Bathing nightmare-made big rod for own back

[mum2sam]

My 11mth will not have a bath alone. Basically before ds learnt how to sit up by himself dh and i used to take in turns and have a bath with him as it was easiar to bath him and he could have a play around.We also thought it would be good for bonding.

Since then ds will not have a bath alone ive tried him in the big bath and the little bath but he just screams and clings to me. Ive tried sitting him down and standing for a strip wash still screams.And recently even when he has had a bath with us he gets very fearful and stands up and clings to our neck.Weve took him swimming a few times and he seems ok. I know its prob our own fault but any suggestions plz

Try sitting him in an empty dry bath with all his favorite toys, and a blanket or two?

Or you can get those bath seats that stick to the bottom of the bath.

what if you get in with him and then get out leaving him in there for a bit? Sort of build it up.

Or bribery - promise rewards for being a good boy and bathign on his own, if he can understand that.

Have you tried ashower?
Or trowing something new and intersting into the bath so that his curiosity gets the better of him and he has to follow?

I started putting DD in her bath whilst i had a shower at the other end (this presumes you have a shower over bath type arrangement)
So she would sit in her bath by herself but obviously I was near and from that we progressed to her having baths by herself and now she has graduated to big bath (with a "special" mat for her)