Bath advice - 12wo dd scared in tummy tub

[YompingJo]

DD never seems to enjoy baths, have tried her in with one of us in the big bath, and in her tummy tub. In the big bath, she cries after a couple of minutes and in the tummy tub she just looks panicked and tries to stand up, apparently to get away from the water.

We have tried having the water a little warmer or cooler, having a toy in there with her (flashing fish thing, she's mesmerized by it out of the water and in the water it catches her attention momentarily then she back to looking scared), letting her just sit there and not actually trying to wash her... She's quite big (14lbs 7ish, 91st century), maybe she feels squished in it.

Has anyone else had this? What would you do? The obvious answer would be try an in-bath baby bath but if the tummy tub helps babies who are scared of these, how do you help a baby who is scared of the tummy tub??

I've got one of these:

www.mamasandpapas.com/product-beaba-baby-bath-recliner-pastel-pink/880305400/type-i/

Honestly, its one of the best baby things I've bought (john lewis do them too and sure others do). LO loves it as she isn't fully reclined or having to support herself. It's good for me because she can't fall off, obviously I don't leave her but you don't have to have 2 hands on a slippery baby all the time either. Plus it takes up hardly any space and is really discreet iyswim.

I always smiled and chuckled at DD when she was younger to get her to think the bath was safe. I crouch on the floor at her level as well when sponging down. She loves it now and has started majorly splashing with arms and legs :) (5 mo).

Sorry, you probably tried all that already - just my experience. GL :)

When you try in the big bath, are you holding her tight to your chest so that she feels very secure?

Our DD hated the tummy tub and just looked really squashed and uncomfortable. She was a lot happier in a little plastic bath tub we got for her as she had more space and could see all around her still. I think tummy tubs are overrated and certainly not for everyone.

Ps tummy tubs do make good toy tubs though!

I've not seen a tummy tub before but they look quite squashed!

Have you tried a shower, either holding her, or her sitting in the tub and you splashing her with the shower head?

Mine all hated the tummy tub, although it is very useful for storing the bath toys. You need one of these

My DD deeply disliked the big bath AND the small bath until she was a bit older... I think possibly 16-20 weeks? Then for some reason she decided it was fun. Until then, bathtime was torturous

My DS acted like I was trying to drown him in the Tummy Tub - he hated it with a passion.

I had a bath support that was really curved (it looked like a surgical accessory - not very pretty) but it made us both a lot more relaxed - he just didn't enjoy the whole submersion thing.

This one:

img.dooyoo.co.uk/GB_EN/orig/0/6/9/2/6/692657.jpg

I thought photos worked now?

Oh well - here

I got a bath support http://www.mothercare.com/Summer-Infant-Deluxe-Baby-Bather-Bath-Support/343055,default,pd.html from mothercare

DD 6mo feels much more secure sitting on this and being showered with a hand held shower than having a bath. But I still bathe her in her baby bath once a week to help her acclimatise.

she was calmer in the bath today - we had a relaxing lead up to bath time (fed, sang, skyped with grand parents and listened to some music), once in the bath gave her lots of reassurance that she was safe, when she looked frightened I put her to sit down in the bath holding her with both hands so she couldn't slip... I think its the floating the causes the fear

hope this helps

www.mothercare.com/Summer-Infant-Deluxe-Baby-Bather-Bath-Support/343055,default,pd.html
with the link working

Thank you for all the advice. I have bought a towelling bath support, fingers crossed it makes bath time nice for her. And CMOT, possibly I'm not making her feel secure enough, will have another go at that.