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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

bathtime is a shrieking nightmare

20 replies

frootloop · 10/04/2008 21:58

ds is 7 weeks and he starts shrieking the second his botty touches the water, you'd think i'd just plunged him into boiling oil the fuss he makes.(see his delightful bathtime face in my profile) he shrieks and struggles and goes bright red and tries to fling himself out of the bath by suddenly straightening(sp?) his legs, god, its such a chore.

what can i do to make bathtime fun for him(or quieter for me!?) ive tried reassuring noises but he just glares and turns the volume up.

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BoysAreLikeDogs · 10/04/2008 22:03

Have you thought about using a tummy tub ?

Not used with mine but have heard Good Things about them

newmama0 · 10/04/2008 22:12

you could always try gettin in wiv him for a week or so n c if this calms him.

Original poster

frootloop · 10/04/2008 22:13

hmmm, it looks like a good idea, but all those babies are smiling and happy and enjoying their bath, i think i would have to clamp my knees round it to stop ds toppling it over.

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Original poster

frootloop · 10/04/2008 22:14

newmama, we don't have a bath, only a shower

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SlightlyMadSweet · 10/04/2008 22:16

Looking at your profile you seem to bath him daily - is that right?

If he hates it I would restrict it to once a week. It is not necessary in teh slightlest to bath a baby daily. DD3 has sometimes gone 10 days or more. Just make sure you top and tail him properly daily.

Once you get over that, start singing rhymmes that make him really happy (may be a little young still for this). DD3 loves row row row... as I swish her backwards and forwards in teh bath.

amytheearwaxbanisher · 10/04/2008 22:16

my ds was a nightmare as he was 5.3 when born so it was more the cold that upset him now he only cries when he has to get out of the bath he loves it that tummy tub looks like a great idea never saw those before

Mercy · 10/04/2008 22:20

Agree with SMS - go for top and tail for now, certainly no need to push it at such a young age.

A smaller bath might work, eg a washing up bowl. Lovely photos btw!

Stais86 · 10/04/2008 22:22

My DS was exactly the sameuntil I got an ergonomic seat for in the bath to support him it gave us both a lot more coonfidence! U can get one for around£15 from argos it look like a bouncy chair for in the bath. Sonds madbut he also used to like it if you squeezed a wet sponge onto his stomach don't know why but it worked.

Original poster

frootloop · 10/04/2008 22:23

i bathe him every other day or third day because he gets really greasy hair and stinks(i secretly like the smell but dh complains)

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3littlefrogs · 10/04/2008 22:23

You can top and tail him, give him a sponge bath lying on a big soft towel - why put him in a bath if it upsets him? As long as you keep his hands, face, neck, underarms, feet and bottom clean he won't come to any harm. All can be washed and dried without the need for immersion in water.

Original poster

frootloop · 10/04/2008 22:24

i will go and investigate bath supports, thanks stais86, i didn't think of that.

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ThursdayNext · 10/04/2008 22:26

Both of mine always really enjoyed baths in the tummytub, the position is supposed to more womb like
DS screamed in the regular baby bath in hospital

Tummytub is an overpriced bucket though!

Janni · 10/04/2008 22:27

Hold him in a bucket. The warm water covers him, his limbs aren't flailing about, it's a bit more 'womblike' than an ordinary bath.

But you really don't have to bathe them every day.

Stais86 · 10/04/2008 22:28

Just noticed u only have a shower! U can get ergonomic baby baths too although they are more expensive at around £30. It has a supportive hammock in it that comes out when baby can sit alone. I definately swear it made him more confident in water sitting alone and as he got older he loves splashing now!

Janni · 10/04/2008 22:29

X-post with Thursday. A clean bucket will do very well!

Mercy · 10/04/2008 22:29

The 'greasy' hair which very young babies have is totally normal and natural- it doesn't last adn doesn't need proper washing, just a quick wipe over with a sponge.

jaynz · 10/04/2008 22:32

Our boy did that too, and the look on his face was "wtf"!!! We don't have a real bath either, so showers it was. He loved it, and as soon as he could sit up he sat in the bottom of it with the water raining down on him. At about 6m I started taking him to the pools and now he loves baths (10m now) because he can splash around and make a huge mess. But it was showers only for 6 months, and I think this has actually made him comfortable having water on his face, so in the pool he doesn't freak out when he goes under.

Original poster

frootloop · 10/04/2008 22:40

ive found a spongy bath support thing that im going to try.

ds i think is just a screamer, he does it when i top and tail, when i put on baby lotion, if i try and wipe his face. he's just one big fussy fuss-pot.

thanks for all the suggestions, im off to have an early night

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Meandmyjoe · 21/04/2008 17:13

My ds was the same, shreiled and cried the whole time we were undressing him, the whole time he was in the bath, the whole time we were drying him! He hated it for about the first 3 months. We got one of those spongey bath supports which seemed to help. Also, taking him swimming from anout 8 weeks seemed to get him used to water. He didn't really start to enjoy baths til he was about 5 months and could sit up and splash! He's 8 months old now and absolutely loves bath time (and often protests when we get him out!). I don't have any miracle advice really. Could you not take a shower with him? Oh and for the record, my ds was a screamer too, exactly as you described, just wiping his face or his hands could result in a meltdown! He's still very fussy but the worst of it has thankfully passed!

Original poster

frootloop · 21/04/2008 20:05

i think its just something i have to get used too, the bath support made no difference, but it is hilarious to see his face just before he goes beetroot.

i dread the thought of DSs screams being magnified in the swimming pool.

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