November 2007 Apple Dumplings

I don't know what to do. Matthew is going a few days without a bath now because he's almost terrified of it. We have no idea what caused this. He used to love them. He screams and cries almost the whole time he's having the bath. He won't sit in the water either. He just wants to stand.

The only thing I can think of is buying him a new bathtub toy.

Anyone else having this problem?

Okay, I researched a little online after posting and a psychologist said to not frighten them anymore by trying to force them to take a bath, so just give up for awhile and just wash them. One mom said, give sponge baths and call them a "cat" bath. So I guess we'll just have to do that until he's not scared anymore.

I'd still like to know if anyone else going through this or has any other ideas!

Thanks!

Laurie

I read that one online. The only place he'd be able to bathe with the crayons is the other kid's tub (we usually bathe him in our tub) because our tub is separate from the shower and has wallpaper all around it. I don't think that would be too good of an idea because I'm pretty sure he wouldn't limit the drawing to the tub only! LOL However, I am thinking about getting those anyway but just use the other tub.

I guess this is an age when fears start coming and I guess it's a good thing because it keeps them safer if they have some fear of dangerous things. Matthew isn't scared of a room during the day without lights on but he won't go into a dark room at night which I like because it keeps him out of rooms I normally have to lock him out of during the day.

Lilly developed a fear of bathing a few months ago. You may want to do a search for the post - a number of people made suggestions.

Anyhow, the only thing I found to work was actually sitting in the bath with Lilly. The first handful of times she wouldn't get into the water but would sit on my lap. I was able to use a wet towel on her without upsetting her too much. Lilly has gotten to the point where she'll sit between my legs and let me bathe her fairly normally without much of a fuss. One of the things that's seemed to help is a little game we play where I let Lilly do to me what I do to her. I will ask to her to do something to me (washing related) and then will do the same in return.

Admittedly there are times when even this doesn't work. Last week she got one regular bath and lots of sponge baths because I just couldn't get her in the water without freaking out.

I hope you find something to work soon.

  

Thank you Jen,

I am glad to find out we are not the only ones! I was afraid we had done something wrong. I wonder what causes them to suddenly be afraid of the bath? My other 2 kids didn't start hating to bathe until they were much older. They weren't scared, they just didn't want to!
We even tried putting him back in the sink where he used to take his baths and he's afraid of it too now. I read online that some toddlers who became afraid to bathe were scared of the drain. (they were able to communicate this fear.) I don't know if that's Matthew's problem or not. If it was the drain they were able to cover it over with something so the baby didn't see it anymore.

I'll also try taking a bath with him. His baths are usually at night and I don't like to bathe at that time usually so I guess I'll just have to move his bath time up to my shower time. Take a bath first with him then take my shower. Hopefully that will work.