Bath vent and ?

stever · January 2011

We used Mikey's newborn tub until very recently. We have one of those big Primo things, but I never got around to digging it out and actually using it until recently, so M's butt was squeezed into the old tub.

Anyhoo, the 2nd time we used the new bath I cupped some water in my hand and poured it onto his head. I mean, he's nearly 1.5 so it's about time he felt water on his head instead of just a wet washcloth.

Well it freaked him the hell out. Now he screams at bath time. Hates it with a passion. Last night we used the teeny tiny tub again hoping that would calm him down, but no dice.

What do I do?

robynlesley · January 2011

I don't know what to say... A LOVES the bath. I gave away the Primo tub and he just goes in the actual bath tub. When he's seated, the water comes up to his belly button.

I think you just need to get M acclimated to the water and a bigger tub. Stick with it and eventually he'll be OK. Another option: forgo the Primo and just sit in tub with him. Maybe having company will distract him?

peeper72 · January 2011

robynlesley:
Another option: forgo the Primo and just sit in tub with him. Maybe having company will distract him?

Ooh, good idea Robyn! We used the Primo from the start and we still do. We have been rinsing her hair for months now and she hates it. We just grunt our way through.

vanverth · January 2011

We have this for bath toy. It has holes in the bottom for drainage and I pick it up and it rains water down. Michael looked a bit shocked the first time I did it but did not cry.

FYI, Robyn I thought that Aaron would love this.

daisydana · January 2011

Oh no! I think that it's something he'll get used to... in time. If you don't already have bath toys, get some. If bath time is fun, it will make it a lot easier.

We are so lucky. Sydney loves her some bath time! She accidentally pours water over her head every once in a while and doesn't cry. And... all I have to do is ask her to tilt her head back and she does. Sometimes I have to put a finger or two under her chin, but she will let me pour three or four cup fulls of water over her head to rinse her hair. Like I said... we're lucky!

mama.bear · January 2011

Do you still have your peri bottle from the hospital? It works great for rinsing hair. Maybe Mikey will warm up to the idea if you play "squirt the belly" with him, then squirt the back, hands etc...

gimmietimmies · January 2011

mama.bear:

Do you still have your peri bottle from the hospital? It works great for rinsing hair. Maybe Mikey will warm up to the idea if you play "squirt the belly" with him, then squirt the back, hands etc...

Glad I wasn't drinking when I saw that!! That's awesome! I was going to suggest something like that. I used a baby tub for a few months with ds and that was it. Generally we use the tub and I let them pour their own water on their head (with a plastic jug), usually when they were about 1. But I think mine are pretty used to water, they were in the pool at about 3 months. Good luck! If it's more of a game or "his idea", he might be okay with it?

Sassystace · January 2011

We used the little sink tub with my DS until last week. He used to be terrified of the big tub but now is okay in the big tub until you pour water on his head. We try and tilt his head back and pour the water but he just screams and cries. We just do it fast at the end of the bath and then take him out. I am hoping he'll get used to it. I think the peri bottle sounds like a great idea though.

NewMrs07 · January 2011

Adrian had the Primo tub until he outgrew it and he's been in the grown-up tub for many months now. He loves his bath but also hates it when I pour water on his head to rinse off the shampoo. I try to wipe the water away from his eyes quick, but he still complains. He acts like I'm torturing him but I've tried to get him to lean back so the water will drip off the back, but he won't do it. He just stands in the tub and gets mad. Oh well, at some point he'll get over it, I can't just use a washcloth, he has a lot of hair and it's thick.

NewMrs07 · January 2011

robynlesley:
I don't know what to say... A LOVES the bath. I gave away the Primo tub and he just goes in the actual bath tub. When he's seated, the water comes up to his belly button.
I think you just need to get M acclimated to the water and a bigger tub. Stick with it and eventually he'll be OK. Another option: forgo the Primo and just sit in tub with him. Maybe having company will distract him?

This too, on the days when A is especially cranky (he's sick or teething), I'll get in the tub with him. He usually loves the company and plays happily after that. DH does the same thing sometimes, and he's also showered with A, something that I can't do, I'm afraid of slipping or something.

NewMrs07 · January 2011

robynlesley:
I don't know what to say... A LOVES the bath. I gave away the Primo tub and he just goes in the actual bath tub. When he's seated, the water comes up to his belly button.
I think you just need to get M acclimated to the water and a bigger tub. Stick with it and eventually he'll be OK. Another option: forgo the Primo and just sit in tub with him. Maybe having company will distract him?

This too, on the days when A is especially cranky (he's sick or teething), I'll get in the tub with him. He usually loves the company and plays happily after that. DH does the same thing sometimes, and he's also showered with A, something that I can't do, I'm afraid of slipping or something.

Pesky · January 2011

DD went through this same thing. It's a pain. Anywho, what worked for her is our neighbor came over with her little girl around the same age and bathed both of them. So DD saw her getting her hair washed and it was a distraction to have someone else in the tub. She also did something that I thought was genius -- she told DD "Look up there! Are those balloons?" The minute DD looked up at the ceiling, she dumped the water on her hair (using her hand or a washcloth to keep stray drops out) and none got in her eyes. DD quickly got the idea and was game to keep looking up for birds, airplanes, stars, moon, superman, whatever because it kept her eyes dry. I also switched to a leave-in conditioner and then to adult condition just on the back part of her hair so she only has to look up to wet her hair and rinse it once. So I'd try bath toys, one of you in there with him and the looking up trick (I usually get DS to look up by hanging something up on the shower head and gesturing to get him to look at it).

Peppernut · January 2011

Oh, wow!

What we did with Margaux is get a little cup with holes on the bottom, like a little mini shower head almost. We let her pick it up and watch the water rain down. Then we moved it so it rained on her belly, and she started putting her face in it to try to drink it as it came down. She's still no fan of hair-rinse time, but she isn't scared...

Good luck!

Piranha54 · January 2011

Yikes - no advice except take it easy. And I like the idea of getting in with him - that's how we do emergency diaper blow-out showers with Ellie. Bath time is DH's thing, but we are obviously lucky because Ellie loves the bath and shower, doesn't care much about getting water anywhere and often dumps cups on herself. We have a slew of toys - some intended for the bath and some not.

kimisuejoia · January 2011

L has been in the big tub since he's gotten full baths, I think we only used the little tub maybe four or five times...

He was starting to get squirmy with hair rinsing a couple months ago and we started laying him on his back with a hand under his neck and rinsing that way. He kicks and splashes with his feet and is distracted just long enough for a couple cups of water before he wants to be set back up.

Most of the time one of us is in with him, but it has worked well even if we weren't.

stever · January 2011

Thanks ladies! I think I'll stick with the Primo bath and maybe get some bath toys.

mtnrider · January 2011

No advice since S doesn't really have any hair but I am just shocked that you are still using a little tub! Simon's been in the big tub since he was 7 months old (when we got rid of the ducky tub). He would never sit still in a small space like that! THIS I gotta see, a toddler in a baby tub! Post a pic!

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