Hate bath

[mkk001]

Hi Dear mums
I have a 19 months old who REALLY hate bath! He starts crying, trying to leave and screaming the moment he see the water running . I tried to have toys, bubbles but once I started washing his hair thats when all start again
Any ideas. Please?

Thank you

Have you tried a shower? (Nothing scary, in progressive steps... Put outside your shower first. Then place baby on safe mat and sprinkle on hands as a game. Next time.. feet.. etc.)

Maybe just having it as a game (not washing, just splash with him at the side & throw toys in)? To get him used to water.

Also mine didn't mind water but they hate getting ears wet, took us a long time of pausing to observe what the problem was! So save face & hair to last (we wash body first, then use a fresh warm cup of water at end for face etc)

Just seen that the hair wash is the problem (double check it's not ears). Do you use a cup? Try a bath water can or punch holes in old water bottle, less harsh. Or, like we have to do... Sprinkle water on with hands bit by bit.takes forever but at least hair wet without screaming, then you just need to endure shrieking at the rinse off!

Thank you for your reply, I only have a bath and he is more scared form the water flow on his head, ill try to use a cap, seems a good idea really i hope it
Helps
Thank you very much

Ours goes through phases of hating her hair being wet too and then she starts rubbing her eyes which makes it worse At the end of the day her hair needs to be washed so we're very sympathetic but just crack on. She seems to prefer us just to gently rinse it with a little toy watering can or just to ring a flannel over it. Try and get him to look up to the sky too if he can understand that. We avoid doing it if we think she's especially tired too as I think the sensory overload is just a bit much for her. If you're bathing last thing at night you could try moving it to a bit earlier in the evening.

If no shower head buy a 20p bottle of 2 litre water, holes in bottom, treat as fun game, helped us