20 Month Old Now Hates to Take Baths

Updated on April 23, 2007
J.W. asks from Toledo, OH
14 answers

My 20 month old has always loved her bath time, sometimes she would cry if we didn't let her take a bath. About a week ago, she stopped liking her bath time. She actually refuses and throws a temper tantrum every time we try to put her in the bath tub. Does any one have any suggestions? I put all of her favorite bath toys in the tub and she still cries.

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So What Happened?

I wanted to thank everyone for their ideas. I tried taking a shower with her (that was hard) and just sponge-bathing her, but finally she decided that she wanted to take a bath again. I have a bucket with all of her bath toys in it and I let her dump the bucket in the tub before she gets in. I also make it a game to put all of the toys back in the bucket when the bath is over. She even pulls the stopper out of the tub and places it in her hair wash cup before she gets out. Thanks again for everyone's suggestions!

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S.R.

answers from Toledo on

Have you tried putting both children in the tub together with their toys? With my 4 y/o she took baths with me out of necessity and then I couldn't keep her out of the bathroom until my youngest was about 5 mo old and they started bathing together. Even though you have one boy and one girl, they are young enough that I don't think there is anything wrong with them bathing together. Best of Luck, this too will pass (as they say) :)

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H.B.

answers from Columbus on

I have a 21 month old girl who takes a shower with me everyday. Not because she hates baths but because her hair is so thick it takes the shower to get all the soap and other stuff out, but that's another story.(Why does the macaroni ALWAYS end up in the hair?!?!?)I give her a plastic cup and some bath toys especially those foam letters that stick on the wall, and she plays in the water while I shower (I don't wash her first and get her out while I shower because she would pee on the floor and try to play in the toilet) so she plays while I wash, then I clean her up, I also use the head to toe shampoo so it is easy. She loves to imitate me washing my hair and loves to fill her cup and dump it on my feet (of course I always act surprised) It has worked really well for us. Side note: Hand towels work great for wrapping around them just like Mommy does and for wrapping up the hair! Good luck! I know that 20 month old girls can be a handful! Another side note I forgot to add, I never shave in the shower with her...too dangerous, I just take a bath or a shower later. It's actually a good excuse to tell the hubby why I HAVE to go take an hour bubble bath!!

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J.L.

answers from Columbus on

My son (2 1/2) went through this and still hates bath time occasionally. We added bubbles to the tub and that usually helps. He HATES the shower, so that was never an option for us. The other BIG help for us was that we moved his bath time. We used to have bath time as part of his bed time routine, but I think part of the bath tantrum was that he didn't want to go to bed. So we moved bath time to right after dinner, put on his PJs and then let him play for an hour or so before bed. That seems to make the evening go MUCH smoother.

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W.B.

answers from Cleveland on

never really had to endure this problem, but loved Sacha's advice and would of loved it if I did or had little ones. My sixteen year old takes 20-30 showers, but I know he's clean even he doesn't help the water bill!

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S.H.

answers from Dayton on

My oldest, who is 5 now, used to hate baths. She would throw tantrums, kick, scream, and all because she didn't want her hair washed. I am not sure if this is why, but with my daughter, I give her a washcloth and tell her too look up too heaven, wet her hair, wash it, and rinse it and she loves baths again.

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L.J.

answers from Cleveland on

Bath Crayons worked for us! and the tablets that change the bath water different colors.

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S.E.

answers from Cleveland on

I have a 2 year old son, and we have two new favorite things for bath time. Maybe they will help your daughter to have fun with the bath again:

1. Crayola makes color tablets that turn the water different colors. My son loves to tell me which color what he wants. Instead of asking him, "Do you want to take a bath?" I ask, "Do you want to take a YELLOW bath?!" The answer is yes every time!

2. I blow bubbles and he catches them. When your hands are wet the bubbles will stick and not pop. He loves to tell me to blow a BIG bubble, and is SO proud when he catches them.

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S.L.

answers from Erie on

My daughter wouldn't take a bath at all. when she was 6 weeks old i started putting her in the shower with me. she is 19 1/2 months old and would rather get a shower then take a bath. she has improved she will get in the bathtub but she doesn't like to sit in the water and it turns into a game of her standing up and me saying sit down and so on. i find showers much easier. i also use the head to toe wash so it doesn't take that long. hope this helps!

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B.M.

answers from Cleveland on

My son did that when he was about that age. I had to get in the tub with him in order to get him clean. Then one day he started liking his baths again. Don't worry, it will pass.

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L.M.

answers from Dayton on

maybe try taking her with you to your next shower? just get her clean first, wrap her in a towel and set her outside the tub when she's finished with some toys, then finish yourself up. if she loves it, it can be her new ritual. if she hates it, it will make bathtime seem fun again!

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K.L.

answers from Columbus on

Kids are funny about baths as time goes along. One thing that helped my son was to fill the bath tub first because the sound of the water was very loud along with the exhaust fan. Another thing is, if I was too tired I would try to 'get it done' faster. He could sense that and didn't like it. If I was tired and he was tired, we had a ugly time of it. So don't wait until the last minute before bed. Good luck. Hope it works out.

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R.M.

answers from Mansfield on

I would say "Try making it fun" they hv these cute little aniamals like a duck and u put it ver the water spout and the water comes out its beek. so cute:) Also..bubbles!!! let her help but it in and use her hand to help make bubbles before her eyes:D
a neat thing walmart sells is bath crayons. they r made to get wet and draw on the bathtub and it wipes off. Maybe also leting her feel alittle control like picking out her bath soap shampoo..etc. Also making it clear we r going to take a bath dpo u want to now or after supper.
well good luck. i think its about trying to be independit..lol

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L.R.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi, this may sound silly but when my son when through this i got into the bath started playing with all his toys he couldnt wait to get in, after a few times he resumed loving his bath

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L.L.

answers from Columbus on

I have a 20 yr old that still needs reminded to take a shower LOL. Try finding some fun toys to play with in the tub and put just a little bit of water in to start, add more after he is in.

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