Our 18 month girl hates baths!

[Bealilet]

Our daughter use to be a water baby, she previously loved them. We’ve always bathed her 3 times a week but the last few months every bath has been a screaming session - on her part. Tried everything from toys, music, singing, games and nothing seems to stop her. She now stands through the whole bath refusing to lay down.

1. has anyone else got this problem?
2. any tips?

Thanks in advance.

Hi, I’ve got exactly the same issue with my son, he’s 2.5 years old. He’s always hated bath time and like yourself I’ve tried everything. I dread bath night as he gets so worked and literally stands up fighting against me screaming the whole time

We went through this last year with DS (2 at the time). Got some colour changing bubble bath which he helped to put in, bath bombs (I know they're usually aimed at older kids) - we got the My Little Coco ones, so he can see them fizzing.

Would it be worth checking out a bath marble run? She can help build it, watch the ball run down etc.,

@Rachaelc1981 thanks for your response, it helps (slightly) that we’re not alone in this!! It feels so cruel to force her but it’s not kind to not wash her either. I hope one day she goes back to loving baths but can’t see it!! Sounds like we have the exact same predicament!

@Caledoniadreaming thanks for your suggestions but i don’t think she’d focus enough even for a second to know what was happening with a bath bomb. She literally screams from the moment she stands in the water (with bath toys and bubbles in) and won’t bend at all. She doesn’t listen when in the bath, just screams and tries to grab me to climb out. I try to console her with singing and distraction but nothing works. She works herself up and up and it takes ages to get her calm afterwards. It’s really quite traumatic.

Really not sure the best course of action with it all.

@Bealilet what about putting her in charge - so letting her turn the taps on/off and putting the bubble bath/bath bombs in?

@Caledoniadreaming ill give it a go tonight… sit her in the bath when it’s empty and let her explore and see if she’ll play with the warm running water… watch this space!! Thanks.

My daughter did this around the same age, we found bath crayons helped her so much, they easily wash off the side of the bath and helped her concentrate on something other than the water/washing (sensory issues). It was a couple of years ago now but they were about £1 from home bargains and she now loves the water and bath time so much ☺️

You could try a shower, see if she prefers that? If nothing else, it's very quick. In terms of getting clean, how often does she need a full bath? Could you get away with wiping down with a warm flannel most of the time and a full bath once a week, just to reduce everyone's stress? I recognise it depends on the child, though, some attract more mess than others.

@Binkyboo16 thanks so much for the suggestion!! Have ordered some to give it a try! She loves crayoning, didn’t know you could get bath crayons!!

@skkyelark thanks for the idea, I had thought about this but not sure avoidance will do her any favours either… I’m really not sure what’s for the best!

@Binkyboo16 you are amazing!! Thanks so so much for the bath crayon suggestion!! She loved them and her bath tonight!! I hope it continues! Didn’t even know they were a thing!!

@Bealilet you're very welcome, I'm so glad it worked for you! ☺️ hopefully no more stressful bathtimes for both of you and an easy request for Christmas gifts too if she enjoys them ☺️