2 Year Old Refuses to Sit in Tub

Updated on November 19, 2008
A.Y. asks from Hartsdale, NY
11 answers

I have a 2-year-old girl who loves bath time, but refuses to sit down in the tub unless my husband or I are in the tub with her. She will happily get into the tub by herself, but insists on standing throughout the bath. It began several months ago when she had a bad diaper rash, and even though it healed months ago, she still seems afraid to sit down. Any suggestions of how to resolve this? As much as I enjoy taking a bath with her once in a while, I don't want to have to do it every day.

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P.M.

answers from New York on

how about if you put her in without the water, and have her sit first and then fill the water. Get some irresistible bath toys. For my son, the water crayons would work like a charm.

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L.P.

answers from New York on

Let her stand. Although it may be scary for you (the slip and fall), it's not worth getting upset over (you or your daughter.) Make sure the bottom of the tub has a nonslip mat, and let her stand. Keep a hand on her. She'll be fine. The other choice is to start giving her showers. My son has loved them since he was coming in with either my husband or myself. He's been doing it by himself since he was three. I still open the curtain to soap him and shampoo, but he loves it.
Ease up on yourself, mommy. Don't fret the small stuff. Remember to enjoy yourself; they're only young once!

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D.S.

answers from New York on

Start giving her a shower. What may happen is she may hate the water on her face and sit down in the bathtub to avoid it. She may even enjoy the shower. A shower is much better for rinsing the soap off of your body anyway. Give it a try you have nothing to loose.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

You could try a bath seat/ring if she still fits in one, or you could try showering her. If she's standing up and not soaking or playing, a bath is an awful lot of water to use when you could just clean her with the shower sprayer. Be sure that you have a good nonstick mat or towel on the bottom and if you can install something for her to hold onto, that might make you feel safer about it. Good luck!

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R.C.

answers from New York on

As long as you stay with her for safety reasons while she is standing in the tub...Let her stand. Put some rubber water toys in and at some point she'll sit to play with them...forgetting about her rash.

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M.L.

answers from New York on

My daughter decided, months ago, that baths just weren't "cool" any more. (She's 2.) Since then, she's been taking showers with me. She doesn't need to soap up every day, but it's pretty easy to just both get undressed, hop in, get dried off and get dressed again at the same time. Would that work for you?

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K.H.

answers from New York on

Maybe its time for her to start taking a shower. My kids are 2 and 3 and they have both showered since they were about 18 mos old. I bought a slip proof mat for the bottom of the tub. As an added benefit, I was able to get the cradle cap under control since the shower rinses their hair better. They both love it. Good luck.

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O.G.

answers from Albany on

Hi A., my daughter is 22 months old, and she also doesn't like to sit in bathtube, recently I offered her to take a sponge and wash herself, we started from upper part of the body and then I proposed to sit down(the water was about 10-15sm deep) and wash her lower part in water.. and it worked.. yesterday she sat down herself and was playing in tube sitting in water. Good luck. O.

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G.S.

answers from New York on

My youngest (almost 5) had gotten so used to showers that the only way she'll take a bath is if we do a bath/shower w/her wearing her bathing suit - one thing I've learned being a parent for almost 11 yrs now is that u definitely have to choose your battles. The one agreement Haley & I had when this began is that she can swim around in the tub & all, but 5 mins before she gets out we have to clean her up down below. I've also given into the scuba masks, flippers, you name it, I'm letting it happen! Good luck!

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M.R.

answers from New York on

A.,

I see that other moms have suggested what I'm about to - let her take a shower - though - do you have a hand held showerhead?

If not - you could get one that attaches itself to the faucet part of the tub and let her hold the showerhead and 'wash' as well. (not sure where you'd find one - but I'm sure its cheaper then a whole new shower attachement)

Of course all with your supervision.

Good luck - and don't forget the non-slip bath mat!

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A.M.

answers from New York on

well, you might have already tried, but maybe get some special toy that floats. then put a very small amount of water in the tub. the small amount may not scare her and she will only be able to play if she is sitting.

also try maybe to have her kneel, that might be enough for her to feel secure.

have you tried either going in, then getting out, or just putting your feet in? good luck, thats a tough one at that age.

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