Son slipped in the bath and now screams every single night

[FullOfCake]

Help please..we shower My DS 2 in the bath with the hand hose but he slipped accidentally in the bath a week or so ago (despite a grippy mat) and bumped his head. Nothing serious in terms of injury but now he is HYSTERICAL at every shower time. I have tried everything I can think of. I have got in to show him he won't slip, we've told him to hold the side, we've tried bathing him with his baby brother (he adored washing him before this), singing songs as a distraction, bath toys etc etc and he is not getting any better. He loved his baths/water time and it is just so upsetting to watch, it's like he's full on traumatised. How do I get him over this?

To be honest I'd let him stay out of the bathroom for a week or so. He's frightened, he isn't getting better with the 'get back on the horse' method, so I'd give him a break. Baby wipes as needed for a week or two. Let him forget.

Bath him in the kitchen sink until he gets over it.

The bath is a big place for a little boy. I bath my cat in the sink and she's fine. She'd claw me to death if I tried the bath.

Why do you bath your cat?

Aww, bless him. I’d give him a few days to chill, then maybe make a game of it. Or get in with him? Lots of cuddles and reassurance (or bribery, I’m never above bribery in these situations!)

Get a baby bath? Improvise and don’t put him in the bath until he’s over the trauma I’d say

Or just wash him with a flannel for a bit. It will do him no harm

Stand him in a washing up bowl and use a flannel.

Yes, maybe try getting in with him and playing together? Or you getting in and letting him choose to get in with you? Or just leave it for now and let him help with bath times until he feels better about it.

OK thanks, maybe I will get in a full bath with him as I haven't for months as I was a pregnant and the size of a killer whale.. Otherwise I will give it a break for a bit. So sad bless him

I wouldn't push it for now, the harder you try the bigger his fear will grow.

My son at a similar age and for similar reasons freaked out at the bath. I let him play in the bath without water in it a few times and that helped build his confidence.

What Eleanor says - dry bathtime with clothes and toys!

Similar happened to my dd, she fell backwards and briefly went under and she freaked out for ages afterwards. It's taken months, but shes finally enjoying baths again. She stood up for ages and refused to sit down, we just had to go with it the more we tried to make her do it the worse she was. have a bath with him for a while until hes happy with that and then try on his own