My son hates having a bath!!!?

Question

My little boy is now 18 months old and he is terrified of going in the bath. He literally screams the whole way through and hates it when I lay him down to wash his hair
I can't understand whats triggered this as he used to love his baths!
nothing has ever happened for him to be scared of the bath, im startying to dread putting him in as its a constant battle throughout

Is this a stage that some kids go through at this age?

Ive tried everything to make him laugh and distract him, he has toys but pays no attenton to them, he just wants to get out!

I just want to say he loves going swimming with me so Its obviously not a fear of the water. If tried washing his hair with him standing up and ive got in the bath with but he still hates it.
I think im just going to have to persevere and hope he grows out of this

Nanu I use baby shampoo like I have always used, it doesnt hurt his eyes and as for the wter temperature please give me more credit than that
Im not stupid, I obviously check the water before he gets in

Answer 1

do you think it's the temp of the water? It could be too cool or too warm for him. I think I would try changing that a little, and if that doesn't work, i would say scrub scrub and rinse rinse as fast as you can!

Answer 2

You may find that he doesn't like getting his face wet whilst being bathed (many children hate having a cup of water chucked over their face whilst they're playing).

I agree that he is too old to be lay down to wash his hair. Instead sit his up, hold a flannel to his forehead, tilt his head back gently and then slowly pour the water over his hair, ensuring none goes on his eyes.

I noticed you said you always check the water before he goes in the bath, but bear in mind the ideal bath temperature for you can be too hot for a baby, so always add a little more cold water than you would normally use. And don't use bubble bath as that may be irritating his eyes (wait until he's 2 1/2)

Also be sure he has lots of special toys for the bath so that he can get excited about being able to play with water guns, toy boats, etc...

Answer 3

Maybe you could try a different tactic and give him a shower instead - it would mean he's not submerged in water and can play with the water while he's under. You say you dread putting him in the bath - I wonder if you're just as anxious now and that it's rubbing off on him. Try and be as calm and collected as you can. I know you're trying everything but maybe this is making it worse - sometimes you're so desperate to make it fun that it ends up being stressful. You are the parent and he is the child, perhaps he's manipulating you in order to assert his independence. You need to tell him that it's bath time and that if he is a good boy in the bath he'll get a treat (a favourite cartoon show or something).

Answer 4

Morning Mrs Cloony.
My daughter went through that stage.She always loved being bathed then,just changed overnight and started hating it.
All I could put it down to is,she was so into everything and felt she was missing something by being bathed.I also found that when she was over tired,she was worse.
Her screaming didn't last long.I started taking her to the swimming pool once a week and although she didn't like it at first,she got used to it and loves water again now.
Since having my children I've always said that around the 18 months age is the hardest.They think they can do everything and because they can't talk properly,they get frustrated when you don't know what they want.
Keep it up.It will get better soon enough.Good luck.

Answer 5

This is a stage--but only if you handle it well! He may "grow out of it on his own," but better to help him! He's getting to an age that he is now having more of an opinion about what he wants and doesn't want to do (this is a good thing development-wise, but makes parenting harder!). He is also growing up in terms of starting to understand dangers a bit. So he'll start to be wary of things he used to just do happily.

I found when going through stages like this with my boys (who are now 6 and 8), that I have to SHOW them that things are safe--not just tell them, and certainly not just ignore their worries or them the boys that the fiear is wrong.

So, GET IN THE BATH WITH HIM!
Then you can have fun together and he'll feel more secure.

Answer 6

Firstly stop laying him down to wash his hair, perhaps he doesn't like it. at 18 mos old he's old enuf to sit up and have it rinsed. get him to hold a flannel over his eyes or get a shampoo shield to stop the soap going in his eyes, now he's that bit older perhaps he feels out of control being laid down for a bath.

As for having toys trying buying him an exciting new one that he's never seen before. Having toys is ok but if he's had them for a while there's no excitement. Maybe some bath crayons so he can draw on himself and even your arms, they wash off nicely too!

also if he wants to try let him rinse his own hair with a bowl, just like a big boy, perhaps its a transitional thing.

Answer 7

Does the loud sound of the water running scare him? Has shampoo gotten in his eyes in the past? Something is triggering his reaction to the water....is it cold in there? Maybe run the hot water/shower to warm up the bathroom before filling his little tub.
What does he love? My little one loves bubbles so when she was starting to give me a hard time at bathtime I did above plus took off all her clothes and let her run around for a bit w/o even mentioning the bath. Then when she was distracted playing near the tub....I ignored her and started blowing bubbles- at first she was confused then she was too distracted to realize when I quickly grabbed her and put her in the tub- I continued blowing bubbles and the FIRST complaint/crying I picked her up and said ALL DONE...GREAT JOB! (EVEN THOUGH i DIDN'T EVEN FINISH WASHING HER) The point was that she got in for a few moments. I quickly got her dressed so she wouldn't be cold then spent the next hour telling her what a good job she did in the bath. I didn't present bubbles to her until the next bath time. When she pointed to it I simply said..."Yes! Bubbles are only for bath time". It worked like a charm. Good luck!

Answer 8

since your trying every technique going, I would just persevere.
My children have all screamed their way through bathtimes at different stages in their lives, they do grow out of it. My 11 year old now won't leave the bath, she spend hours in it. My 15 month old also cries, and I end up soaked.
At the end of the day they have to have a bath, so as long as you're not getting stressed at bath times and you remain relaxed and in control it will be ok, he'll grow out of it.

Answer 9

how about getting in the bath with him, show him that its fun, toys are good too, talk to him calmly, praise him loads, tell him what a big boy he is for having his bath, and another thing, simply stop lying him down for his hair wash, this might b one thing that has caused this behaviour, use a cup or something and pour that over his hair, if you do it right you should manage to brush the water back with one hand so he doesnt get too much in his face. the only time my daughter screams is when we get out the bath haha just try and have fun, high-pitch praising should help lots too....good luck, lets us know how you get on

Answer 10

What every you do get him checked out for a water allergy. There is a condition that affects a small percentage of the population that causes intense itching (bordering on painful) when coming into contact with water. It can develop with time and just because he used to be OK doesn't mean that he is now.

Answer 11

My little sister did the same thing around this age. Never found out why, but we would clean her with wet soapy washcloths or give her a shower. She still prefers showers and she is 12 now. Do not make him get in the bath it just makes it harder, we even tried getting in the tub with her but it still did not work.