Any Advice for a 15 Month Old Who All of a Sudden Hates Taking a Bath!

I have gone thru this w/both of my girls - the thing that worked best for me was to let them wear their bathing suits in the tub then at the end they would have to strip down so I could get the rest of them clean. We would also use a spray bottle for them to spray the tub wall while I was rinsing their hair. I'd follow their swim up w/being dried off w/a beach towel. Good luck!

Wow. Reading these responses has been interesting. We went through the same thing with my son about the same age. I didn't realize it was so common. For him, the stage lasted months. At 22 months, it's still hard coaxing him in the water, but once he's in, he's pretty happy.

4 things helped us the most:
1) We have a huge non slip mat and as he got to be a better walker, I got less concerned about having him stand. Once I stopped trying to make him sit, he started to sit more.
2) I found these fizzy color tables to put in the water. He loves them, way more than bubbles. I will hide 3 or 4 under plastic cups around the edge of the tub and let him find them.
3) I don't wash his hair all the time.
4) Leave the water running at a trickle for him to play with, and sometimes open the drain and let him see what it feels like to have the water drain around his hand.

We're going through this too! My son loves swimming in the pool and doesn't mind getting splashed, but put him in the tub and he screams his head off. The only thing we have found successful is putting a non-slip mat in the tub and not fighting about wanting to stand. After a few minutes, he will sit on his own and play. I let him just play in the water and with the bubbles for 10 minutes before attempting to clean him. Usually he's so distracted with his toys that he doesn't notice me lathering him up. Hair is the last thing to be washed and rinsed- he cries, but at least he knows he gets out after his hair is rinsed!

It's getting better slowly, but he used to love taking a bubble and that was a great time for us. From what my friends tell me... this too shall pass!

J.-
try not washing her hair for a couple of days. my kids all hated having their hair washed and started resisting bath time. tell her that she doesn't need her hair washed and that will help take the anxiety out. i also let them take whatever toy they want (providing it is not electronic or has betteries) into the tub with them. good luck.

J.-We also went through this at about the same age. Our son went from taking a pleasant bath-to screaming if I tried to sit him down. He is 20 months old now and will sit in the tub again-but still likes to stand sometimes. Daddy started taking baths with him and that was effective for us. Just keep doing what you are doing and she should pass this phase. If you are truly concerned with her behavior-just check with the health care provider at your next visit. Good luck!!!

It's just a phase that a lot of kids go through. It'll be over soon enough. Until then just wash her down and make it as fun as you can.

Maybe she's just cold, and/or doesn't like the feel of the hard surface of the tub. Have you tried warming up the bathroom before she gets naked, or getting a soft puffy mat to put on the bottom of the tub?

I'm just thinking that since she used to like the bath and doesn't anymore, it might be a temperature thing. Or did she have a bad experience??

This just happened to us! My daughter was probably about 20 months when she did the same thing (she is going to be 2 next month) The good thing is it only lasted a few weeks and then she gradually was back to normal... I did a bunch of different things - tried bubbles, the tablets that color the water, tub crayons, new toys, and a doll.. I got the one that is made for the tub and she loves to wash the dolly... Just keep trying and eventually she will get back to normal! Good luck!

J.
My daughter did the same thing at just about your daughter's age.
I found that certain times of the day kicked off that behavior more than others. If she was tired...OMG, she was horrible. So afraid!!
So I switched "Splish Splash time" to first thing in the morning and it worked better for her.
She was more relaxed when she was well rested.
I think at that age they become more aware of the water and the running of it in the tub and the splashing...too overwhelming at that time.
There is also a bucket item that Walmart sells for about $12. It is sold in the baby department where all the other tub items are. It has a rubber piece on one end so that you place the rubber against your baby's forhead and rinse her hair that way. The water never goes onto her face. Only her hair gets wet. That item is fantastic.
I will tell you that in the beginning of morning baths there was still some hesitation, but she didn't scream and carry on as much. Soft talking is great when getting her used to the idea. At first I just sat her on my lap on the tub rim and sprinkled a little water onto her toes, then up to her knees and so forth. Eventually she got really interested in her little squirt tub toys and wiggled off my lap and wanted to get into the water.
Make sure the water is real shallow at first too.
If it is too deep, she will get scared.
I have the inflatable bath tub instead of putting her into the big tub. Smaller area and colorful too.... ($11 in Babies R Us)

I hope these suggestions help.
It is a phase, so know it will work out.
Be consistent too. Meaning bathtime every day to show her it is part of a routine. Baths only once in a while will keep her afraid longer.

good luck to you!
P.

I had almost this exact same post a couple months ago. I am beginning to think this is something that happens to kids around this age. I tried all the suggestions and my son wont sit down! I just have my husband hold him so he can't slip and fall and I wash him. I use a cup of water to rinse him off, lucky you with the sprayer. We only do hair wash once a week (not sure if your daughter has long hair) and he hates that. Otherwise, bathtime is short and sweet and I am hoping that one day, he will sit down again. I know you were looking for better advice, but all I can say is go with it and maybe she will sit down eventually.

Hi J.,
I have only read a couple of the other responses, but didn't see anything about a shower. (there may have been, but I didn't read all of them)

My oldest, now 18 and in college, like playing in the bath for a while before I washed her and her hair. Then one day, she didn't like it anymore - I did the same as some moms - didn't wash her hair everytime. Then one day, she wanted to take a shower with me, so I let her in and was able to wash her up without problem.

She started liking baths again when my 2nd was born and she had someone to play with (when baby was about 6 months old). She loved her baby.

My youngest, will be 3 this month, still takes showers with me. It is much easier to get her washed, she has alot of hair! She likes her bath, once or twice a week, but its showers that she likes most. She has been taking showers with me since she could sit up on her own.

I had to pick her up and put her head and parts of her body under the water to rinse, but also let her play with it with her hands -so she knows it wont hurt.
good luck

Another thought - do you have rough non slip stickers on the bottom of your tub? they may hurt her sensitive skin when she sits down?

My son who is 15 months old is going through that as well. We usually bath him in an inflatable tub that sits in the bathtub. The last time I tried giving him a bath he was happy standing in the big tub and playing with the water in the inflatable tub. He pooped half way through and to prevent him from stepping in it I put him in the inflatable tub and he was fine. He even sat down and started splashing. Tonight is bath night so I will see if it works by putting him in the big tub for a bit and then move him.

What if you don't fill up the tub, and just have runing water at a slower pace?

my son did this too...try getting a cute bathtub mat with elmo or something cute on it for her to look at while she's sitting in the tub...

This just happened to us, too! I've taken a different approach from most other parents here. I decided that he slips enough, even standing on the rubber mat that standing is unacceptable to me. So I basically physically force him to sit (which obviously makes him scream). But I usually find that if I then turn his attention to bathtub crayons or the bubbles in the tub, he'll sit happily for the duration of the bath. Good luck!

we had the same problem around this time with my now 2 1/2 year old. try getting a fun looking bath mat and if that doesnt work, ride it out, sing a song, make it playfull and short. It will pass, promise!