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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

Help! 15 month old refuses to get into the bath!

19 replies

PinkPetal38 · 19/05/2009 11:39

Hello. DS (15months) has happily had baths and loves splashing around.

We went on holiday a couple of weeks ago and tried to get him in the swimming pool (he's only ever been once or twice before) and he was very scared, and didn't like it at all or point blank refused to go in. However, he happily had baths every night during the week away.

But since we've got home, he's only had one bath - since then he's refused to go in, just clinging onto me like a limpet, refusing to be unpeeled!

How can i get in back into the bath and enjoying as he did before? I can't really get in with him, as it's just me at bedtime, and he won't unpeel! Any suggestions?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

wanttobealone · 19/05/2009 11:41

sorry not much apart from lots of bubbles & toys

stripeypineapple · 19/05/2009 11:48

Maybe shower him with the plug in until he realises that nothing bad will happen when the bath starts to fill up?

You have to make it really fun too like wanttobealone says.

You might have to get in with him for a while, just for the physical reassurance.

rookiemater · 19/05/2009 11:50

Try going in with him for a while. DS aged 3 is having a bit of up and down about his bath at the minue because he is frightened of pooing in there after a few incidents.

He loves it when Mummy gets in with him and it makes it a special treat.

Believe me I'm now terrified of him pooing in the bath, yeeeuuuccch.

rookiemater · 19/05/2009 11:52

Oh sorry just read OP see that getting in isn't an option. Try putting just a very little water in, get him comfortable to sit in there. Buy some of those drawing crayons for the bath, that worked well with DS at that age. If all else fails then sponge wash him for a bit.

HensMum · 19/05/2009 11:52

Play with water during the day? Just to show him it can be fun. Could you bath with him during the day?

DS didn't like his bath much recently and we got round it by teaching him to splash us We both end up drenched but DS is enjoying bathtime again.
To actually get him into the bath, letting him throw some toys in first often helps. What about getting some new toys for the bath?

Original poster

PinkPetal38 · 19/05/2009 12:18

Thanks for your messages. I work full time, and only get him back home just before bedtime, so he only gets a bath around once a week - bad mummy!

The bath is full of toys, he throws each of them into the bath before (usally) getting in. I haven't tried bubbles as he's got bad ezcema, but willing to give that and the crayons at try!

I did try morning bath at the weekend to surprise him, but didn't work! Tried a tiny bit of water aswell.

Maybe a bucket would work...!

OP posts:

Flynnie · 19/05/2009 12:34

How about trying something like bath colours, a bath bomb or that stuff that turns the water to jelly?

That way his attention won't be on the fact that he has to get into the bath iyswim.

Flynnie · 19/05/2009 12:36

Oh scrap that just read the bit about his ezcema.

Overmydeadbody · 19/05/2009 12:36

How about just not bathing him? It's no the end of the world if he doesn't have a bath. Quick flannel washes should keep him clean enough in the meantime.

rookiemater · 19/05/2009 12:40

Oh I wouldn't try the crayons if he has eczema. DS has slightly dry skin and the crayons seemed to make it worse.

Haywire · 19/05/2009 13:14

We had this recently a sudden bath lover turning into a hater. For 2 weeks she shrieked the place down if we even tried to go in the bathroom. We tried a few things including getting in with her and what swung it was a new cheap plastic dolly that we told her needed a bath and she liked the idea of bathing her so much it persuaded her to get back in. Might be worth a try!

Original poster

PinkPetal38 · 19/05/2009 13:42

good idea Haywire! I'll give it a go!

OP posts:

seeker · 19/05/2009 13:45

you know, I wish I had patented this idea, but all my friends now do it and I've missed my chance, so I'll tell you all. The SECRET to getting round reluctant bathers is........

Close the blind, turn off the light snd give them a waterproof torch. Never fails. Even better with bubbles, but still fab without.

bubblagirl · 19/05/2009 14:02

we had a small paddling pool in living room for months for ds and then we had one of them big floaty things that you sot in in the bath it was a car with a steering wheel then we put in with nothing had bit of a scream but now his back to bathing every day and loving it

simpson · 19/05/2009 16:28

How about those bathtime crayons for drawing/scribbling on bath?

DS was a bit older (was nearer 2 I think) when he went through a phase of hating the bath and this was the only thing that seemed to work...

izyboy · 19/05/2009 16:29

Just keep persisting most of 'em seem to go through this stage at some point with baths, but they all come out the other end as well!

BlueberryPancake · 19/05/2009 17:41

DS went through that phase and I ended up putting soapy water in a a washing bowl, and he'd just play with his bath toys in the bowl on the kitchen floor. Everything would get wet, but he started associating 'water' with 'fun' and after a few times of that he was fine in the bath.

Haylstones · 19/05/2009 17:50

I've only just managed to get my 15 month old ds in the bath. I used the bubble method- he started to cry and I put bubbles allover dd's face, which made him forget about crying before doing the same to her and me .
Worked a treat here but if you don't have an older dd then it might be you that gets covered in bubbles!

BlueChampagne · 21/05/2009 13:07

We went through this phase and just used to stand him in the bath and shower him. Much quicker and greener than a bath! However, the phase ended and now he loves his bath, bubbles, foam letters, boats etc.

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