XP: Bath time issues

dragonsmercy · October 2010

Evelyn absolutely, positively hates anything to do with getting a bath or a shower. She's been like this since day one. She's a year old today, and we just went through yet another torture session... I mean bath... She will literally start screaming, crying and shaking when I put her in the tub, no matter what method of bathing we try. If it's a bath, she will crawl right up into my lap and cling to me, the whole time crying and shaking, right up until we wrap her up in her towel, and rock her after we're done.

Does this ever end?? Any advice?? We've tried toys, they don't help.

mrsjami · October 2010

Is the bathroom too cold? Make sure you shut the door to avoid drafts. DS loves the bath but that took a little while. The first time he had fun was when I started using a cup to pour fresh water on him to rinse off the shampoo and soap. Each time I pour the water I say "weeeeeeeeeeee". Sounds easy but it made a huge difference. GL!

diana.filipi · October 2010

Well....that sounds really tough! The only thing that comes to mind is to minimize the number of baths for now. Will she let you do sponge baths? If she'll deal ok with sponge baths I would probably only do a tub bath once a week or once every week and a half or so. She will eventually get her words and you'll be able to talk to her and she to you.

EllasMommy2010 · October 2010

I'm assuming you have tried getting in the tub with her? We did that when DD first transitioned to the big tub because she was scared at first. I would also make sure it is really warm in the bathroom and that the water is pretty warm. When DD was smaller, she HATED being cold, so keeping her really warm helped make bath time more enjoyable.

Since she is 1 yr old though, I would start to wonder if she has some type of water phobia?!? Has she been swimming? What are her other water interactions like?

dragonsmercy · October 2010

diana.filipi:
Well....that sounds really tough! The only thing that comes to mind is to minimize the number of baths for now. Will she let you do sponge baths? If she'll deal ok with sponge baths I would probably only do a tub bath once a week or once every week and a half or so. She will eventually get her words and you'll be able to talk to her and she to you.

She flips out during sponge baths, too. And we close the bathroom door before we even undress her. I don't understand, because she's just fine in the pool after a few minutes... mind you, we haven't been swimming in quite a while, either.

diana.filipi · October 2010

Too bad we aren't going INTO summer. You could get in a 'sorta bath' in a kiddie pool and she'd think it was all play.

I wonder what she's so afraid of? It must not just be the water if she won't let you do sponge baths either. Good luck. It will be interesting to hear what finally works for her.

amandopolis · October 2010

If she does ok in the pool, do you think she just doesn't like being naked? What if you got a cloth swim diaper and put that on her, and then took it off only at the very end of the bath to wash her bottom?

dragonsmercy · October 2010

I'm hoping her sibling isn't like this!!! Maybe watching her sibling get baths will help her get over her own fear... but I am not holding out much hope.. she watches me bathe - sometimes before her bath, sometimes after, but she still freaks no matter what we try.

dragonsmercy · October 2010

amandopolis:
If she does ok in the pool, do you think she just doesn't like being naked? What if you got a cloth swim diaper and put that on her, and then took it off only at the very end of the bath to wash her bottom?

Her first 2 or 3 baths in the big tub were with a swim diaper on... and a swim suit. I was super-paranoid about her pooping in the tub with me! LOL!

Charlotte525 · October 2010

Wow, that sounds rough for everyone.

I'm just curious: if you gave her a little tupperware filled with warm water to splash in, would she go for it? I'm just wondering if it's more of a sensory issue for her. Does she have any aversions to other sensations? (Grass, sand, etc) How does she do with lotion/massage?

Just trying to think of what could be causing it for her. It sounds like you've tried so much already. We used to "preheat" the bathroom by running the shower and getting it really steamy when DD would scream at bath time- that helped her... but it seems like you've tried all that sort of stuff.

dragonsmercy · October 2010

Charlotte525:
Wow, that sounds rough for everyone.
I'm just curious: if you gave her a little tupperware filled with warm water to splash in, would she go for it? I'm just wondering if it's more of a sensory issue for her. Does she have any aversions to other sensations? (Grass, sand, etc) How does she do with lotion/massage?
Just trying to think of what could be causing it for her. It sounds like you've tried so much already. We used to "preheat" the bathroom by running the shower and getting it really steamy when DD would scream at bath time- that helped her... but it seems like you've tried all that sort of stuff.

She does have a lot of aversions when it comes to textures... She's a bit weirded out by grass (but hasn't had much contact with it), she HATES lotions and massages, she's never experienced sand... she has no problems with putting her hands into little dishes of water - she'll dip her fingers/hands into a bowl of warm water, or a glass of ice water given any opportunity. She also hates anything "soft" textured for food... she has to have the crusts of toast/bread to hold onto, or she won't eat it.. it might go in her mouth, but she'll spit it out, even if it's something she used to love eating. It's made feeding her very frustrating, as well.

Sapphire++ · October 2010

Oh no, I am sorry! DS loves the bath, maybe she can pick up on your tension ( I know DS picks up on mine when I am doing something I know he does not like). Try singing a soothing song to her, and perhaps making the water warmer? GL

Charlotte525 · October 2010

dragonsmercy:
Charlotte525:
Wow, that sounds rough for everyone.
I'm just curious: if you gave her a little tupperware filled with warm water to splash in, would she go for it? I'm just wondering if it's more of a sensory issue for her. Does she have any aversions to other sensations? (Grass, sand, etc) How does she do with lotion/massage?
Just trying to think of what could be causing it for her. It sounds like you've tried so much already. We used to "preheat" the bathroom by running the shower and getting it really steamy when DD would scream at bath time- that helped her... but it seems like you've tried all that sort of stuff.
She does have a lot of aversions when it comes to textures... She's a bit weirded out by grass (but hasn't had much contact with it), she HATES lotions and massages, she's never experienced sand... she has no problems with putting her hands into little dishes of water - she'll dip her fingers/hands into a bowl of warm water, or a glass of ice water given any opportunity. She also hates anything "soft" textured for food... she has to have the crusts of toast/bread to hold onto, or she won't eat it.. it might go in her mouth, but she'll spit it out, even if it's something she used to love eating. It's made feeding her very frustrating, as well.

It's interesting to think about how babies process sensory information. I've been looking into it a bit for my daughter, too. Maybe do a little reading online about sensory processing in babies and see what you think. I've found some decent tips on how to help soothe her when the sensory input is overwhelming for her.

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XP: Bath time issues

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