Fear of water/the bath

[Ellayxx]

My son is 18 months and absolutely terrified of water! It takes 2 people to bath him as he tries to climb out, won't sit down etc. To me it seems like a genuine fear, nothing has ever happened he hasn't fell or slipped in the bath etc it just started a few months ago. He will play in very shallow water in a tuff tray but if he knows he has to get in it that's when he starts to panic. We went on holiday not long ago and I was hoping seeing other children enjoying the pool would encourage him to get in and have fun but it didn't. He cried the whole time we ended up getting out after a few minutes. My MIL said she put him in the shower over the weekend and he cried a bit but was ok? I tried him in the shower and had the same reaction I always get, now she has a wet room so there isn't a bath in there maybe that's why? I'm just looking for any advice on how to help him over this fear! I looked into swimming lessons but have heard that it can actually have the opposite effect and make the fear worse. I hate seeing him so upset and we're at a point we just get it done as quick as possible it isn't enjoyable for any of us😢

Our daughter wasn't the same age, she was a very young baby when she screamed her head off in the bath. So I used her changing mat and covered half of her with a towel to keepher warm and washing the rest of her with a flannel and then swapped. She grew out of it eventually.
Have you tried taking him to a shop and letting him choose some toys to play with in the bath or shower? I'm sure he'll have some already but if you tell him he can choose maybe 2 or 3. Or let him sniff and choose the soap/shampoo? It might encourage him 🤞🏼

Have you tried getting in the bath with him? Another thing to try is bathing him in the kitchen sink (you can bleach it afterwards). Sometimes the novelty combined with the confined space helps.