HELP!! My DS (4.5yo) hates having a bath and forget about having a shower. He won't sit in the tub, he sits on the edge (I'm lucky if I can get him on the edge), he screams when I get him wet or put soap on him and shampoo his hair. You would think I was doing something bad to him if you heard him.

He used to like having a bath, now all of a sudden he tells me he doesn't like water.

How can I make bath time more enjoyable for all of us.

He has bath toys, he used to play with them all the time. He has his own special bubble bath.

I'm at my witt's end. Any suggestions would be helpful. TIA.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 02:10 pm:

I hope you get some answers, b/c i have the same problem with both my kids who used to love the bath too.

By Rayanne on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 02:29 pm:

My friends DD (just turned 4)went throught the same thing.
She filled up the tub a liitle and then let her DD put bubbles in the tub with shampoo or bubble bath.

By Angellew on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 02:37 pm:

I think it's all a phase (not that that makes it any easier for you!) My DD is 2, and bathtime used to be very exciting for her. She'd run to the bathroom... couldn't wait to get in! NOW, all of a sudden, she HATES to take a bath and fake cries the whole time and tries to hug me while I'm getting her wet (so we are both taking a bath!) I don't understand it! This from a child who last night jumped into the deep end of the pool with all her clothes and a big smile on her face! Who knows?

By Lorebunde on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 03:17 pm:

My kids were like that.. fighting to get them in and them fighting to get them out! My daughter plays with tub toys, the soap crayons etc. She doesn't like showers though, they scare her.

By Eve on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 03:46 pm:

Can you hook up one of the hand held shower nozzles? My DD, 3 loves playing with ours. Maybe then you can do without the normal shower & bath and just let him rinse himself off with the hand held. Good luck.

By Kaye on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 05:47 pm:

i was going to suggest the hand held too. Also just don't fight it, if they rinse off when dirty and get a decent shower weekly they will be fine! Remember don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff..LOL

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 07:24 pm:

My DD went through a similar phase at that age. I was going to suggest the hand held shower nozzle as well. I also agree with Kaye's suggestion. We stopped pushing the issue and gave her a bath every 2 or 3 nights instead of daily, unless one was really necessary.

By Kernkate on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 10:55 am:

My DD who is going to be 4 in Sept. is going thru the same phase now. She use to love to get a tubbie, now its a struggle. And try to get to wash her hair...OMG. I have been giving her one every other day.Makes for alot less struggling!
And this also from one that will be in the pool everyday, loves the water then

By Debbie on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 12:13 pm:

I also give my boys a bath every other day, unless they are sweaty and stinky I have just made it a part of our bedtime rountine, so they know exactly what to expect. This has helped. I also like the hand held shower nossle idea. Good luck.

By Children03 on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 02:00 pm:

Bubble baths, toys, maybe try putting some small buckets in there for him to dump the water in or pour over his own head. Have you tried bath paint?

By Mommierenee on Friday, July 23, 2004 - 02:36 pm:

My 3 & 4 year old LOVE the bath. My daughter who is almost 2 HATES HATES HATES IT!!! Just like you, I think that the neighbors must think that I am beating the you know what out of them! She literally screams bloody murder. I likened it to the girl in the exorcist when they poured holy water on her!
I am hoping she'll grow out of it! I have tried everything, bathing her alone, with her siblings, with me. There are always toys in there & bubbles.
Sometimes I just take her in the shower with me just so I can get it over with quicker, she's going to scream no matter what I do!!

By Rayanne on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 09:53 am:

How are baths coming?
Is it getting easier?

By Missymelissy on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 10:18 am:

Thank you everyone for your responses --- I have tried a lot of the things suggested. We don't have a hand held shower nozzle and I don't think DH would like one.

The last bath DS had was a better experience -- no screaming DS still stood in the tub, didn't want any toys or bubble bath. Needless to say, I did things very quick while the going was good. Today is bath day, let's hope things go just as smooth if not better.

Rayanne, thanks for asking how things were.

By Tink on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 12:14 pm:

My youngest dd hated the bath from the day she was born until she was 2 1/2. I finally started bribing her in to them. I would keep M&M's on the counter and give her one if she would get undressed without crying then one for getting in the tub, then one for sitting down. You get the idea. She has loved the bath for the last 6 months. I think she was too upset to even realize that it was fun to play in all that water! I hope it continues to go well.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 07:23 pm:

My 12yo hated taking baths for the longest time. Now, she finally takes showers on her own. 6 months ago, even, she wouldn't take a shower unless I was around to make sure it got done. She would conveniently forget and then it would be bedtime and she wouldn't have anymore time! Thank goodness, she finally cares enough about her personal cleanliness to know that she needs a shower.

By Missymelissy on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 03:54 pm:

DS's bath went 100% much better -- he actually had a couple of toys in the tub and was laying in tub playing! YEAH!!!!!!

By Coopaveryben on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 07:05 am:

I just thought of something, I went through this with my oldest DS and I put food coloring in his water. I let him choose the color he wanted every night and he had to get in to "mix" it with the water. Don't worry it doesn't color him or the tub.