actually dh has done a wonderful job with dd's bathtime - she too likes standing up but he's always ready to catch (and we have a long non slip mat that really does the job) and he has got her to happily put her head back at shampoo time and cope with having big pots of water poured over her head to rinse it out)

I suppose Zebra I just wasn't forward thinking enough! Never seemed a problem until she fell. Seems obvious now but wasn't before.

(Newby here - Fascinating reading the stuff on this website - whiling away many hours.) DS wouldn't sit down once he realised he could stand and reach more exciting things around the tub. I use a baby bath in the big bath (less hot water) and he doesn't slip usually, but when he does I pick him up quick and he sits down after that! He's been swimming since 4 months and doesn't care about wet head or face - recommend swimming as early as pos for that.

Also, if she's bored, try bathing less often. They don't need a bath every day and it can dry the skin out - ds really looks forward to his about 3 times a week.

i have no idea if this is of help but my dd did this for 6 months and it was all related to doing a poo, she got very worried over them and apparrently sitting in warm water can make them feel like they are going to do one......all i can say is it did pass after a summer of being in a paddling pool! sorry if not related to your dd....however, can relate as i found it very stressful at the time and worried over her falling over.