What can I do to get my son to like his baths again?

Question

My 13 month old son used to love his baths. Now he stands near the edge of the tub and screams his lungs out until my husband or I are done cleaning him off from his days antics and take him out of the tub. He has bath toys but he ignores them. What are some things my husband and I can try to do to get our son to like his baths again?

Answer 1

Both my kids went through this every now and then. Many of the suggestions on here are great ones, especially the soap crayons.

A couple of things that we found that worked:

1. Variety in toys was key. When our girls would get tired of taking baths, we would bring out a new bath toy, or an old one they hadn't seen in a while.

2. Bathe with them, or have them see you take a bath. Someone mentioned this already, it totally works! If my daughter saw me taking a bath by myself she would inevitably want to get in with me.

3. Get thee to a pool. My oldest daughter was starting to hate baths again just over the age of 1. It was summertime and the local wading pool was open. We started going several times a week and once she saw other kids splashing and having fun in a pool, she began enjoying the pool, and that translated to liking her baths again.

These can be very frustrating changes, and don't be surprised if he goes through a stage of liking then hating baths again. My oldest is now 4 and once again she tells me she doesn't want to take baths. But now she's got a little sister who gets all kinds of attention when she's in the bathtub, so the oldest gets in as well to get attention too!

Answer 2

My 18 month old recently started not liking when the tub was filled with water for some reason. It's weird because he loves pools, and even the ocean. He likes to play in the water coming from the faucet though.

What we do now is let the water run from the faucet, do not put in the drain plug, and give him a cup. He fills the cup and empties it and plays in the water while I fill up a small bucket to pour over him, wash him down and wash his hair, then rinse him off. He never has to sit down or have a water filled tub.

My SIL found that her year old son preferred showers to baths, so had his dad take him into the shower with him.

I think it's a phase so just tried different things until we found something that works.

Answer 3

My daughter is doing the EXACT same thing right now too. I dont know what to do she just stands there and screams til we take her out of the tub. Its frustrating because she too used to love her baths. I still havent found a solution other than to clean her quick and get her out and hope to God this is just a stage that she will soon grow out of.

I just read some of the other answers and the ONLY thing I havent tried of those is the crayons. That might just work, but the whole taking a bath or shower with the child does NOT work. Atleast not with my daughter.

Answer 4

Both of my sons went through this stage and I never understood it either. My son who recently turned 2, just started to take baths again without throwing a tantrum. He went through the awful stage for 1-2 months. I think maybe us taking him swimming in a pool where he can play in the water but it not really be "bath time" might have helped some. All I can say is be patient and wait it out. It will pass!

Answer 5

Have you tried the soap crayons that he can write on the wall with? They make a mess but sometimes they are worth it.

Maybe go to the library and look for a good book about bath time. Or the sesame street rubber ducky song. You could get him a rubber ducky and sing it during bath time.

He might want to try showers, one kid I babysat (15 months) would not take baths so his mom switched him to showers, you get a lot wetter but he gets clean so the long term goal is met. Sometimes she would put on a bathing suit and jump in. Just make sure you have a VERY non-slippery shower mat.

Good luck! It is most likely just a phase, most kids LOVE bath time!

Answer 6

Try to make it consistent and part of the routine. If he skipped a couple days in the past, he may think that he can get away with it by screaming.
Go to the toy store together and pick out a special bath toy.
Babies do get tired of same toys. Try to emphasize that it is a special toy that he can only use during the bath.
How about blowing bubbles?

Answer 7

my son is a year old and he used to love taking baths but like overnight he hated them and refused to sit down and he would scream...so I took a bath with him for a few nights... I made it a bubble bath and I played with him and his toys and splashed and he loved it so much. After a few nights I sat on the edge of the tub and played with him and I havent had trouble since!

Answer 8

Hmm tough one, you tried the bath crayons? those usually work. Okay go back to basics, use a small tub not the huge scary tub. go back to baby soap and small washrag just like you did when he was younger. He sounds like he needs reassuring, and comfort. If that doesn't work he's young enough to bathe with you or your husband, if your not comfortable with that use bathing suits, you have to show him it's safe and fun. One last trick, shower...show him it's like playing in the rain, again you wear a suit and just dance around and don't worry about cleaning for the first time or two make it a game.

Answer 9

try and find out why he doesn't like the bath. I have a few ideas though. Have one with him, put your togs on if you are uncomfortable. Tell him he is going to have a very special bath. Put some colour in it and have some bubble mix to blow bubbles and you only blow the bubbles when he is sitting down. You could get him bath a toy in the sink as well.
Hope these will help

Answer 10

Have your hubby hold him close to him in the shower and sing. Make sure the water isn't hot, and not turned on full blast. Talk it up like it's gonna be so much fun, a daddy and son thing. Buy matching towels and wash cloths, cuz he's such a big boy now, he gets to do big boy stuff with dad. The first couple of times, don't even bother with the washing part of the shower, just get him used to the idea that showering is fun. Make up songs to sing, like frogs love rain showers, fish love rain showers, doggies love rain showers, (son's name) loves rain showers. Just get goofy. Eventually the little guy will look forward to his own "rain showers", by himself with mom or dad "watching". Litlle boys love water, and they don't need much to play or bathe in. Maybe he doesn't like the idea of taking his clothes off, kids get funny ideas even when they are babes. Let him keep his shirt on for awhile, or his socks. Do what ever it takes, but remember this faze shall pass. There is another one comin' down the road! Enjoy that little boy all you can, he will grow up so fast!