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Original poster

16MO Scared of baths

14 replies

BathtimeHelp · 12/12/2022 18:57

My 16 month old DS is terrified of baths. He's been through a couple of phases as a baby of enjoying it/disliking it/enjoying it again.

I made the mistake of taking him swimming. We went as a little group with other babies/mums he knows well (he's a pretty sociable baby) and for some reason he hated it. I took him again, hoping for an improvement, and it was worse. Ever since then he is scared of the bath, and last night cried so much he was sick

I tried taking him to a 'lesson' a couple of weeks ago, and explained the situation to the instructor and she said to bring him along. I ended up taking him out early because he cried the whole time. I got him dry then stood at the pool side for the rest of the session so he could watch and hopefully realise it wasn't scary.

I will persevere with poolside observation in the hope it calms his water fears, but have any of you got any tips?? Bathtime is just such a horrible experience for everyone involved

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BlueBellIris · 12/12/2022 19:00

Is he in a bath seat?

My LO went through a similar phase. HV told me to take him out of bath seat and fill bath with tiny amount of water (an inch). Not sure the logic, but it worked.

Original poster

BathtimeHelp · 12/12/2022 19:06

@BlueBellIris thank you for your reply.

No he's no in a bath seat anymore. Just some water at the bottom of the bath as you said. I was thinking of maybe trying a bath seat but not sure how this would help.

We sometimes go to a little local aquarium and we've noticed he's getting warey around there as well because of the water. I have no idea why he's so scared

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Original poster

BathtimeHelp · 12/12/2022 19:07

Maybe we're putting too much water in. I'll try less and hopefully that'll help!

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Roundandroundthegarden0 · 12/12/2022 19:13

We had a similar issue about a month ago and the only way DS would take a bath is if me or DH got in with him.

Do you have a non slip mat in the bath? The slippy sensation can be a bit scary I think.

We also did lots of water play in the bath so just in an empty bath we put some bowls of warm water and spoons and let him play like that.

It eventually got better just as quick as it started.

We also got a stick on basketball net which he loves so that also has helped as he is distracted playing that as soon as he gets in.

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BathtimeHelp · 12/12/2022 19:18

@Roundandroundthegarden0 I've tried getting in with him - it does help a tiny bit but he still cries the entire time and clings to me. DH got him undressed the other day for a bath and when he saw me undressed too it was like he knew what what coming and cried before he even got to the bathroom (I'd hope I don't look that terrifying undressed 😅 )

Hadn't thought about the non slip bath mat, thank you. Great idea about the play sessions as well. I think I'll try a few dry play sessions in the bath then build up to the dreaded water

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chocopuffs · 12/12/2022 19:24

My DD is two and goes through phases with the bath too. We sometimes find it helpful to shake things up for a bit - we tried hand held showers which she enjoyed for a while, before deciding she liked the bath again. Bath crayons really helped her enjoy the bath again. Also - I sometimes find washing her hair upsets her so I avoid that for a few days.

endofthelinefinally · 12/12/2022 19:25

It is a very common phase. I just did a quick stand up bath with a sponge and a bowl of water. It was fine and after a couple of months she was ok to sit in the bath again. With my friend's little one it was a terrible fear of going down the plug hole. Little children can't rationalise the size of the plug hole and the size of their body. Things we don't notice can be terrifying for little children.

ChocHotolate · 12/12/2022 19:26

Have you got a shower attachment? Could he hold the shower with the water running while he sits in the bath? Great distraction of nothing else

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BathtimeHelp · 12/12/2022 19:30

We have got a shower attachment but I never thought of using it 🙈 I do have a brain, I promise (or at least I did pre DS 😅) we have a separate shower cubicle which we've tried and he also hates it.

Because of how he responds to the pool and the aquarium, I do think it is a fear of the water itself, but I could be wrong. Bath crayons are a great idea - ordering those right now. I tried a fidget spinner on the side which helped for about 2 seconds, so hopefully crayons would be longer. He's just in such a state when he's in the bath it's so hard to calm him down again. Obviously he has bath toys but maybe I do need to shake things up a bit.

Great suggestions, thank you all

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Original poster

BathtimeHelp · 12/12/2022 19:31

@chocopuffs yep as soon as a drop of water gets on his face during a hair wash, it's game over!

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Hopingforbetterluck · 12/12/2022 19:36

I had this issue with my DS a few months ago although he’s slightly older. We tried a few things like putting the shower on and letting him play with the shower head, me getting in with him but what he really enjoyed (and still uses now) was those coloured bath tablets you can get that turn the water different colours. I think they’re called bath drops by crayola and they are a bit pricey but I’m sure you can get a cheaper version. Took a few weeks but he eventually got over his fear.

Have you tried some new bath toys, the ones that stick on the side of the bath and blow bubbles etc might help distract him or even just bubbles to blow in the bath - hope you find something that helps.

Original poster

BathtimeHelp · 12/12/2022 20:05

Right I've just ordered a basketball net, which I think he will love (thank you @Roundandroundthegarden0 ), I'm going to let him play with fully clothed in a dry bath first.

Also ordered bath crayons and the colour changing things, thank you @Hopingforbetterluck I'm hoping that'll help because he might not see the water as water if that makes sense.

Almost feeling optimistic (ha). Thank you!

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Scarftown · 12/12/2022 22:05

We (touch wood) have just come through the other side of it. At 15 months she just freaked out near water, being in the bath, swimming even just watching me in the shower led to hysterics where previously she was happy and playful. She's just turned 18 mo this and in the last few days has started to play with the water (a bowl and some cups on the kitchen floor) and yesterday we had a bath (didn't wash hair as wanted to keep it positive) with no tears, she happily played in a small bit of water for 15 mins. I was told it's just a phase and hopefully it was. If it was it has finished just as quick as it started and if I have now jinxed it it was good for 3 days lol

EdHelpPls · 12/12/2022 22:16

Middle child hated baths but didn't mind a mini bath in a box! She couldn't stretch her legs out it was so small, and box sides only up to her elbows when sitting. Started in living room with distraction of a screen, then into bathroom just on floor, then after a few weeks box went into the bath. Used it there til she was too big. TBH, prob saved a fortune in hot water 😁

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