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Our first major screw up (long)

M.AmyM.Amy member
in Parenting after 35

As most of you know, we are no strangers to Code Browns in the tub but Matty does them infrequently enough that there is still a sense of urgency.

Well a week ago Friday we had a Code Brown.  I was bathing Matt and DH was in the kitchen with friends.  I saw Matt was actually playing with a floater and pulled him out of the tub and called to DH.  After a moment, I called to him again.  Now DH and I do not yell in the house so Matty has never really heard me raise my voice.  I finally yelled to DH and Matty started crying hysterically. DH heard me and cleaning up commenced.

The next night Matty won't take a bath. He cried so hard when we tried to put him in the water.  This happened the following night as well. We have put him in the tub without water and he is fine but as soon as we add water he freaks.  We tried new toys, crayons, a bubble machine - you name it.

I took a shower with him last night and he was fine, in fact he enjoyed it.  Tonight I put Matt in the tub clothed and he was fine. We used the crayons and played. As soon as he was naked with water he freaked again.

Have I ruined him with baths forever?  He used to love his baths. 

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Re: Our first major screw up (long)

  • robynlesleyrobynlesley member

    Amy,

    We're in the same boat now--only Aaron won't go near the bathroom at any time.  DH thought Aaron would like a bubble bath since he likes bubbles (ie. bubble machine) and he FREAKED out when we tried that night.  Ever since then, he will NOT go into the bath or bathroom.  Last night DH took a shower with him, and he STILL was screaming.  It's awful.

    Aaron also used to love baths.  But now he hates them.

    I hope it's just a phase for both of them.

     

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  • BrideBuddiesBrideBuddies member
    Sure sounds like a phase to me.  I guess you just have to keep trying to ease their fears as much as you can.   How about a bath in the kitchen sink or something "not" in the bathroom?
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  • robynlesleyrobynlesley member
    I honestly cannot imagine putting a nearly 30 lb toddler in a kitchen sink! LOL
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  • PeskyPesky member
    No.  A lot of kids go through an anti-bath phase.  DD did and what got her over it was asking my neighbor to bring her little girl over to have a bath with DD.  The novelty of having a friend in the bath and watching her friend totally be fine with it helped a ton.  Plus the neighbor showed me some tricks to get her to look up like pointing up and saying "is that a bird?", "do you see superman?", "is the moon out yet?", "I think I saw a rocket go by", etc.  I say if he's cool with showers, go with that for a while before trying the bath.  And then maybe try the bath with a friend of his.


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  • fiazofiazo

    Oh that sucks for you & Robyn. I can just imagine the panic & trying to squirm out of your arms & the tub. That's scary. So what now? Sponge baths?

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  • DaisiesinmygardenDaisiesinmygarden member

    imageBrideBuddies:
    Sure sounds like a phase to me.  I guess you just have to keep trying to ease their fears as much as you can.   How about a bath in the kitchen sink or something "not" in the bathroom?

    I was going to suggest this. We have a bucket that we put in the sink with Maddie. You could do that (even if there wasn't much room for water and play), then after a few successful times of that, move the whole bucket into the bathroom, then into tub and bath him in there.

    We got something like this from BBB and it works well. They make oval ones with round bottoms for drinks/parties that might work better IN the sink. we have one of those large farm sinks, so it fits fine in ours. Then you can use it for toys or whatever later - so it's not a total waste - even if he wont get in it. :)

    https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4460475

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  • steverstever member
    Many of us have done something to traumatize LO at bathtime, I certainly have. In my experience all the tricks in the world didn't help, only time.

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  • ateytelbateytelb
    It's a phase, give it some time. I would use the shower for a couple of weeks (or longer if possible - enough time for them to forget)  and then try the bath again.
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  • cautionwillburneyescautionwillburneyes member

    What I might suggest is that you put him in the tub after you've run a little bit of water in the end.  Sit him in the back of the tub so that the water is not touching his feet.  Then give him a sponge bath.  You can add toys and other fun things into the tub too.  Every day just add a little more water until he's comfortable in the water again.  As long as you smile and don't make a huge deal out of giving him a bath then he should be back to normal in a few days.    Good Luck!

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