DS won’t sit in the bath….HELP

[missmarplesapprentice]

In need of advice. My nearly 18month old DS will not sit down in the bath. It’s now been like this for just over 2 months. He will just stand and sometimes cry if not distracted but not matter what we do, he will not sit down.

We have tried
new toys
bubbles
watching the bath fill and empty
Watching us in the bath and then having us bath with him.
playing games, trying to keep baths short and not always washing hair etc.

When he sees us in the bath he will start to freak out uncontrollably and this will also happen when we’re in the bath with him.
he visibly gets anxious when we mention “bath” and try to avoid it.
I think it started after we visited some family and it was just awkward using the bath (sunken) and he lost his balance slightly (didn’t fall as we were holding onto him) but still a little fright.

does anyone have any tips?

thanks in advance, from a desperate mum x

This thread has honestly really helped my sanity. I was constantly questioning what I was doing wrong.
we already have a non slip mat in the bath so I think I’ll get on for the shower so we have that option too.

😂😂😂 I don’t know if I’m ready for this next stage 😂😂😂

Our daughter did this around the same age. She had stand up baths for months. It started when she had chicken pox and had some sore spots on her bottom - I think sitting bothered them so she developed an avoidance behaviour with it. We just ignored it and let her stand, talked positively, continued with the Bathtime routine and used bubbles etc to entertain her. She literally did it for months and then randomly started sitting down again. I'd try not to lay too much attention to it and just wait for him to adjust.

And to add, if you're worried about him slipping get a bath mat?

One of my DGC did this - they are 6 and 3 now and I can't even remember which one of them it was. It was a phase that they eventually outgrew.

My 4 year old has never sat down in the bath (except when he was really little obviously), but then again he is autistic so this might have something to do with it. We just let him stand up and wash him that way

Does he go swimming? Just make him rationise that's its basically a smaller pool but warmer with lots of toys. Sometimes kids need that connection to realise they aren't scared of a pool so a bath isn't scary.

My DS generally doesn't sit, he's a bit too excited! He generally goes in the bath with his older sister but honestly I just plonk him in for a couple of minutes, keep a hold with one hand and clean/pour water over with the other hand. He tends to stand holding on to the side. Don't really try and wash his hair as not loads of it. I only think he needs a minute or two to clean him and then older sister stays playing for a whilst I dry and dress him.

‘Make him rationalise’….. lol it’s an 18mo old. They will yell at you for serving them what was their favorite food 10 seconds ago

Has he started refusing to lay down for a nappy change yet? That's a fun stage 😣 hit us around two.

DC stands in the bath, stares at me with all the rage a 20 month old can muster, and screams. For the whole bath.

Baths were brilliant a month ago. I'm sure they'll be brilliant again soon enough. But at the moment they're The Worst Thing. Along with vegetables.