Bath Time Torture

Try making bathtime fun. You can go to almost any large chain store and get things like bath crayons that wipe right off the wall (except grout if you have tiles) with the same washcloth you just got done washing her with. There are also tablets that change the water colors. Let her mix and match colors to make it her own...and let her take her time. If she's rushed she'll get stressed. If she's stressed every time she needs to take a bath she'll not want to go. As far as hair washing goes, sometimes you just have to make her, but before it gets to that try letting her lean back on her elbows and wet and rinse it herself. We call it "mermaid hair". You may have to do "dribbles" on the front while she's leaned back. Hope it works for you as well as it does for me (9 out of 10 baths). Just remember, if you get upset, she gets upset.

I would definitely try getting into the bath with her. My son was always comforted and easier to bathe when it was a shared activity. Besides, all children love to have "special time" with their adult caretakers when all attention is focused on them. And personally I would not make a big deal out of it being "bath time". Find another way to get her upstairs and then try some other tricks to get her excited about the bath-like suggesting you're going to go swimming together, or going to visit the mermaids lagoon. My dad used to put food coloring in my bathwater and I loved that! It made the experience so much more magical to me as a child.

As a side note, I would remind whoever is doing the bathing not to project negativity onto the situation because of how she has responded in the past. If you are expecting her to react a certain way and preparing yourself for the fight to come, it will inevitably come. Open your mind and heart to a better experience and FEEL and BELIEVE that it will be a fun positive activity for her and it will be. Sometimes something as small as changing our minds can change an entire situation. Hold the space for positive change and have your daughter visualize how much fun she is going to have with your granddaughter at bathtime. Be creative and not forceful. In my experience, spanking never solves anything. It just lets a child know that they are not safe to express their feelings. Just my two cents...

Instead of a bath why not try a shower. We have a kids shower thing that connects to our shower it allows the shower to come to her level. Then we bought her johnsons bedtime bath scrubbies-they are found at walmart in the baby isle I think bottom shelve. I tell her it is her own and she needs to wash herself. She loves thinking she is a big girl. I also give mini m & ms as rewards for good behavior for her doing what I asked. I allow her to play in the shower for 5 min and the rest of the time she needs to be washing and help washing her hair. Hope this helps.

have you tried letting her take a shower? my daughter loves her bath, but sometimes she wants to feel " all grown up" and she wants to take a shower. i start the shower, and then i sit outside of the tub while she rinses. i reach in and shampoo her hair and she washes her own body. she is not supper great at getting very clean, so it may not be a good option for those really dirty day, like after a rowdy outdoor day. but it may be worth a try on a regular bath day.

My daughter like to play "Spa". We acted like she was receiving beauty treatments. i acted like I worked at the spa and it was time for her appointment. I played soothing music and called her "Madame" and had her slippers and robe ready. i made lots of silly comments about her luxurious hair while I washed and combed it. if it was a weekend and I had time, i would sometimes paint her toenails after bath. Also, if she behaved I went on and on about her adult behavior and how if she kept acting like an adult she could have more priveleges like staying up late on fri. night, etc. My child is very hard headed and I think sometimes she just decides she will pick something to fight me on. I usually have to outsmart her and trick her into cooperating. No amount of spanking or punishment will work if she has made up her mind to fight me on something.

Have you tried letting her take a shower? my son is and nephew are 3 and 4 and we let them take showers. Or you can try to find those washable bath crayons in the bath section of the store and see if that will help and make it fun for the child.

I assume you have, but what have you tried to make bathtime fun? 1) we let me daughter (3) take showers if she wants - and that works fine. 2) then baths become a treat because she not only is "cleaning" but "playing". She has some colored "pills" that she can drop in the water to change the color (she loves that), she has some fun toys including a few polly pockets that are just kept for the bath tub, and some bath bubbles (I just use shampoo and have not had her get any infections)... she enjoys baths and just has a hard time washing her hair... for that, I love suggestions that others have shared re: hanging butterflys on the ceiling for them to look at when they need to look up.... etc. Also, I don't give her a bath every night. I read someplace that 3x a week is fine - so that is what we do so it make bathtime a treat vs. a chore. Hope something helps! :)

I would not reason with here. Make sure she knows that the bathtime is coming. Set a clock if you want to, or after a show or maybe we are gonna read this story and then take a bath.

Tell her she has a choice - to take a bath willingly OR forcefully. I say, 'You can do this nicely or you can cry'.

It takes the force out of her crying if you tell her you know she's gonna do. 'You can go ahead and start crying now because we are going to take a bath no matter if you want to or not. The choice is yours.'

Sorry for all the torture you guys are induring. hope it helps.

Have you tried letting her take a shower instead of a bath. At that age my son was also very stubborn about bath time, we transitioned to letting him take a shower and that seem to help. Also we stuck with a strict routine to enforce that this was going to be a daily event. It is worth a shot if you have not already tried this option.

This is just a thought but have you ever tried rewarding her for taking her bath with no problems. Maybe some stickers, candy, or even a small toy at the Dollar Store or something like that so you don't go broke? LOL!

Sincerely,

V. Fields

When my grandson did not want to go take a bath, I made it fun for him to get to the bathroom. One "fun" way was to race him to the bathroom (of course he always win) or sometimes I would hold him under his arms and we would leapfrog to the bathroom chirping ribbet, ribbet...It got him over the hump...and now I just occasionally have to race....He is 5 as well. Has she tried a chart and let her earn a treat if she goes to the bath nicely after so many times? That works for some kids....

Twilla, Wow!!! I can understand the drama, my suggestion is to get little one to help you make it special for her... get a "special" towel, some "special" soap, and maybe even a "special" toy that is just for the tub. Get your little one to help run the water, lay out her sleep clothes, sometimes at this age she may need to feel "independant".... Let me know if this helps.... I hope it does!!!!
Ok one more thing what about maybe once or twice a month you can maybe even take a tub with her.... just an idea....