Sudden hatred of bathtime

[lindsell]

Ds (14mo) has always loved bathtime, playing with his bathtoys, splashing around etc but for the last week he has started screaming when I go to put him in the bath and trying to climb out clinging to me. His screaming is really distressed as if he's in pain not just annoyed/frustrated screaming iykwim.

If I get in with him then he's fine and plays happily (though more nervously than previously).

Nothing has happened to make him scared, he hasn't fallen/gone under the water or anything like that and I always stay right next to the bath with him so I don't know what it can be.

Anyone got any ideas why he might be behaving like this and how I can make bathtime fun again?

Thank you!

I've had this too!

Try:
making the bath warmer/cooler depending on what it was before

changing all the toys (I rotate every month or so and put the other half away)

new toys like a boat, things that wind up, cups

changing the bath time to before/after supper (depending on when you do it)

reading books to him in the bath

later on Tintis (which colour the bath water but not the children, bath or towels) are great

All of these have worked at various stages with my two. I think that sometimes we just don't fancy baths because we are too tired, don't want to get wet, it's too much effort etc so there needs to be something to make them seem interesting again.

Think it's just something they do from time to time. I used to get in with them (I see you've already tried this), and remember that they don't have to have a bath every night. Maybe a splashy flannel wash or a hand held shower would take the pressure off?

I remember going through an awful phase of this with DD when she was a toddler (she's 9 now). She just would not get in the bath. However, give her a plastic storage box of cold water in the garden, and she'd spend ages in it . I reassured myself that she was getting clean in it without realising, and at some point she started going in the bath again.

thanks for your ideas

120 - maybe I should change the time, maybe he's too tired as usually do it just before bedtime and I love the idea of the tintis - never heard of that before!

rhinestone - unfortunately a shower would be worse he HATES the shower! though actually maybe I could try the shower attachment on gently in the bath as he likes playing with the "rain" just not being under it

any other thoughts anyone?

purpleturtle - interesting! maybe I'll have to just stand him outside in the rain!

My 12 month has always loved the bath and swimming pool, splashing legs etc madly when lying down, then more recently sitting up and splashing and playing with all sorts of toys and games with us, always a lovely fun time..but recently he excitedly crawled into the sea, calm and warm, he had an amazing time until he swallowed quite a bit, I don't know if its a coincidence but he seems to refuse to sit down in the bath now. I've started taking him swimming again as we hadn't been for ages and I'm fearful he's afraid of water now, I now get in the bath with him most nights, and try lots of other games in the bath like blowing bubbles for him to pop.. tonight he seemed happy sitting down as he was engrosed in something then I let the plug out and he loved the water all dissapearing and then playing in the empty bath - that seemed to reassure him! I hope he gets over it, my instinct is to not make a big deal out of it and let him get over it in his own time.

My DS went through a phase where he was afraid of the bath at around that age. (he's 2 now)

I just used to get in with him, initially with him on my lap, and then retreated more and more (as much as was possible in our v. small bath!) so that he was playing next to me in the water. It did mean sitting on my ankles in the water, or crouching next to him, but it gave him that confidence.

He did seem to grow out of it after a couple of months - we also only give him a bath a couple of times a week; the rest of the time, we wreasoned, the important parts were being cleaned anyway. Every time you change a nappy you clean their private parts, and faces and hands are washed many times a day too.