19 month old suddenly terrified of the bath

[Gastonimo]

My DS has suddenly developed an fear of the bath. It's been just over a week now and every time I've put him in the bath he's stood up screaming and got himself so worked up.
Some nights I've not given him bath as it makes getting him settled for bed so much harder. I've tried giving him a bath in the day and getting in with him and that elicits the same response.
He also seems to be having full on meltdowns when he doesn't get his own way. Like wanting a biscuit, or if i takie his bib off. It's all the time and quite exhausting.
Any advice to help me through?

do you have a shower OP? you could try putting a non slip mat/ bath seat on the shower floor, sitting him down on it and putting cool water from the shower head onto him.

First of all, you don't need to bath your child every day, unless he actually gets himself dirty.

Secondly: Has anything happend in relation the the bath/water prior to this sudden change? Did he inhale water? Got some hot or very cold water on him by accident? Slipped and hurt himself? Or something random like a sibling jumping in and startling him while bathing?

As for the meltdowns: He's discovering his own will, that's completely normal. Allow him as much independence as possible (e.g. he can help you take the bib off and put it away) - but in all areas, not only in those that cause meltdowns! If he's allowed independence whenever it's possible, he'll feel valued and taken seriously and not being allowed independence in some instances are easier to accept.
Give him choices as well ("Shall we take your bib off now, or wash your face first?") - also this as much as possible, without overwhelming him with too many choices at once. Again this shows him that you take his wishes and opinions seriously and he has some say in his life.

We do have a shower so I will try that. The bath issue seemed to happen so suddenly, we didn't bath every night but most night as part of a bed time routine just to wind down before bed. It used to be something he enjoyed it's just all of a sudden become a problem. The last few bath times before he totally rejected baths he did get a bit upset due to bits of fluff or dirt coming off him and then seeing them in the water. But i scooped them out and he calmed down. I've tried lots of bubbles and toys to distract but doesn't seem to help. I know he doesn't need one every day, but it used to be something he really enjoyed so I'm struggling to know what to do

My 19 month old just went through this too . We had 3 weeks of fear and refusal to bath. Was so hard and frustrating as previously he loved it and he is so active he def needs a bath everyday he is filthy!!
We tried bubbles ,music ,singing ,me getting in his dad getting in but still the same . He even hated sponge washes .
Then suddenly he was ok with me going in with him ,he did cling to me first few times but now is fine abd enjoying them again ,I am still going in with him just in case it goes wrong again !! Think it was just persaversnce and him feeling safer with me in the bath .
We live by the sea so since been taking him down to the sea to keep increasing his confidence with water .
It was hard but like most things seemed to be a phase !!
Hope it gets easier soon .

Thanks Copperbeaches that's reassuring to hear. We did manage a shower tonight, in a different room (with me in it too) which didn't cause too much distress. I am going to keep offering the bath and standing him in it and hopefully things will go back to normal soon. Everything's always a phase!