My daughter used to love to take baths. She would eagerly await bath time and put each toy in the tub individually and once she was in the tub it took forever to get her out. She used to exclaim "I'm a fish!" or "I'm a dolphin!" while she played. For the last couple weeks, whenever we mention a bath or shower, she cries uncontrolably and becomes distant and whimpers "I don't want bath/shower." She'll cover her bottom and front the whole time she's in the tub/shower. She'll even try to negotiate to get out of it with "I take shower tomorrow" (although I don't think that she has fully grasped what tomorrow is yet). And then, my sister and I are talking (her daughter is a month older than mine) and she used to love baths too, but now is absolutely terrified also. I don't know what to think. Is this a stage or could something be going on at their daycare (I doubt this, but you never know)? We see the doctor this Wednesday (unrelated to this) but I'll also ask him what he thinks. Has anybody had this happen with their child? Could this be related to potty training? Could it be that she had a bad rash and remembers the water not feeling good on it? Should I be overly concerned?
Well, it was rough while it lasted, but the storm finally passed about a month ago. Abby began slowly but surely getting more comfortable with the bathtub again and now it's impossible to get her out because she loves it so much. It was difficult seeing her hate baths and actually being afraid of them ~ absolutely heartbreaking! The doctor had said nothing was wrong, which made it more difficult for me to understand. But I want to thank everyone for their kind advice and let you all know that everything is back to normal!
My son went through the same thing around that age- although he was not holding body parts. I think they are trying to assert control over something. Now he loves it again and cries "I'm really stinky" so that he can take a bath!
I realize this is an old post but, that is so funny C.... my son went through the same phase of not wanting to take a bath when he was 2 and a 1/2. He totally would flip out if he saw a piece of lint or anything foreign looking floating in the tub. Then I would leave the door open when I took a bath so he could see that I was okay when I took baths and sure enough he wanted to take them again (after about 3 weeks.) BTW, he was fine with taking showers that whole time... I think the new bath toys helped too :)
My son turned 3 in December and is doing the same think. I think he just doesn't want to bother. (Maybe he knows it means that it's almost time for bed.) I usually inform him that he has to take one. He can choose a bath or show; fast or relaxing.
I found it to be a little easier when I offer HIM choices.
my sons all went through this at around the same age- my youngest it was also due to privacy issues- he started wanting to keep his privates away from mommy- ("daddy's a boy tell him to come here") but I think that his was because his brothers taught him eewww girls- and mommy's a girl because they were school age...
I would check with doc regarding sensativity in that area- mr.bubbles in my generation used to give me bad rashes and i would get bladder infections too- and it only takes one bad one to scare kids away....
BUT my kids all went through that phase.
Good luck!
I would definatly ask her doctor tomarrow when you go. It may be just a stage. But You would rather be safe than sorry. You could also ask her why she does not want to take a bath, or if you don't do this already. When you pick her up from daycare, while you are driving home, ask her about her day. Did any new people stop by, what did she eat for lunch, what did she do at nap or quiet time. if something does not sound right check into it. I hope this helps.
You know what my boys did this, however my daughter never did. She is 6 now and I still have to drag her out after 30 minutes. Are you the only one who bathes your child? I would try talking to her about why she hates bath time now. Could be she got a face full of water or something along those lines. I would rule out the rash thing...if she had one you would have known. I myself thought it was a girl thing of not wanting to get out of the tub. But I could be wrong. Good luck!
My son is 2 1/2 and he gives us a hard time about bath/shower time. He alway says that he doesn't want to take a shower, that he is not dirty. But once we get him in he is fine. So it might just be a stage because my son behaves similiar, maybe not as extreme as your daughter. My son always tells us that he just took a shower and that he is not stinky.
A.
My sister's little girl (at 3) had vaginal pain from certain kinds of bubble-bath suds (the ones made for bigger kids). She could only use baby-gentle kinds like johnson & johnson's extra mild soap for babies, to use for making bubbles. You could ask your child's doctor about it, but this could very well be what is going on. All kids love water- you know? :)
My 2 1/2 year old just went through the same thing! She had an accident in the bath and she was so embarrased that she refused to go back in. It broke my heart because she loved it so much. I got her to ease back into the baths by going in with her. At first she would only stand and I would wash her. A few times later she would sit on my lap. Then eventually she found the courage to sit by herself and I no longer had to get in with her. I think that the comfort of knowing that I was there to help her and seeing that it didn't hurt mommy really helped ease her back in.
