Anyone have trouble bathing their one year old?

Question

My daughter has suddenly decided to pitch a fit when I put her in the bathtub. She literaly cries, screams and arches her back when I put her in the bath seat. If I get her in the seat she continues to scream and squirm. I have tried to hold her in the bathtub and not put her in the seat, but that didn't work either. I have resorted to giving her sponge baths. I have two boys (4 and 2) and I never had any trouble bathing them. I would appreciate any help not sarcasm. Any ideas or tips? Thank you!

She has never had a "traumatic" experience, I'm the only one who bathes her and she usually end up in the bath with one of her brothers. So it really just seems to be out of the blue that she doesn't like the tub. She isn't in the tub when I drain it so I don't think it is the fear of going down the drain! thanks for the help:)

Answer 1

my daughter suddenly got scared of the tub and would do the same thing you're talking about..so for her bathtime wasnt fun anymore so we had to make it fun again..get her involved..put some baby soup on your hand and show her how to wash say her face, tummy, hair..my lil one loves that part..we also bought some tub crayons and paints..and a toy out of a catalog that blew bubbles and had a microphone (my daughter loves to sing) that toy attaches to the tub and was only $11 Hope this helps..

Answer 2

Wow! The obvious question is when did this start and was there a traumatic experience before hand? I assume you are unaware of any "bad experiences" or you would of discussed this.

Girls are so different from boys! My best guess is that she has started to think about the fact that the water goes down the drain and she might too! Yes a 1 yr old can think about that sort of thing. IF that is the problem then you might want to let her watch you take a bath and drain the tub etc. Talk about where the water goes and show her how nothing can go down the drain. It may take a couple of months to get her through this! You can also let her pour water down the drain with a small bucket while she's sitting outside the tub. You may just want to let her be in the bathtub fully clothed without water just to get comfortable with the whole place again. I think getting rid of the bath chair is a good idea.

A sponge bath is perfectly acceptable for a 1 year old. It's not like they have B.O. or anything and their butts are cleaned several times a day as it is. You may be able to shower with her too. My children always showered with us from the time their belly button healed and it got them perfectly clean and they're not as fearful of water in their face.

Answer 3

I don't know if this will help BUT it helped with my son, who admittedly was more trying to stand up. However he would also get upset if he slipped.

I got an inflatable tub, like this (but not this one):
http://www1.epinions.com/kifm-B-BEquip-Diap-Bathtubs-Kel-Gar_Snug-Tub

It is non-slip, more comfortable, and soft enough on the bottom that it stops him from wanting to stand. It is also nice to lay him back and rinse his hair.

I don't know *if* that would help but at $10-$20 it might be worth trying. You could even try bathing her in the kitchen for awhile in the inflatable tub. Some kids are afraid of the bathroom.

Answer 4

My son started to do that when he was about 1 year, too. I started taking showers with him. I would adjust the spray to the back of the tub, put down and anti-slip mat, and just let him play for a while. You don't have to hold your child either, just sit on the floor behind them and let them play for a while, then wash them down and let them play in the water some more to rinse off.

Answer 5

except she is filthy, forget approximately the tub for a evening or 2. Peer rigidity will tell her she scent. she will wash area with cleansing soap and water without taking a bathtub. 14 babies is a lot too many to rigidity over bathtime. i found that a squirt of dishwashing liquid makes bubbles and gets them clean and is greater low-value than bubblebath. Frankly i does no longer concern approximately tub time. i could be greater worried approximately cooking. and self-discipline and school and different issues. no person died from some days airborne dirt and airborne dirt and mud. i grew to become right into a social worker for 40 years and talked to hundreds of human beings approximately clean babies. maximum shape up whilst their friends or siblings *****.Conny L.

Answer 6

My son did that and he is 2years old he said that water got in his eyes and that is what made him scared of the bath. He is still scared when i go to wash him up becuase of the water he crys and closes his eyes so tit. But, anyway my husband is the one to get him to get in the tub by geting new toys and playing with him in the tub. so, maybe you can try geting in the tub with her, get new toys. I hope that will work for you

Answer 7

One son is around 1 and started doing that last month. This month he's over it though. My doctor said some kids just go through a phase where they are unsure of stuff.

He use to hate the sweeper but now loves it.

??? :)

Answer 8

my daughter is the opposite she cries when I get her out, she hates it when I wash her hair tho, have you tried taking a bath with her? She might like that, my daughter does, that might help her not be so scared. Good luck

Answer 9

let her and the boys take a bath together and just watch them very closely. for some reason she has decided that she does not like her bath. find something to make it interesting again.

Answer 10

How about taking her in the shower with you? You have to hold her, of course....but she'll get clean.

And, the two of you might enjoy it. Mommy-daughter time in the shower.