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Parenting

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Original poster

Does anyone have a toddler who doesn't like baths?!

31 replies

foxessocks · 14/09/2015 18:51

Talking to friends I feel like all toddlers love their baths. Well mine really doesn't at the moment! She used to. Now she screams and screams and won't sit down. I wonder if I should try getting in with her but don't really want to have to do that every time! She only has one every other day. She's 18 months. Any tips!?

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Original poster

foxessocks · 14/09/2015 18:52

We went swimming today and she loved it so it's not that she doesn't like water!

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Roobix04 · 14/09/2015 18:55

That's a shame. My dd does like the bath but recently pitches a fit about laying on her back to rinse her hair but she also won't let me pour water on her head anymore. This is a kid who goes swimming underwater every week.
Someone at my toddler group said she read that kids just go through a scared faze where they develop random fears but should grow out of it. Hope it's true.
You could try having one or two baths with her although my dd was most offended when I tried that.

Roobix04 · 14/09/2015 18:56

Or maybe a new toy? Is the temperature ok?

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FlysInDreams · 14/09/2015 18:59

My DTD1 has recently started doing this. She doesn't always scream, but refuses to sit down. DTD2 is still fine with baths.

Florin · 14/09/2015 19:03

Mine doesn't like them either but will shower in our big shower with me so I just do that. If he had a friend staying over he will happily play in the bath with them-oh the fun of 3 year olds!

Indecisivedad · 14/09/2015 19:33

Hiya, ours (22 months) doesn't mind the bath and the whole process but steadfastly refuses to sit down. It's actually impossible to get her to do it as she starts planking and screaming when I've tried to lift her in. It's been going on for about 6 months now, and I was hoping it would pass but no joy. It's not too bad as we can clean her stood up but wouldn't mind her sitting down. She doesn't like swimming much either.

MamaDuckling · 14/09/2015 19:36

Mine! DS is nearly 2 and we have battled with this for a year... I've tried everything. I have to go in with him to even stop the hysterics...
He hasn't had a hair wash in months

Qwertybynature · 14/09/2015 19:41

My ds did the same around the same age (he's nearly 2 now). We changed his bath routine (i did it instead of dh), go him some different toys and kept the bath short. I can't say for definite what worked but he got over it and he's fine in the bath now. Apparently it's when they're becoming more independent and they don't like the sides of bath stopping them from getting out / or fear of the plug and water draining away.

Really hope it passes quickly for you, it's no fun bathing a screaming toddler.

winchester1 · 14/09/2015 19:44

Ours started this at 12months, he just turned two, we tried showers, getting in with him, bathing with other kids and later his younger sister and non of it worked.

The things that have helped are we don't wash his hair in the bath so they are separate things (we use a flannel to wash his hair and now he is starting to put water on his own head in the bath), lots of toys, moving bath time to earlier so before dinner just after his afternoon nap and a treat (cake/choc) after the bath.

We bath him once or twice a week max and just use a flannel between times.

MamaDuckling · 14/09/2015 19:47

Winchester, this sounds like what we're up against. I can only was DS hair/face with s flannel outside of the bath. It really is miserable...

Cliffdiver · 14/09/2015 19:51

DD2 18mo has recently started getting very upset about the bath.

It starts when she is in the bathroom getting undressed and she will work herself up and will eventually be screaming when she's naked and about to be lifted into the bath.

We didn't bath her for over a week as she was so upset but one evening I decided to just put her in the bath and quickly distract her with her Peppa Pig boat, which worked but then she got upset again for no apparent reason after a couple of minutes.

I think it may be linked to potty training and awareness of needing to wee/poo, I think she 'knows' the bath isn't where she should go but needs to and doesn't want to go in / wants to get out as she want to have her nappy on or sit on the potty and not go but squat next to it so she can do a wee/poo.

winchester1 · 14/09/2015 20:02

Also find running the bath while he is outside helps as he has less time to get worked up about it.

Flingingmelon · 14/09/2015 20:04

DS is fine in the bath but if you are thinking of switching to a shower then give it at least five or six goes. He hates it at first but now he shoves me out of the way of the water.

LindsayS79 · 14/09/2015 21:25

do you use any bubble bath or soap? My dd did the same and I found she got really uncomfortable after I washed her hair. She held onto her bum and crossed her legs as though it was nipping. Ever since I stopped using any products to wash her, she's much better.
I have also noticed she is starting to panic a bit when she needs a poo in the bath. She's obviously aware, as above, that doing a poo in the bath is not nice so asks to get out saying 'poo'. She's still in nappies but she's most aware of needing to go when she's in the bath!!

Original poster

foxessocks · 15/09/2015 14:11

Thanks everyone interesting ideas here! I have tried her in the shower but she was terrified. I will try running the bath before she goes upstairs that's a good idea. She has lots if bath toys which we rotate so I don't think it is that. She does have bubbles but they've never been an issue before.

Tomorrow is her next bath so we'll see how it goes!

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TelephoneIgnoringMachine · 15/09/2015 14:21

DD has always hated baths, literally since birth. Screamed as if we were boiling her alive. However she's much more likely to voluntarily sit down since we got her this fishing set for the bath, which she loved. Also some bath squirts - which she loves soaking us with. She still hates having her hair washed but at least we don't have to get in with her any more.

KLou1105 · 15/09/2015 19:33

My dd loves her bath but won't have a bath anywhere else, she just screams and tries to get out. I think it's probably just a faze. Try just sitting on the side of the bath with your feet in, I've done that before at my mums whilst dd had her bath and it worked for the first few mins.

WinterForest · 15/09/2015 20:46

It's normal for toddlers to develop fears (very normal) but it can get worse if you continue to give her baths. She is terrified of baths. I was the same way...I thought the drain would suck me into the bathtub.

One parent that I know had the same problem and what they did was fill up a large flat bucket, or a baby bath up with water and put it beside the bath (not in) Then she gave her toddler a toy of some kind (one of those floating toys). She used a doll as well to show the toddler what bath time is (by washing the doll with the toddler). It eventually worked! Don't put her in the bath if she is terrified, because that will make it traumatic, the best way is to do something she is comfortable with for a while.

Original poster

foxessocks · 15/09/2015 21:52

winter that's interesting thanks, I hadn't really considered that we could be making it worse...I mean if she's really crying we let her stand up and quickly wash her and then take her out as quick as we can. We never take the plug out until after she's out so I'm sure it's not a fear of that.

I will see if we can coax her in tomorrow but if not I'll think about getting the baby bath back out for a while!

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nameschanger · 15/09/2015 22:54

This happened to my niece. We fixed it by putting her in a plastic tub with her swimming costume on in the garden or kitchen. Then moved her into the bathroom. Then the bath. Then removed the tub but kept the costume on. Took about 2 weeks and she eventually loved her baths.

winchester1 · 16/09/2015 05:39

Not to put a downer on it but we also gried the paddling pool and baby bath both outside and in the bathroom, with his doll/sister / cousin again non of it helped except it made it easier foe him to escape making the whole ordeal take longer.

mathanxiety · 16/09/2015 05:57

DD4 hated baths with a passion from when she was a tiny baby, most unlike her next older sister who was only happy when she was in the water.

She used to try desperately to climb out, and it got to the point where it was really dangerous, with her squirming and me trying to hold her there while I washed her. She fell over once or twice.

I just gave up in the end and she got over herself by the time she was 3ish and would get into the shower. If she had got her feet or hands dirty they were washed easily. Her face was washed daily and I used to do her neck and behind her ears too. Her rear end I used wipes on. I talked her into letting me wash her hair in the kitchen sink, lying on her back on the counter with her head over the sink.

Original poster

foxessocks · 16/09/2015 18:49

Oh dear. I just mentioned a bath and dd burst into full on tears. Not just tantrum tears but real tears. So I've abandoned it and calmed her down with Ben and Holly. Not sure what to do now. No dh to help tonight as he's at work. Might just give it a miss!

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winchester1 · 16/09/2015 19:56

I'd skip it try another day, if you have already run it just play from the side tonight.

Original poster

foxessocks · 17/09/2015 08:55

Well she did get in the bath! I don't know who was more surprised. She wouldn't sit down but I just washed her standing up and then she wanted to come back out. She didn't cry though!

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