So my son is 14 months old, he has always taken baths without a problem. He never liked getting his hair wet but other than that he was always fine. The last 2 bath attempts have been terrible! Before I can even get his feet in he is lifting them up screaming. if I put him in he like leaps out....he is petrified. Nothing changed that i know of...I have just been sponge bathing him for a few days because I dont want to force him and make him more scared...what do I do??
My little sister had this problem. All of the sudden she was afraid of the bath. We have one of those removable shower heads so what we did is set her in the tub with no water and used the shower head and she was over her fear within a few days. I hope this helps!
my son like to have the water filling the tub when he is in it. He plays with it or sits so it runs down the back of his neck. Seems like heaven to me - I wish I was small enough to do that hahaha! Maybe that would make it more fun for him?
And if he is not interested in "bathing" I tell him he can take a "bower" (bath-shower) where he sits in the tub and we let the water run but we don't fill the tub up. It is the quickest version of full bathing possible. Rinse - soap- rinse - out. It is a good alternative to the shower if he is not ready to do that on his own yet.
My son did the same thing at that age. Even getting in the bath with him didn't help. It's weird and I don't know why he did it, but now I always take him in the shower with me. He just sits on the floor playing with his bath toys. I soap him all up and then hold him to rinse him off at the end. He LOVES the shower.
Normal.
Both my kids did that, and at different ages. Not only once.
For me, I'd put a water sprinkler on, and wash my son that way. He just did NOT like the tub/shower. It was not "water" per say.
Or you bathe with him.
Or, you have you AND Hubby do the washing... since it makes a child slippery and they can get hurt.
Or, you just do it anyway and ignore the screams. Because they gotta get clean anyway.
All the best,
Susan
When my now 23 month old went through this, I would get in the tub with him. Also, I will occasionally shower with him. He feels secure and it's funny to see Mommy in the tub.
Currently, he will sometimes cry and fuss and not want to get in the tub. We put his feet in and Daddy (the usual bather) will wrap his arms around our son and hold him until he is comfortable and wants to start playing. Sometimes it takes several minutes.
You can also skip the occasional bath and do a "cat bath" scrub of the important parts.
Good luck!
Can you shower him with a showerhead hose? Or have him shower with you or your husband?
Maybe try taking a bath with him?
Get the soap crayons.......show him how fun the tub is. Get colorful bath toys and make it fun.
my son does it when he first gets put in too. maybe the temp too hotor cold cause after storm gets used to water he plays just fine. mine is scared of the running water.
Updated
my son does it when he first gets put in too. maybe the temp too hotor cold cause after storm gets used to water he plays just fine. mine is scared of the running water.
Hi C.,
I do think this is a phase that most children go through. My kid screamed and cried through most of his baths, and now that he's ten and showers on his own, he whines until he has to get in on his own!
That said, the only thing I'd add to the responses you've had so far is to expand on the reference someone has made to a bad tub experience. If your son has been given a bath by anyone other than you, perhaps something awful has happened during that bath and he's afraid of reliving that experience (beyond water too hot or too cold, I mean). That is the only thing I'd investigate, if there's a possibility of it.
If you're the only person who's bathed him, or you know (TRULY KNOW) that it's impossible for something like that to have happened, I'd follow the advice/suggestions you've received so far.
How often do you bathe him? If it's too often....he's getting sick of being restrained to the tub.
This is not unusual. Maybe you need to get in the tub with him to bath him for a while till he gets used to it again or get your husband to bath with him, take turns.. . He is becoming more aware of the water, the drain the soap.
Hi there - my daughter, also 14 months old, just went through the same thing. We don't bathe every day, so we had to deal with it 3x/week for about 4 baths. My husband stood by while she screamed and clung to me and I got her clean as fast as I could and got her out. Sometimes he'd have to help if it got really bad. She literally did the same exact thing you were describing. And then, just like that, it ended. I would keep trying and give him some more time, maybe try some different things involving water in the meantime. I'll bet he gets through it. Hang in there.
My son goes through this periodically as well.
if you have to try taking a shower WITH him or getting in the bath with him. This sometimes helps, toys and things that distract them help to.
When all else fails, give him a hug and a kiss and try again later. He's "scared" for a reason.
Good luck.
How about toys? He can put pick them out and put them in himself. Maybe then he may think he is getting ready for fun.
Is the noise of the water rushing in to the tub a problem? How about not bringing him into the bathroom until the water is all in.
How about soothing music or his favorite music or even singing his favorite songs (obviously not mixing water and electricity in this case)? Just a few ideas.
Hi there - we've been through these "phases" several times with our 2.5 year old, I can't recall if there was one at about 14 months but I expect that there was. We just did quick rinses for a few nights - and I got in the tub and she eventually wanted to come in with Mommy. Only lasted a few nights but was very puzzling with no apparent cause or "trigger". Another time there was a very specific cause - water too hot scared her for a few days. you'll get through it!
Why not try standing him in the bath before you put any water in and then add the water? He may not freak out so much if he's not being placed into water , otherwise I suggest just keep putting him in , he has to get over this as he can't not bath.
Pick out a favorite toy or stuffed animal that you know can get wet - give him two choices and let him give the item a bath in the tub. If he gets aggitated reassure him that he will get his bath outside the tub after his toy gets its bath. This will allow him to have contact with water in the tub and gives him more control. Validate whatever feelings he expresses about water. As he gradually feels more comfortable again he may ask to join in and take his bath with his toy. This may not happen overnight so give it 2-3 weeks before you decide it is not working.
Put on your dectective hat and try to figure out what might have spooked your child, the more information you have to work with the better.
Talk about bathing and anything to do about water in your daily conversation. Pick up some kids books on bath time at the library and read them together.
Put him in the shower with your husband. My son did the same and voila, problem fixed
Probably just a phase. Or maybe he had a "bad" bath experience like the water was too hot or cold and scare him. Distract him with some bath toys and hopefully he'll grow out of it soon.
