My son recently had a fever and we gave him a tepid bath at the suggestion of our pedi. I fought the bath tooth and nail. Ever since he screams and fights his regular bath. Any suggestions how to get him to like bathtime again?
Don't sweat it. My 3-year-old son loved the bath...hated the bath...loved the bath...one never knows what today will be. If he's anti bath today, get in, get clean, get out. Remember to reward good behavior and don't make a big deal about the bad. (as far as the tub goes)
Like someone else said, they go through phases, they like it now, they don't like tomorrow. I am a mother of 3 and I have tried different things. The best is bring toys that are only used in the bath. The tints from crayola, always work wonders. Use the huggie globes to scrub themselves (and then play with them. Bubbles in the bath (I love the gymboree brand, they make many bubbles at one). Believe it or not, but squirting bottles or plain containers work wonders to. And last, a bath pillow, so that they can lie on them and relax.
Try letting him take a shower with Dad.
Try getting yourself in the tub first with lots of bubbles, and playing with his toys, he will soon want to join you.
My son who is now 20 months old went through the same stage, I got bath books which he loves and got a tub mat at Babies R US that has ELMO on it (he's crazy about him). The first few times I filled the bath up and let him look in to see the mat with Elmo in it, after 2 times he wanted to join him and now loves the bath.
When my kids and grandchildren didn't want a bath, I made them a bubble bath and made it fun..This worked even on a pre-teen ( going through a phase) Bubble baths worked every time. So did making it fun.
