This is probably a really thick question but what do you do about a toddler who keeps standing up in the bath?

[spicemonster]

Are there any techniques I'm supposed to know about? I usually get to him fast enough to stop him cracking himself on the jaw but he has slipped once or twice and nearly given me heart failure. Alternatively is there a full length bath mat you can buy??

We let ds stand in the bath (dp usually does bathtime) but just stay really close to him. He falls over and occasionally he grizzles about it but he bounces back and keeps doing it

If he was just crashing to his knees I wouldn't mind but his feet go out from under him and there is a tiled shelf round the bath which he has cracked his chin on when I haven't got there fast enough. My bath is enamel - perhaps it's particularly slippery?

My bath mat is only 70cm long and the bath is 120cm so I need a longer one. He could stand up all he liked if he didn't fall over.

i too go with the if you stand up you will fall and hurt yourself approach. when they realise mummy is in fact telling the truth they soon stop it.

When ds had a phase like this we just showered him for a bit. Now when he feels like a shower rather thsn a bath he lets us know.

I'm the same as nappyaddict.....

II let ds stand in the bath - he likes to reach for his own toys and flannel and he does hold on, but i do tell him to be careful, you might slip (like he will understnad, but you never know..!) So far he hasnt fallen - I did have to draw the line at chucking water out of the bath with his cup though!!

i am just glad it is not just me, my little one who is 18 months old does this a ,ot too, he loves to splash in the water but i am petrified he is going to slip, he just ignores me when i tell him to sit down

just tell him if he slips it will hurt. if he does slip he will realise you were telling the truth.

Grrr - we have this every night and it drives me mad. Even when I go to get the towel my heart is in my mouth.

'Be careful', 'Watch the taps', 'Sit down'. Bathtime is so much fun chez-PJ.

i agree with nappyaddict, let him slip. boots do a long bathmat as well. oh, and no bubbles, that makes the bath much slidier.

And dd tries to climb up the sloping side of the bath too.

my ds has stood up in the bath from cruising stage (8 months). Until he was really steady on his feet, I would put my arms on either side to protect him. No problem!

His current trick of doing the downward dog with hands on opposite rim of the bath to his feet is slightly more worrying

letuseatcake - that gate would not be a great idea for my ds as he would see it as a challenge to climb over!

Pinkjenny - we have the same problem here - climbing up the sloping side to reach his pooh bear flannel or his duck! Bumped himself once or twice - but never learned!

I have a bathmat in the middle and then use the little shapes you stick to the bottom, bought them from e-bay, for around the bath mat!

I just let dd stand. Don't have a bath mat either. I realise now I'm too laid back.

if you don't want them to climb up the slope don't put anything they want at the top of it.

I also let all 3 of mine stand and haven't had a mat since the one I bought for ds1 went mildewy. They've all gone over occasionally but they learn pretty quickly .

What about getting some of that rubbery stuff that goes around hearths and the like to put on the tiled shelf for now, until he's a bit steadier?

I will get shot down in flames for this but if I want to get my three year old to brush his teeth in the bath, I'm afraid I splash him with cold water.

He squeals with delight rather than horror but it does the trick. Sometimes I can just turn the tap on.

I used to do it when he was a bit younger when he wouldn't sit down as I worried about him falling over.

I must be too laid back as well. It's never crossed my mind to stop them standing up in the bath.

There's nothing wrong with standing up in the bath, except he used to always do it near the taps when he was little and I was terrified he'd crack his teeth or chin on them on the way down.

DH is far more laid back than me. Caught them sawing wood together in the garage today. DH swears the tiny hack saw was very blunt but gave me the heeby geebies. I am just a wimp I think!

I also let DS2 (13 months) stand, DS1 never did.
We also have a long bath mat, from Bl Marvellous I think.

I got a Thomas bath island thing that fits to the side and ds now sits to play with it as is stuck on side of the bath at that level. I never used to worry tho...well only a bit!

I let mine too x