Bath Time - Newport Beach,CA

Some kids develop a fear of the tub (like they might go down the drain with the water). My doctor warned me of this, although my son still loves the tub at 2.5.

Can you give him sponge bath instead? Maybe put a towl down in the kitchen and just sponge him off with a bucket there? Otherwise, I'd get very generous with the use of baby wipes until he gets past it. Like, head to toe every night before bed.

Have him give YOU a bath (wear a bathing suit if you like). Show him how to run the water, you get in, he sits out, he "washes" your hair. And you have fun. Don't pressure him to get in, let it be his idea. Also you could play a game, where you get a doll and pretend its afraid to go in the tub. Tell him he's the Daddy. He will take understand his roll, you will see. It will solve the problem and be fun.

Luckily this is a phase. I got in with my son twice and then had him get in himself. We started letting him kick in the water and wash daddy's arm. Oh, and bubbles, as in blowing bubbles down on him, helped too. This will pass, but it takes awhile and some patience.

Updated

Luckily this is a phase. I got in with my son twice and then had him get in himself. We started letting him kick in the water and wash daddy's arm. Oh, and bubbles, as in blowing bubbles down on him, helped too. This will pass, but it takes awhile and some patience.

My son has gone through these phases several times in the past 2 years. I have no idea why? I still made him get into the bathtub, he didn't have to sit in the water, he could stand. Eventually, he would get over it and start loving bath time again.

One thing that may help - get a bunch of tupperware containers or old plastic juice containers/water bottles and let him play with those. That was how I got him back in the bath this most recent freak out stage!

My son did the same thing at that age. He loved showering with my husband. In fact if my husband tried to sneak in a morning shower my son would wake up crying and run into the bathroom to join him. Anyway, he too then suddenly refused to shower or bathe- screaming, etc. He wasn't too articulate at this point but finally after guessing a million things we landed on that he didn't like getting sprayed in the eyes. So showers are still pretty much out, but I purchased these cute cheap shower visors (I got them off diapers.com and mine are a goldfish and a penguin). He thought they looked cool, but he could only wear them in the bath. I don't believe we've had a bath rebellion since. He doesn't actually wear them anymore except sometimes when I'm rinsing his hair.
Hope that helps.

Put on a bathing suit and hop in with him to show there's nothing to be scared of. There's probably something about the water that he's decided he's scared of it. A couple times when my daughter gives me a hard time about getting in the tub (she's one), I put my bathing suit on and play with her in the tub. It gets her mind off of it really quickly.