Bath Time - Weimar,TX

This is just one of her many stages. Just take some of her favorite toys in the bath tub. If somebody plays bath time games with her then she will realize that it really isn't so bad.

1 mom found this helpful

Hello B.

Has she recently been in a pool or the sprinklers? Often kids can a bad experience in play water, and associate that to bath water.

The best way to overcome this issue is to gradually reintroduce water into her enviroment. Start with playing in water at the sink. Next during bath time, either sit in the tub with her or put your feet in too, provide her with security. Start with an inch or two of water then add a little more over the next few days or weeks.

I hope this helps.

R. Magby

My daughter went from loving baths to hating baths to loving baths to hating baths in the first several years of her life. Now she tolerates them (at 5 1/2). Someone suggested bubbles, and someone else said not to because of yeast infections. We tried bubbles which worked OK, and our daughter DID get the kid version of a yeast infection, so no more bubbles!

She's always had a problem getting water in her face. The special pitcher from One Step Ahead didn't help (her cousin had that and we tried it). She refused to wear a bath visor. Today, she is OK, and just puts a washcloth over her face. It gets wet, but she's OK with that.

So, basically, we endured the screaming and gave her very short baths. We didn't have to soap her down--her skin was sensitive and we were told not to use soap. Just stuck her in, washed her hair, and pulled her out. When she got older, things got better when she could communicate well enough to make more decisions about the water temperature (she actually likes it only tepid), how she is going to wash her hair, whether she bathes with her little brother, etc.

Good luck! I wish I had better advice to offer! We were pretty much at a loss...

NO NO ....do NOT use bubble bath!!! That is just asking for a yeast infection and you do not want to have to deal with that!!! Make sure that you don't have her in the tub when you are letting the water run down the drain...that might be startling her. You might also just have someone climb in the tub with her....or let her take a shower with Mom...just make sure that you don't let her get too much water into her face. Maybe some special tub toys that would be fun for her to play with and distract her from being afraid. Most importantly, don't react to this too much...just go ahead and bathe her as quickly as possible but don't comment about being afraid of the water.
Good luck...I am sure it will get better

My daughter was the same way, we ended up taking her to the ER. The doctor said it was because we gave her to many bubble baths. I am not sure if you granddaughter takes bubble baths but it irratates her in her private area.

Could your granddaughter have an ear infection? My ganddaughter always loved her baths too. Then one night she begain crying hysterically during her bath! The following she went to the doctor for a check up. She never pulled at her ears or rubbed them but she had an ear infection in both ears! The crying stopped when we begain using ear plugs during her bath and her ears were better.

Now she loves her bath again adn will even bring me her ear plugs!

It is a stage, They begin to realize the water fills up and then goes down that drain, she may feel like that is going to hapen to her too.

You can try bubble bath (just rinse her real well), Place plastic cups and bowls in there for her to pour with.. Also placing her in a dry tub , but with a bucket of water to wash her with. can work.
Some people have found, letting her sit in the tub while it fills up helps. Also getting in the tub with her and bathing her in your lap will help.

Sounds like something happened? Soap in her eye or mouth or just an unexpected splash? Baths can be tough. I would let her pick out a new and special just for the bath toy. Give her something positive to look forward to? Best of luck!

My 18 month old loves the bath to play in, but as soon as my husband starts to bathe her, she starts whining and whines all the way until we are done bathing her. Then she stops again. Maybe she just doesn't like the bathing part. I started to sing some of her favorite songs to her while we do this process and it helps a little.

I know you've gotten some helpful answers, but I wanted to add a little something. Whatever has her bothered doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the bath. When I was a kid, I suddenly started refusing to take a bath - after a trip to the zoo. My young mind was sure there were hippos in the bathtub. Did she go to the zoo or aquarium recently? Or see a nature show on TV?

Also, I have two little friends who are fine in the bath - after they've had their(annual) swim lessons. (It takes about 10 months for the happy swim-lesson-vibes to wear off, thne showers for two months, then lessons, then baths again.) For whatever reasons, they need to be comfortable in ALL water for bathtime to be acceptable. They have vision impairments, though, so that might be a unique situation.

This happened to my son as well. He loved his bath and then one day, for no reason at all, he began screaming during the entire thing and being very fearful. It lasted for about 3-4 weeks and then went away. There was never a trauma associated with water so I have no idea what caused it or why it went away. But, during the time he was in fear, it was awful. I wouldn't run any standing water in the tub. I would just stand him there and run the faucet the entire time with the drain open. He would scream the entire time but I was quick. I got it down to about 45 seconds to get him entirely washed and shampoo'd. He's almost 9 yrs old now and it's never reoccurred. Hang in & hopefully it'll fade like his did.