2year old scared of bath

[Boymamaoftwo]

My 2 year old used to LOVE the bath, was always so excited and happy to go for a bath.

but all of a sudden out of nowhere he is now so upset/crying/getting worked up when going for a bath, to the extent where he will only stand and he won't sit down in the bath so I had to shower him as best as I could as he clings on to me crying.

its so hard to see him so upset when im bathing and washing him ahhhh i feel so guilty

ive tried so many things, new bath toys, showering, I went in the bath and shower and asked if he wanted to come in with me and he got all worked up crying again, even tried bathinng him in his swimming pants and top and that was a no go he just hates the bath so much.

he has never had a bad experience with water or the bath/shower so I'm unsure where it's come from, completely mind boggled.

any tips on how to deal with this? Or has anyone else had this happen and how long did it last? Xx

Could try a baby bath so it's not so big? There was a tiktok on this and the lassie got him used to the bath by using a washing basket think he may have been younger though. Might be worth a search

@KittenOnTheTable i didn't even think of a baby bath/toddler bath!! I will defo have a look into trying that - thank you

Did he get water in his eyes or something seemingly minor to you? Was bath ever too hot? Yes I’d go with a smaller bath. If you have the nice weather how is he in a paddling pool?

Both of mine when through this and we swamped to bathing in the kitchen sink for a couple of weeks and it did the trick! Made it into a fun game and took the pressure off.

Otherwise if water in the eyes is the trigger. Getting a colourful flannel and giving them the 'job' of holding it over their eyes while you shower them has helped too. Keeps their hands busy and water off their face.

@greengreyblue we always kept the water out of his eyes as much as we could and had a flannel for any drops that went down his face to hand every bath time and I still use the theomometer for the bath everytime I put him in. We've just ordered a paddling pool so I might give that a go as well!!

To use the MN phrase, it's just a phase. This, like everything, is a phase.

Mine did it, completely from nowhere, quite disturbing, lasted a couple of weeks. I used the angel care bath seat again to do hair, lie back, nothing in eyes.

Other than that potion making solves most bath problems.

It’s tough when a child who used to love something suddenly becomes upset by it. There are a few things you might try to help your 2-year-old with their bath aversion.

First, consider if there could be any changes or stressors in his life that might be contributing to this new behavior. Sometimes, changes in routine, environment, or even developmental stages can affect a child’s behavior.
Try to keep bath times as calm and consistent as possible. You might want to avoid any pressure or expectations during bath time and instead create a relaxing and enjoyable environment.

Gentle play and distraction techniques, like using a favorite toy or singing a calming song, might help ease his anxiety.
It can also be useful to give him some control over bath time. Let him decide on the toys to bring or allow him to pour water from a cup himself. Sometimes, giving a child a sense of control can make them feel more secure.

If he's still showing distress, consider breaking down the bath into smaller steps. For instance, you could start with just sitting by the edge of the tub or playing with water outside the tub before gradually moving back to a full bath.
As with many phases in childhood, this could just be a temporary stage. While it’s distressing to see him so upset, try to stay patient and keep the experience as positive as possible. If the issue persists or worsens, consulting with your pediatrician might provide additional insights and strategies.

Quite common I think.
We just used wipes and showers and returned to baths then child was ready.

My niece for no reason at all was absolutely terrified of water hated bathes shower everything no idea why she was ok in baby bath or sink though so maybe that ?

My DS was like this, it turns out he hated water on his face. I’d sit in the bath with him on my lap and then when he was ready he’d get in the water. He’d have to wear a shower cap, goggles and have bubbles. It was just a phase, it passed and he now has got over his fear of water on his face. Taking him swimming helped too!

Thank you ALL for your responses. This has made me feel sooooo much better knowing other children have gone through this. I will try the sink and baby bath 100% and see how he feels with a smaller amount of water / area and go from there!

Thank you all ❤

DD had this, totally out of the blue. We stepped up water play for a while, even let her bathe in the kitchen sink for fun a few times which she found silly and funny (as out of the norm) - she's now a (nearly) 4 yo who would happily spend half her life in the bath!

Mine did it too. So he came in the shower with me until he got over it. Took him swimming to encourage him getting used to the water. Like others said, just a phase. X

Will he go in the bath in a 'boat?' I.e a washing basket. Water will obviously come in through the holes but might make him feel more secure. This sort of thing.

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@Balloonhearts fab idea! I literally have a washing basket like that! I will give that a try too!

thank you xx

OMG We had this too - totally out of the blue. I dreaded bath time since it became such an ordeal (and probably bathed her a bit less frequently I have to admit 😬)

I ended up getting some of those bath crayons so once she was standing in the bath I could try and coax her down into the water to draw on the side of the tub. We were back to normal in a couple of weeks.

Good luck!