Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

My baby hated bath time - 3 months old

27 replies

lchandlerxx · 27/03/2021 20:21

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice they could share with me on their baby’s bath time.
I have a 3 month old baby boy and from the very first time I’ve bathed him which was 2 days after coming home from the hospital he has cried the whole time whilst being in the bath.
I have tried adding it into a routine for him in which he has a bath every night so he becomes more aware of this. I do bath, bottle and bed.
The temperature is the right warmth for him aswell as I use bath thermometer.
I just feel like I’m running out of ideas to try for him to try and get him to become settled and calm whilst having a bath as I’m having to rush it at the moment.

Any advice, ideas or tips would be so appreciated!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Dollywilde · 27/03/2021 20:22

Have you got any bath toys? We tend to do bath time together - DH washes and I do a manic cabaret of ducks

Lazypuppy · 27/03/2021 20:23

How are you bathing him are you holdig him, in the bath with him or is he in a chair or something similar?

Is temperature definitely warm enough, if you put your hand in is it warm? I always found recommended temp for babies way too cold

OverTheRainbow88 · 27/03/2021 20:24

I would just wipe him down and not bother with the bath for now, no point pursuing something he’s clearly unhappy about. Try again in a few weeks

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

0-3 months old 3-6 months old Babies & sleep Families

Zogthebiggestdragon · 27/03/2021 20:25

My daughter hated the bath as a baby, I used to go in and take her on my chest which worked better. Once she could sit up in the bath (and I started to make it slightly warmer than the thermometer said to) things got much better.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 27/03/2021 20:25

We used a reclining seat in the bath - Angelcare make them - and they get used to it! Tbh I didn't bath mine until they were 1-2 mos old - just swabbed with water on their mats till then - and they probably took a couple of weeks to get used to it.

And yes to toys!

Amammai · 27/03/2021 20:29

My DDS wasn’t keen on baths at that age, we would sing, show toys etc but he really didn’t like being in. So we didn’t include a bath in his bedtime routine and instead bathed him earlier in the evening and only a couple of times a week (unless he really needed it more.) Less frequent bathing seemed to help his eczema and gradually over time he began to like them. Now at 3years old, he doesn’t want to get out!

Original poster

lchandlerxx · 27/03/2021 20:32

Yes I’ve tried toys once but they didn’t really seem to work so I can always give them another go and see if they help.

When I put my elbow and hand it the temperature of the bath seems warm yes, it’s the initial reaction of being put in the bath then when he is in, nothing is able to calm him down. He just cries until I get him out then will continue crying when I am getting him dressed.

He has a bath which has a built in seat so he sits in there by himself whilst I wash him

OP posts:

expectopelargonium · 27/03/2021 20:36

My dd1 was like this, we just gave her the shortest bath we could get away with. She grew out of it after a few months developed a terror of hand dryers in public toilets instead

ElphabaTheGreen · 27/03/2021 20:37

I’m going to second saying the bath is too cold. I’d yelp being put into a bath at the temperature a baby thermometer says is ‘just right’. Make the water warmer (he won’t melt, honestly) and maybe even get in with him. That way you can get a gauge on the temp as well, plus he gets some skin to skin which even three month olds still love.

doadeer · 27/03/2021 20:39

My son hated baths for 2 years, we just bathed him minimally but routinely, eg 2-3 times a week, eventually he got less scared. But actually I personally think a daily bath isn't good for their skin. 🤷‍♀️

MySocalledLoaf · 27/03/2021 20:40

Bath every three days and wash the other days. He’ll start liking it eventually.

Magpiecomplex · 27/03/2021 20:40

DD was like this, particularly with hair washing. I sat her on my lap to watch while DH had a bath. He made a big deal of how happy he was to be having a bath, lots of smiles and a cheerful voice. She was fine after that!

nervousnelly8 · 27/03/2021 20:42

Have you tried covering him with a flannel or muzzie in the bath? Sometimes the feeling of being covered can help soothe

PlantingGreen · 27/03/2021 20:49

My DS is 4 months and hated the bath and would cry the whole time or cry after a few minutes. We started giving him his bath in his room. We would put a lamp on and classic fm on. He loves it now. We think the bright light and us not being close enough to him unsettled him.

AnExcellentWalker · 27/03/2021 20:58

DD hated baths. Never grew out of it. I had to get in the bath with her. We bathed her much less than most babies seem to get bathed. Regular wash with a warm clean bamboo cloth instead - I bought a big pack of them. By 4 or 5 she was big enough to go in the shower instead (hated that too, but not as much).

At almost 9, she still hates going in the shower. But will do it. On the plus side, she has amazingly thick & shiny hair, & has done since she was a toddler. I think it's due to the infrequent washing...

Baypony · 27/03/2021 21:00

My practical suggestion would be try the bottle before the bath and if necessary another after. My daughter gets like this when she is overtired and hungry. Since we started doing bottle bath bottle bed she has been more settled for bathtime. If there is still crying try bringing bathtime forward by 1/2 hour. Good luck!

EugeniaGrace · 27/03/2021 21:09

I am wondering if he is too tired for a bath right before bed too. Could you try in the morning or mid afternoon and see if he is the same?

Dd2 as a newborn screamed after every bath because they pooped her out. It wasn’t a wind down activity for her at that age, more a big activity between naps.

I second making sure he isn’t hungry before the bath too.

Mmmmdanone · 27/03/2021 21:10

Tummy tub! My DS loved it.

AnneLovesGilbert · 27/03/2021 21:14

We showered with DD for many many months. She didn’t hate bathing but she wasn’t very keen so DH usually showered with her, just holding her on his front or hip and giving her a soap down and hair wash. She’s prone to eczema so it was proper shower twice a week or more if she’d been very sweaty or something. I don’t remember when we started bathing her, probably when she got heavier. We’d bath with her until she got into having a good splash around and had some toys she loved - stacking cups and foam numbers.

You’ll get there. For now I’d try a shower together. Hell feel safe in your arms.

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 27/03/2021 21:20

Can you get in the bath together? My baby was never keen on being in the water alone when we first tried bathing her but she loves sitting on my legs in the big bath and having a splash around. We usually have the temperature at around 37/38.

SpacePug · 27/03/2021 21:58

Have you tried wrapping him in a big muslin and bathing him while still wrapped round so he feels less exposed? Worked for my baby so maybe worth a try

DressingGown87 · 27/03/2021 22:32

I agree with PP use a muslin or flannel. My DD hated the bath too, so when she got undressed I use to put a Muslim over her and lift her into the bath seat. We then changed to a flannel. It took a few weeks, but now at 5 months she loves the bath and full exposure.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 27/03/2021 22:34

I used to put my babe in a sink. He was much happier with that when tiny.

Walesrecommendations · 27/03/2021 22:36

Another vote for it maybe being too cold, my DD loves baths and the only time she's ever cried in one was when I ran the bath cooler than normal because the hot water ran out.

ceilingsand · 27/03/2021 22:50

I just used to Bath then with me, snd ensure it was warm but not too cold.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread