About two weeks ago, my one year old son was taking a bath with his two sisters. He tipped backwards in his bath ring, rolled over and was in the water facedown for under 3 seconds. I had setpped out of the bathroom for a second to grap a cloth and my 5 year old told me he was falling. He wouldn't have gone face down if he didn't roll over but he did and I was TERRIFIED. My husband and I grabbed him right out and made a big fuss. Now undertandly he is terrified of getting into the water - even hearing the bath water run, he starts to shake and cry and can literally climb out of the tub he is so scared. I feel terrible and know that it is not only him fallling but us making a big fuss that he is scared now.
What can I do - please help me!!!!!! Thanks and Merry Christmas!
2006-12-21 01:54:38 · 21 answers · asked by ? 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Sorry to hear that happened...good thing you didnt leave for too long..it only takes a few seconds for a child to drown
As for the fear...my first child hated baths from the beginning- he screamed through every bath. It was not fun.
When he was about 12 months old I took him to one of those 'baby and mommy swimming classes' at the local pool. Most cities have them and you baby can be anywhere from 4 months and up. He finally got over his fear of water and began to love it. (They dont cost too much and if you are a low income family there is often a reduced rate) Its a fun thing for you to do together and will help your baby learn to enjoy the water again
Some of the other suggestions here are good too...esp taking him in the bath with you.
2006-12-21 09:24:30 · answer #1 · answered by paradox is interesting 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to slowly get him to figure out he isn't going to drown every time he takes a bath. You have been able to bathe him right?
You could start with sponge baths for a few days and make sure he isn't scared of that.
Then when he's comfortable with sponge baths move up to bathing in the sink. He may get scared but he will realize that he won't drown bathing in the sink.
Then after a few days start using the tub but don't fill it up very high and get in with him. You can wear a swimsuit or something. Hold him in your lap while you wash him so he will feel secure. After a few days bath him with you outside the tub but make sure there isn't a whole lot of water. Don't leave him for a second! Each time there is a bath fill the tub a little more than before till it's at a normal depth. He shouldn't notice the water getting deeper every night. Be sure to wash behind his ears! Good luck and Merry Christmas to you too.
2006-12-21 02:15:14 · answer #2 · answered by songbird 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Too bad! That would make any child scared. The family members are probably still talking about it, too. People don't think about it, but a child listens to and thinks about everything that's being said. Especially about themselves. Talk to your family members and tell them that the event is over, and to stop discussing or mentioning the matter.
As for the one year old, try putting a pan of warm water near him when he's playing outside or in a warm room with plastic protection on the floor. Don't make it deep, about two inches or so, and put one or two of his favorite toys in the pan so he can play with them without getting in the water. Gradually re-introduce him to water by putting him in the kitchen sink or other small container of water. Put a towel in the sink first, sit him in it on the towel, and gradually add a little warm water at a time, laughing and playing like it was a fun game. Pour the water making it splash and hopefully he'll grab and/or slap at it, and after a while you'll be able to put him in the tub.
I'd put him in the tub alone, at first, because older children can get pretty aggressive at play, especially in the tub. Later, when he's more confident, let him stand beside the tub when his sisters are playing there. He may eventually want to get in there with them. If he doesn't I would think it best not to force the issue. Fear of the water is no small incident. If not handled carefully, it could stay with him for a long time.
The best thing you can do in the future, is NEVER, NEVER leave your child in the tub alone. Children have been known to drown in a bucket of mop water...leaned over, fell in head first and couldn't get up.
Don't give up, be patient. Good luck.
2006-12-21 02:29:07 · answer #3 · answered by TexasStar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well you guys Will have to show him all over by showing the basic
like put the water below waste don't put water near his face just use a wet cloth get him in and out fast to show him you care how he feels when he takes a bath and fill that little water before u stick him in so he won't hear the water Even sound will bother
2006-12-21 02:10:28 · answer #4 · answered by diamond 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you should take a bath and let him get in there with you so he can see it's not going to hurt him. Then go from there. Water tends to scare them after something like that happens. Try some fun bath toys to distract him from being scared.Good luck!
2006-12-21 02:02:53 · answer #5 · answered by colee97 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For reasons I'm not sure of. (Maybe his big brothers splashing?) My 3rd was terrified fo the tub too. He wouldn't even consent to getting in a dry tub with toys. So I started taking him in the shower with me. He used to hug onto me and not want down but now he gets down and plays (19months)
He got over the fear of the tub thing after a few months all on his own and decided he wanted to climb in with his brothers. We didn't push it. It was after we had been to the water park and had a lot of fun in a zero entry level pool (you know the sloped walking in ones)
This too will pass.
2006-12-21 02:07:02 · answer #6 · answered by G's Random Thoughts 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my sons loves baths but when he got his first ear infection and the only one so far, he became scared of the bath i dont know if it felt like water in his ears and it hurt really bad, but he wouldnt even come in the bathroom so i took a bath myself and i started splashing and showed him how much fun i was having and he slowly started to take his baths agian, he wouldnt let me pour water on his head and i wasnt allowed to touch the cup so i used a washcloth just like when he was a newborn but now hes completely fine with baths loves them more than ever, he sticks his head under water, pours water on his face and just laughs now i cant say bath without having to give him one good luck
2006-12-21 02:24:51 · answer #7 · answered by <3 mykiddos,mylife <3 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter was terrified of the bath, though nothing bad ever happened in the bath. I got in with her and took baths with her. It only took 3 times for her to start enjoying her bath. Now she screams bloody murder when we take out the towels to dry her off.
2006-12-21 02:00:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Never leave him again... it only takes a few seconds to lose a child... maybe giving him a shower instead a little more fun , or having your husband or yourself bath with him for a little while until he gets more steady
2006-12-21 02:22:02 · answer #9 · answered by momof3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try bathing with him to show him there is nothing to be scared of. My son used to be terriffied of taking a shower when he was little and I showered with him and it all worked out fine. Now I can't get him out of the shower and he usually uses all the hot water! LOL!!
2006-12-21 02:00:08 · answer #10 · answered by Doug 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋