From day one, my baby has cried hysterically whenever we bathe her. (Even during her sponge baths the first 2 weeks!) We now bathe her in an infant/toddler tub that has a baby sling to support her. She doesn't mind the warm water running over her too much, but screams and cries through the rest of the process.
We tried bathing her in the sink, putting a warm washcloth on her chest while we bathed the rest of her, putting soft towels down in the tub, using a "soothing" aromatic baby wash, putting a space heater in the bathroom for bath time, and ditching the infant sling.
Still, she wails from the instant her toe hits the water until long after she's dried, lotioned, and clothed.
Any SERIOUS suggestions on how to make this process less of an ordeal? It's become a necessary ritual that both I AND baby dread!
2006-08-04 17:14:23 · 24 answers · asked by LadyJag 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
it sounds to me like she may be cold. you said that she likes the water, but when you wash dry and lotion her is when she screams, try warming up the room w/ the heater 5 minutes before you put her in the water and see if that helps. I had to do this with both my kids.
Good Luck!!!
2006-08-10 09:50:52 · answer #1 · answered by tarynlavender 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is a toughy... really your child may not be comfortable with water... put them into it more often now.. it will make the prosses of bathing easyer later. It may seem cruel but forcing them a little now will be of benifit later.. Also try just running the tap lightly and letting just there hand touch the water.. let them see it will not hurt, even at this young age they can still learn whats good and whats bad. If it is easyer also just let there feet soak, just the tips of the toes. also bubble and bath toys are great to distract them, you may also need warmer water(not to hot!!)
The sound of the running water used to scare my little one making bathing impossible, just try keeping them away from the noise, fill it up when there in a different room, and dont turn it on while they are in the water, also keep splashig to a minimum, some babies hate even a drop of water above there shoulders.
2006-08-09 22:15:08 · answer #2 · answered by Holly M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it has become such an ordeal, maybe she can sense how anxious you are about it and gets worked up. Maybe try bathing her at a different time of day or when she's in a happy mood, or have grandma bathe her. . .just to break the cycle. Maybe try putting her in a dry infant tub and just spongebathing her? Ours didn't care for the tub the first two or 3 times but now she loves to splash and play. Good luck!
2006-08-05 10:25:08 · answer #3 · answered by wrknhrdngttnby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being that I had and have that same problem...i feel your pain. My son is 7 and still don't like to bathe. Although we bathe nightly it is still a fight. I have tried everything. The best thing that worked for me while he was an infant was taking baths with him and giving him sponge baths when i didn't. to this day he don't like baths and really don't like to swim in a pool. i have tried on multiple occasions to introduce showers to him and he just started taking them 2 weeks ago.
I can tell you after about 6 months the crying stopped after the bath was over but i still had to fight to get him into the tub and actually wash him.
You could try to have help and have one person pour water over her while you are washing her, that might work.
good luck and i hope you find a soluton that works
2006-08-05 02:22:00 · answer #4 · answered by evrythnnxs 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our baby did the same thing and this worked perfectly - either my husband or I would get in the bathtub with our baby and the other one would wash her. She didnt make a peep when we were holding her in the big bathtub. I guess the water would scare her, but if one of us was holding her, she wasnt scared. We did this for about a month or so and then she did absolutely fine in her infant tub after that - I guess she realized that there was nothing to be afraid of after a while. Good luck!
2006-08-05 13:53:59 · answer #5 · answered by dixiechic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my four month old loved the bath since day one...she kicks the water and everything. You can try getting in the tub with her and holding her so she can have some kind of comfort. Just make sure daddy is able to come get her after you're done washing her up.
2006-08-05 03:10:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep the baths short and don't pour any water over her head. Instead use a wash cloth to wring out over her head to get the soap out. Use ver little soap/shampoo. I went through the same thing with my son. After about a couple of months of wailing he started to enjoy the baths more.
2006-08-05 00:20:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try bathing with her. My daughter has been since she was about 1 month old. I put her in the little bathtub, and she sits, and we talk while I'm getting cleaned up, and then it's her turn. She's seven months old now, loves the shower, loves the tub (sometimes I fill it with water and let her sit and play) and loves the pool.
2006-08-05 16:04:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It more than likely is that she is hungry or over tired when you bath her. After the bath, they all go crazy and demand that you speed things up and stop touching them and get them food and bed. If you have her in a safe, comfortable, hands free spot..then there should be no tears and considered an activity.
2006-08-05 00:23:48 · answer #9 · answered by noel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it will not be traumatic. in contrast to me, ive gotten both my kids used to taking a shower in cold or room temp water. i hate the fact that i have difficulty taking a shower when there is no heater or the heater is not working so i resolved to change this for my kids. i have a 3-yr old and a 7-mo old who both prefer cold water and even complain when its warm or hot. it takes a while but once they get used to it, they start loving taking a bath.
2006-08-05 10:24:48 · answer #10 · answered by Nikki 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋