Hello!
I had a previous post about my daughter and her ear tube surgery etc. We now have another challenge - bath time. She gets very upset about her bath. She no longer wants toys in there. No bubbles - nothing. If a water bubble gets close to her leg or foot she cries again. Basically she cries through her entire bath. This did change after her tube surgery, thought it might be the plugs in her ears - but she doesn't like bubbles or anything anymore and continues to cry to get "out". Has anyone else experienced this with their children where they go from loving bath time and playing in it to practically hating it? Is this just a phase and will it go away? Any suggestions? I just feel so bad for her. She is 20 months old now. She has never really liked her hair being washed (water in eyes etc).....but once that was over (in the past) she was back to having fun etc.....
Your thoughts, or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!

Hi sue,

My son lovvvvvvved his baths! then one day, he decided he didnt! i was just tuff with him, told him he had to sit down and clean and then he could get out! if he tried to get up id sit him back down.. in the end he just came to except the fact that it was tuff luck. he wasnt getting out of it!

that was a couple of years ago now, he is a four year old who loves his baths but only once hes in it! when i say "its bath time" he says he doesnt like baths, but thats tuff and he knows it, and once hes in it, he doesnt usually want to get out.

so long as your little one hasnt been scared somehow while in the bath or around water i would be a little tuff with her and tell her off for crying cos unless she has a good reason for not wanting it, then,well, she needs a bath..

lol sorry if i wasnt much help, it is probably just a stage, there is other things shed rather be doing then getting wet and soapy and shes letting you know :) good luck!!

Just a thought Sue..I had trouble with my now 22 year old and my now 8 year old with bath time as little ones.
Lots of things can add to bathtime distress. Sometimes they don't feel well. Sometimes the water is too cold, too warm, too deep (this is all from their perspective not ours). Sometimes they resist the idea of taking their clothes off.
It seems to be a phase.
What I found helpful was to use a distraction in the tub or to get them into the tub. Get the bath ready ahead of telling her anything. Don't make a big deal out of bath time even if it used to be something she just loved. Don't call it a bath; call it getting washed up or anything but "a bath". Does she have a doll that she could give a bath to while you are washing her off?
Play one of her favorite musical or video toys on the counter while she is in the tub. Or turn the radio on to some soothing music. Another idea is to use one of her favorite stuffed animals as a puppet and have "it" talk to her in a silly voice as she is washing herself. You can pretend to have it was its hair or wash its tummy (outside the tub of course) and then you wash hers.
And a bath doesn't have to take a long time. It can be in and out in just a few minutes with a quick once over. Maybe wash her hair every other time or something.
Remember Mom, this too shall pass. And whatever adaptations you can come up with in the meantime will make it a more pleasant experience for both of you. Sometimes we become anxious when we anticipate a struggle and they pick up on that and make it a battle. Take a few deep breaths before you begin and it'll help alot. You can be firm but gentle and they won't even realize they didn't "win".
It will be ok.
:)
Yesmetoo

Another thought for you..try bathing with her so that you hold her the whole time. You might also get her to pick out some new toys from the store to take in with her.
Lately my boys (well the 3.5 year old for sure...9 month old isn't talking yet!!!) are always asking to bath with us. They both scream and laugh and splash it up and it's loads of fun and mess!!! It seems to be just one more thing we can do together. This time of year in Ontario is so cold that I think they like having a fuller tub to play (and keep warm) in too!!!

Yeah, I agree with the baby doll or stuffed toy. I also agree with letting her pick out some new toys for the tub. If she doesn't like bubbles, there are also some tub tablets that change the water colors. The yellow is interesting, but fun. They come in all kinds of colors, are safe for kids and your tub. There are also tub paints, soap crayons (be careful if you have tile, as this may stain the grout) and the soap crayons sometimes come with foam coloring books that wash off and float. My DD got these for Christmas (Thomas the Train) and LOVED them. She has lost them due to a fire, but we went to Walmart and let her pick out some new bath toys. Good luck with this. I think if you (like above) don't make a big deal out of bathtime, she eventually won't either. :)