Hating bath time!

curtains

My 11 month old daughter hates bathtime! She used to love them, and now that she is more mobile, she absolutely hates them! I thought maybe she felt too confined by the infant tub, so I moved her to the regular bath tub, got her some new toys, including ones that suction to the wall. I played with her in the tub with no water first, and then just played in the water, then gave her a really short bath without washing her hair and then included the hair washing. We had one successful bath that included hair washing and then she lost it again. I even tried getting in the tub with her but she was still resistant. If I let her stand, she will tolerate a body bath, but not hair washing. I think the biggest part of the problem is that she just wants to go go go, and doesn't want to sit down. But I need to be able to wash her hair. Any suggestions? I just feel so bad when she starts crying and clings to me

 

ras26

No suggestions here, but sympathy!  DD is about the same age and loves the bath...until it's time to wash her hair.  (Rinsing is really the issue, but now that she knows it's coming, it starts at washing).  She grabs onto the side of the tub, stands up, and tries to climb out.  It's super hard to rinse her head when it's hanging out the side of the tub!  I recently started laying her back so that the back of her head is submerged and then rinsing the front with a cup while she's laying back.  She still screams, but at least the water stays in the tub and it's over faster than using a cup while she's leaning precariously over the edge of the tub. 

lintscreen

One of my baby books mentioned it's pretty common around 9 months for babies to suddenly become afraid of activities they used to love (bathtime) and that it's something that will pass. 

curtains

Thanks for your feedback! What book mentions this? Maybe I will try and track one down, sounds like a helpful book to have

curtains

Thanks for the sympathy! It's comforting to know that someone else is experiencing trouble with the hair washing. Guess I'll keep at it and hope that this is just a phase

bridetobe6808

My LO also hates having her hair washed. I put a toy in my mouth and have her look up at me and use a cup to rinse her head and then take my other hand and sweep it over her head after I pour the water so that less water runs in her face. It's actually quite the production. Lately I have been washing her hair every other day. or just rinsing instead of using soap every bath. She also thinks the tub is a great place to practice standing. *sheesh*