Bath Time

C.,

Try something fun with the water. Setup a wash tub in the bathroom instead of the tub. Put toys in and let her play on the edge with supervision. Once she starts getting comfortable then the next time undress her and let her play naked. Next sponge bath. This might help her get back into the tub by making it fun. Hope this helps.

Hi C.-
Neither one of my kids really went through this except for when I would lean their heads back to rinse their hair and they would get water on their face. I ended up getting them a detatchable shower head so they could take a bath and play then when it is time to get out I would drain the water and then they would lean their heads back and they would shower the bubbles and wash off. You know I saw in a mag once kids using sun visors so they wouldn't get water in their litttle faces. I hope this helps. Good Luck!

I was living with my sister around the time my nephew was about your daughter's age. I remember one week when he just did not want to take a bath. He seemed all of a sudden fearful of the tub. One night I put rose pedals in my bath and he saw them and became very intrigued. I asked him if he wanted to take a bath with the roses and he said yes. No more problems taking a bath after that and we didn't need rose pedals to lure him in. So my advice would be to find something to put in the tub that would intrigue her to take a bath. Good luck!

Hi C. :)

My son did this as well at the same age. His pediatrician said it's completely normal. We just sat back and were patient with him, and he eventually came around. Until that happened, it was quick trips in and out of the tub for "swimming lessons". Now I have to fight with him to get him out of the "pool" =P

Good luck, and don't fret.

Hi C.~

What about not filling up the tub but letting her get in with her toys and just let the water run from the fauset slowly. My 2 year old loves filling & dumping the water over and over. And then gradually fill the tub with just a little bit of water & see how she reacts.

good luck! :)

i had the same issue a few months back with my 2yr old son as well. it was a very short-lived problem. we tried several different things. one was either i or my husband would climb in for a few minutes with him so he could see that mommy and daddy had to wash, too. we also bought him some bath crayons and avon roll-on body soap. presto! he was so happy to "paint" on himself. good luck. maybe your son is trying to flex a new level of freedom/choices?

Hi C., every one of my six children has been afraid of the bathtub around the age of two. Usually it has to do with rinsing the hair and wanting them to lean backward so the water and soap doesn't get in their eyes. Anyway what I've done is compromise with the little ones and bathe them standing up. The hair thing is pretty scary as you wind up pouring water over their head while they are not happy at all. I'll leave the picture to you. Another way is to bathe them in the sink. If you have a larger kitchen sink they will somehow feel more secure there. Good luck. Marie

have you tryed showers maybe she will go for that then work up to bath again

How bout a new toy ? Can you bath with her ? Sometimes as parents of little people, you have to get down right silly. Can you pretend you see dirt on her. And be sooo silly to tell her it is an emergency bath ?? Tell her you can't have a dirty little girl...good luck !!

C., Get in the tub too. Have it be a fun time with Mommy. I loved that time with my kids. Now I guess I just need a bigger tub, we don't fit like we used to. Have fun!!

Ditto.. I have a 2 year old daughter 12/20/05.. and an 8 month old sone 6/11/07..

My duaghter just recently got terrified of baths...

She screams like you are killing her.

Tonight I figured out that it was the sound of the drain that was scaring her. she was in her little bathtub inside the big bathtub and when she splashed water over the side.. the drain went gurgle gurgle and that was scary.

We have mostly been giving her showers. It is quick and easy and no screaming..

It is a phase and it will pass. I figure if she gets a bath once a week or so and we do showers the rest of the time - she will be fine.

Hi C.
I am a mother of a 20 yr old and 17 yr old but am working as a Nanny for a 6 yr old and 2 yr old. We just had the same problem with the 2 yr old. Since you know she can't be scared for any reason since only you bathe her that will make it easier. Here are a few suggestions. Get in and bathe with her....lots of toys and fun in the tub. Let her play in the tub with her bathing suit on and a little water just for fun. New bath toys are always fun....or try a shower...with you or get the hand held one that hooks to the tub. We even let the 2 yr old take pool toys in and now she is back to liking her bath again. Hates to get her hair washed now but that will come with time. Good luck...hope this helps. If you have a LARGE kitchen sink.....you can always try bathing there as well. ~K.

My son was fine with the bathtub and the shower until he was about 2. He screamed like he was dying when the shower was on. My husband would take a shower with him and show him that everything was fine. I would suggest taking a shower with her for a bit. I think it's just a weird phase that some kids go though. We just had to show our son that it wasn't going to hurt him and soap wouldn't get into his eyes if he kept them closed until we said so.

Good luck. It won't last forever!

Have you tried the shower instead? I have had both of my kids in the shower since 18 months and even earlier with my second and one thing this has helped with is neither of them is afraid of having water over their head or in their face. I have no idea what happaned with your daughter... It would just be me guessing :( Not sure if she saw something on TV, it could be many different things. Hard to figure out how those little minds work. But might as well try something different and see if she likes it.
Good Luck!
J. in Macomb

C., Have you tried bathing with her? or for a while, do sink baths. Try some new toys, a doll she can bathe first, put the doll in the bath and let her give the doll a bath, it won't be easy so she may want to climb in. get some bubbles and blow them into the bathtub. Lots of children go thru this. Just be patient. Make sure it is a good time of day for her too. Good luck. K.

Have you tried getting in the tub with her? It worked for me when my kids were that little. If you are uncomfortable naked, have swimsuits on...make it fun and new again.
S.