Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

17 months scared of tub, help!

Hi there, My son is 17 months old. I have been bathing him in the kitchen sink - we have a very large one basin sink - up until the other day when I tried him in the tub as he is starting to outgrow the sink. He is not afraid in the sink and we have a swimming pool that he loves to go into. When I tried him in the big tub, he cried and shook uncontrollably absolutely scared to death. It broke my heart! I can't imagine why he is so scared. He has had no bad experiences. I have had him in there a few times since he's been born but usually in his little plastic tub within the tub. Anyone had a similar issue and any ideas to help him get over this fear? He was so pitiful that I finally just got in with him in my clothes (9 months pregnant lol). Thanks for any advice! He's usually not the scared type... Me and DH were with him when this occurred...

Re: 17 months scared of tub, help!

  • My daughter went through a short phase where she hated going in the tub. I ended up going in with her twice, then she was back to her bath-loving self.
    1.0 9/20/12
    2.0 bfp 4/23/16....mc 6/24/16 @11w5d
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  • My son is currently in stage and has been for a few months. We've tried so many different things to break him from it and haven't had much success. He's too big for our sink now so We just try and do bath time as fast as possible and get out. Hopefully it's over soon!
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  • When my DD switched to the bathtub from her infant tub I got in with her.  I did it for a few weeks or even a month or so.  I know that's probably not what you want to hear.  Sorry!
  • @daisyblinks - lol - I started bathing him in the sink when he was newborn and just haven't stopped yet. Mainly because I got pregnant when he was 8 months old or so and bending over the tub was really hard for me (tried a couple times). Now I've had my 2nd and he is getting too big so trying to get him used to the big tub. Our kitchen sink is very large and I just put the plastic tub right in it.
  • Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I'm sorry some of you are also going through this same thing but glad to see its normal. I was really starting to get concerned he had been through something traumatic that I wasn't aware of. Poor little guy was just pitiful to watch... We will keep trying because he won't fit in the sink much longer lol!!
  • shannmshannm member
    edited January 2014
    I would take my clothes off, then get in with him and play. Get some tub only toys that he can look forward to.
  • Good news! Tried again this morning and used some of your ideas and it worked! He was a bit scared at first but by the end was splashing around having fun. Now if only I could get him to sit down in there!! DD is only 3 days old and still in the NICU so having her in with him is not quite yet an option! But looks like we may have weathered the storm!! Thanks everyone!
  • Glad to hear you had success this morning.  I wanted to chime in that we have some toys in the bathtub that he only gets to play with in there and DS loves to take his baths.  Maybe that will help, too?  FWIW, DS has been bathed in the tub since he was born, so the toys may not make a difference since he just doesn't know any better.
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