We have a 17 month old who used to love playing in the bathtub for an hour or longer sometimes. Now, she screams at the top of her lungs, cries, drools, nose runs for the entire bath (which has now been reduced to under 5 minutes). Nothing traumatic has happened and the water is luke-warm, not to hot, not to cold... we can not figure out what changed!!! She still needs baths! HELP!!!!
2007-11-14 15:22:47 · 7 answers · asked by crazylikealobster 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Thanks. I'll try the shower idea, if I can get her to not run away when we turn the water on!
2007-11-14 15:32:13 · update #1
Thanks Suepee... yes, we've tried bubble baths and we have plenty of toys cups and distractions. I know we will get through it and it's not the end of the world, but it sure would be a lot easier if it didn't have to sound like we are torturing her.
2007-11-14 15:34:55 · update #2
This happened to my daughter around her 2nd birthday. We couldn't figure it out either. We started having her shower with us instead. Now she's 2 1/2 and all of a sudden wants baths again. I wouldn't worry about it, just do what you can.
2007-11-14 15:27:43 · answer #1 · answered by Melissa 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are saying that nothing traumatic has happened perhaps not that you know of. Have you left the child in the care of anyone else? Or has you child been away from you and with someone else for even just a short time that something could have happened? It is not the norm for a child that likes the water to be afraid of it all of a sudden. Perhaps someone without your knowing it has splashed water in her face or she has slid and gotten water in her face or maybe swallowed water while someone was giving her a bath etc. Maybe she was crying and someone threw water on her to try to get her quiet and only made matters worse which it would. She will respond to your talking to her. Do not try to force her. Talk with her and tell her she needs to get washed up and just give her a sponge bath till she can except getting in the water again. Maybe you can try to get in the tub first and have someone hand her to you so she feels safe and bath her that way till she feels safe again. This is traumatic for you child so please do not push her to get a bath. A sponge bath will be just fine for now. Good Luck.
2007-11-15 00:05:34 · answer #2 · answered by Mondella 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my daughter is 12 now but, when she was little we had a similar situation. Problem with the toilet also. After a few months of this. I could have pulled my hair out.
Then one day my daughter was watching T.V. Barney or something. She was singing and dancing. Then a commercial came on and she got really quiet.
A Scrubbing bubble commercial came on. The little "Scummies" as the commercial called it were in the toilet and bath tub in the commercial. Well, they had teeth and were growling. Until the Scrubbing Bubbles came along and cleaned them away and down the drain.
My daughter was watching this commercial very closely.
Made me think. So I asked her. Are there scummies in our bathroom and she shook her head yes. Wow! I thought.
I ran out bought Scrubbing Bubbles. Had her watch me clean the tub and toilet and from then on everything was fine.
May not be the case in your situation. But could be something she has seen on T.V.
My 4 year old son has always been scared of the bath tub drain. Again something he saw on a cartoon on T.V.
Try asking her what is scary about the bath tub.
2007-11-15 01:02:55 · answer #3 · answered by babe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried baby bubble bath? Have you tried getting in the bath with her? I used to do that with my kids when they were quite young...up to 5 years old, that is. My grand children have gone thru phases where they didn't want to bathe and then would stay in the tub for half an hour or more. Do you have lots of toys and plastic cups for her to play with in the tub? So what if she drinks the water. She will survive. Your goal is to make bath time more pleasant for her.
Remember you are the parent and she has to obey you. So she has shortened baths...as long as she is clean.
2007-11-14 23:30:56 · answer #4 · answered by Suepee 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter really liked to get in the shower with me at that age. You could try that for a while. Sometimes just a change in the usual routine helps.
2007-11-14 23:41:49 · answer #5 · answered by daa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was reading babe's answer!
That's EXACTLYwhat happened with our daughter! Danged Scrubbing Bubbles!
At their age, they can't tell that they won't fit!
Try showing her in the sink...when she isn't afraid of actually sitting in the water.
Try a shower...or maybe sit with her in the tub and let the water out...showing her that YOUR foot/hand won't fit!
Make the swirling water fun...with noises, etc...maybe she'll feel it herself!
We also put a washcloth over the drain.
Maybe don't drain it with her near.
Good luck...continue trying!
2007-11-15 01:31:17 · answer #6 · answered by Halo...as in Angels have them 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
babies that young have dreams still maybe she had a bad dream but to her it felt real try th shower with you and her so if she gets scared shes got mommy to comfort her
2007-11-14 23:30:38 · answer #7 · answered by PROUDMOMMY 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋