dd (16 months) has developed bath phobia - advice needed please

[BeanieBabe]

Hi

I'm a long-term lurker who hardly posts but we'd really like some advice/ideas

dd has always enjoyed her bath, swimming etc but in the last 2 weeks has cried and cried when in the bath and wants out immediately. This is really unlike her as she's a chilled contented wee soul at all other times

she's had problems with nappy rash off and on for a few months (probably MMR and teeth related). The other week her bottom was quite sore and probably nipped when she was in the water so I'm guessing that's where the problem started.

However, her bottom has totally cleared up but the bath problem remains. We've tried new toys in the bath, using the baby bath again, getting in the bath with her, letting her take her comforter toy in the bath with her all to no avail. Nothing else has changed, the water is always the same temp etc etc.

We missed swimming class last week as I wanted her bottom to have completely healed before going and we'll miss tomorrow's class as we have a family birthday lunch to attend but I'm worried about what will happen when we do go again (she's been swimming since a few weeks old and usually loves the water)

I'm sure that with perserverance she'll be ok with water again but I'd really appreciate anyone's thoughts/ideas if you've managed to get to the end of this missive lol

My dd went through this not so long ago. Like you we tried all things, toys, getting in with her, distraction but it didn't work.

It did pass on it's own but tbh I just put it down to her beong more aware of her surroundings.
She doesn't like the plug taken out of the bath while shes in it now because of the noise. It makes her very upset.

Have you tried a bath seat?

thanks Nbq

got a bath seat from SIL today but haven't tried it yet. Wasn't sure about introducing something completely new when she's been getting so upset but might give it a shot tomorrow

It could help.

How old is she?

she's 16 months and until recently used to cry when I took her out of the bath

Message withdrawn

We ended up going back to using the baby bath for a few weeks. We placed the baby bath in the big bath and slowly added water around it till the water was all at the same level and then managed to convince dd that she didn't need the baby bath anymore.

thanks for all your posts. I guess we have to keep at it for now - it's good to know we're not the only ones with the problem. Today we tried using a swim nappy so she thought her bottom wouldn't get wet but she still wailed

my ds (16mths) went through exactly the same thing a few weeks ago and i am convinced it was because he had nappy rash and associared the bath with his bottom hurting. same as you, he loved it and then became totaly distressed for a good 2-3 weeks. I may be a tyrant but i just got on with it after trying all the things you have suggested but got him washed and out as quick as poss, he graduallly regained his confidence and now is drinking the water just like before this nasty incident. By the way, to minimise the distress i didn't bath him every day for a while.

My DD has been through a few episodes of this and the fear seems quite genuine - we just assured her it would be very quick and literally gave her a quick dunk in the bath. Passed in a week or so but was very difficult to deal with as lots of screaming - the calmer you are the calmer she stayed - v difficult though. Good luck