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 3 4 5

Original poster

How to get toddler out of the bath!

108 replies

LilyandBilly · 03/12/2021 20:11

DS 2.5 has recently begun refusing to get out of the bath. I’ve tried giving plenty of warning, tempting him out, threatening to remove bath toys (and seeing it through). He doesn’t care. Will lie on his front with no water in and wait it out. He’s very heavy and I’ve got a back problem, the few times I’ve tried to just lift him out he starts thrashing around and really hurts me.

This happened again tonight and I’m in tears, both because it hurts but also from shame as I lost my temper with him and was rough - he started screaming that he was cold when I forcibly lifted him out and I just lost it, shouted that no wonder and it was his own fault for refusing to come out after the water had gone. Then we were both crying. It’s pathetic I know.

What do I do?? I have a 6 month old who is waiting lying on the floor while this is happening so I can’t sit it out and wait until he decides in his own good time to stand up. It’s really upsetting me and spoiling what used to be a favourite time of day :(

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

bluetowers · 03/12/2021 22:03

Drain water and turn cold water on. It works

bluetowers · 03/12/2021 22:05

@LilyandBilly

Thanks for the ideas, maybe changing up the routine is a good one to try. Running the cold tap - ha I love it! He hates being cold though, he would sob his little heart out

But he will stop doing it. He'll learn that he'll get covered in cold water if he doesn't get himself out.

Holidaytan · 03/12/2021 22:14

I love these threads where the OP has a question and is offered lots of practical solutions, but then refuses or gets annoyed at the suggestions.

As others have said, staying by the bath cajoling is offering him all the inventive he needs to stay there.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3-6 months old 6-9 months old Babies & sleep Families

KurtWildesChristmasNamechange · 03/12/2021 22:20

I just pull the plug out. Not much fun sitting around in an empty bath getting cold!

AliveAndSleeping · 03/12/2021 22:23

DD gets a certain amount of Screentime every day. I always ask her to bathe before Screens and then use that to tempt / warn her to come out..

Ickle37 · 03/12/2021 22:27

Empty the bath and walk out!! We are in charge.

TurnUpTurnip · 03/12/2021 22:30

My daughter is like this she’s 4 though and never wants to leave the bath once she’s in it!

EberhardtSmallcock · 03/12/2021 22:30

@NannyR

A couple of ideas - can you get a clock or timer with an easy to read face, even though they can't tell the time at that age, they can get the concept of "when the big hand points to six..."

Make a routine board with laminated cards showing tv, bath, pjs, teeth, story that they can stick up when completed.
Let them choose which stories they want for bedtime, when they are in the bath and it's nearly time to get out you can say "bath time is nearly finished, you get to choose when you get out, you can get out now and we will have time to read three stories or you can stay in and play for five minutes longer but then we only have time for one"

I think that toddlers have so little control over most areas of their lives that allowing them to make decisions and choices when possible can really help.

Also, if you are finding that it's becoming a stressful, unenjoyable, battle of wills, try to find a way to break that cycle. It doesn't matter if he misses his bath for a night or two, maybe put him in the bath in the afternoon as a play activity whilst the baby is napping, so it's a bit more relaxed and fun, nobody's tired and you don't have any time constraints.

I did all of the above at some point with at least one of mine (they are mostly adults now). Very good advice. I used to bath mine in the afternoon in winter as afternoons felt very long and it was a way to play with them when it was pouring with rain and freezing cold and dark at 3PM.

Original poster

LilyandBilly · 03/12/2021 22:34

@Holidaytan if you read lots of the ideas and my previous responses I’m very up for trying many of these, just not leaving properly alone (for reasons already stated plus he can turn the hot tap on). I wasn’t ruling out the cold water idea but I’d probably try other methods first.

OP posts:

Original poster

LilyandBilly · 03/12/2021 22:35

Thanks again for everyone who has helped too, really appreciate it

OP posts:

Bagadverts · 03/12/2021 22:40

What happens after the bath? Is it something nice or just that DBro/sis gets the attention? Is there a way to time things so that something nice happens after the bath?

TokenGinger · 03/12/2021 22:41

Do you have a shower? We went through a phase of DS refusing a bath altogether so we did a quick shower and sponge down. Could you do that?

friedeggandsauce · 03/12/2021 22:42

We used to sing, "the plug hole monster's gonna get you" 🤣

2020nymph · 03/12/2021 23:00

@hotmeatymilk

Oh, I always just say “Bye, then, I’m off to read stories to all your animals” and make to leave – she starts clambering out immediately, however wedded she was to the cold, empty bath before.

Genius!

2020nymph · 03/12/2021 23:05

@friedeggandsauce

We used to sing, "the plug hole monster's gonna get you" 🤣

I'm now singing that to the tune of rhythm is gonna get you!

2020nymph · 03/12/2021 23:07

Good luck with it @LilyandBilly I'm in the same position with 3 year old DS, also struggle to left him. He is happy in an empty bath as he just slides up and down.

justasking111 · 03/12/2021 23:20

Turn the light off warn him first that when alarm goes off the lights will follow

ShiftingSands21 · 03/12/2021 23:33

Don’t bath him most days, just give him a quick wipe with a cloth. Bath him only on a day when you have a backup person to do the removal from bath.

Excitedforxmas · 03/12/2021 23:41

The quickest person out gets a sweet! Bribery is your friend

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/12/2021 02:13

@Ickle37

Empty the bath and walk out!! We are in charge.

Much easier to be smug when you've actually read the post. It's an empty bath. OP isn't an idiot.

Teapot13 · 04/12/2021 03:18

It's possible he needs attention since he has a new sibling. When my eldest was that age, if she was good while I put the baby down we would have a "special time" just the two of us before she went to bed. Sometimes we drank hot chocolate, or watched some Shirley Temple songs on YouTube or even folded laundry. It's hard to be sure of the correlation in almost anything we do as parents but I always feel behavior is better when they are getting positive attention from me.

GypsyRoseGarden · 04/12/2021 03:35

let water out
start running cold water (especially if there is a shower over the bath - cold shower works every time)
bring a book - sit and wait and read you book - seriously, he's testing boundaries - there will be a lot more of these

what worked for me was putting his towel in the drier on hot, and then grabbing it out right before he came out of the bath and wrapping him up in it for cuddles - he LOVED it - used to ask me to do it as a teenager and leave the hot towel outside the (closed) bathroom door - hehe

DayToNight · 04/12/2021 03:50

We drain the bath and say to DS (3) 'let me know when you're ready to get out' mention a nice warm towel and book then walk away - stand just out of sight. Repeat phrase a few times if not shifting. Usually works within a few mins.

If getting really bad we let DS know what the consequences are before getting in the bath. I would love to read you a book but if you don't get out when I ask you we won't have time.

We also have a step so DS can get out of the bath, and a mat for bottom of bath if too slippery.

sashh · 04/12/2021 04:42

Does he have a favorite adult other than you? A grandparent, uncle, aunt anyone he looks up to?

Could they phone him?

You send a text , they phone to speak to him, but he can't have a phone in the bath so he either gets out now or the person can call back in 5 mins.

Do you wrap him in a towel when he is still in the bath?

Does he have a toweling dressing gown? If so put it on a radiator, get home to stand up (with the use of the cold tap if you need to) then wrap him in a towel / dressing gown.

Is your baby in a routine? I'm thinking of a set nap time when you can leave her (did you say her?) in her cot and your toddler can have your undivided attention for a bath and a story just until the baby wakes up?

Amammai · 04/12/2021 05:16

If all else fails - cartoons on your phone? He can we watching them as he’s getting dried?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5