How can I stop my baby drinking the bathwater or should I even bother?

Question

My daughter, 20 months, loves to drink her bathwater. I tell her not to and take the cup away, but she'll just lap it straight from the bath! She loves bath time, but this bugs me - should it?

Answer 1

Just had to reply cos it gave me a chuckle,being a great gramps i have seen baby's drink bath water loads of times,even blowing bubbles from there mouths as they laugh.
Baby will come to no harm,just think of all the water little ones drink in country's whose water is bad and be happy with baby.
Enjoy.

Answer 2

Is there soap in the water when she does this? If there isn't, I wouldn't worry, if there is then I would - over time that can't be good for her. I think the suggestion of giving her clean water in a cup is good and will probably work.

Otherwise - presumably her bath is always supervised anyway, so each time she tries it, just lift her head away from the water and tell her no. If she carries on, take her out of the bath as punishment.

Answer 3

Try not to worry, children will always do disgusting things like eating worms or dogfood, or picking up sweets they've just dropped on the floor. Unless she's drinking bubble bath straight from the container she won't do herself any harm. Also the more you tell her not to, the more she'll do it - not out of naughtiness, it will become a game.
My 3yo does it too.

Answer 4

That is very normal, babies love doing that and parents freak out. She will be fine, let her enjoy her bath. If you are worried you could give her a cup of clean water to drink in the bath.

Answer 5

My 20 month old boy does the same sometimes, straight from the bath. Bless them, it must be just one of those things! I don't make a big fuss about it, just tell him a "by the way" no..and try to focus his attention on something else. Not worth a fuss in my opinion. Might be wrong though.
:-)

Answer 6

I wouldn't bother mentioning it to her, sounds a bit like she has created a bit of a power struggle with you over it.
Mine have always enjoyed sucking the water out of the flannel at bath time!
I figure as long as they haven't peed in the water too much no harm can come of it!

Answer 7

both my daughters did that whan they were younger and i would tell them off as i said it would make them sick. sometimes it did and sometimes it didnt. in the end i gave up as i was fighting a losing battle. they are 8 and 5 now and they are fine so i would just be glad she enjoys her bath as i cant get my 19 month old son in one at all without him screeming so much it sounds like i am hurting him. i would just not put bubble bath in at bath time or if you really must then only put a little bit in. hope this helps.

Answer 8

My cousin when young used to eat the sand from our sandbox and lived to talk about it so a little bathwater I think is no big deal.

Answer 9

I asked my ped the same question and she said that was ok but I still think it's gross and I tell my kid to stop. Something about drinking my own bath water doesn't sit well in my stomach. I don't think it will hurt her but I would discourage it. you never know what in the water. that could be the day the news says to boil your water. lol

Answer 10

i don't think it very harmful, but it is probably safer to try and get her to stop. maybe you should try and distract her with bath-toys and that (if that hasn't already failed)...otherwise, maybe do some research on the net, and see what happens with the bathwater, and if it's toxic (which I highly doubt). hope this helped...