Hi there,
I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how to get my son to enjoy bathtime again. My 7-month old son use to love bathtime, but the past few baths he just screams. Even as we lower him into the bath he looks at the water with terror and starts screaming. I'm not sure why this is - nothing bad has happened in any of his baths. The only thing I can think of is that we only bath him 1-2x per week because he gets ezcema - so maybe he forgot what it was like and now hates it? I don't know. But I feel terrible because it seems like we're torturing him every time that we give him a bath and since he has started solids and will be moving around soon we will be giving him more frequent baths. Any suggestions?
Put him in the tub without water and his water toys. Then turn on the water so that it slowly fills while he is in the tub. Works like a dream.
We had the same thing happen right at 7 months. We just started bathing him in his infant tub again and then we will trying switching him back in a couple of weeks. I think they just go through "phases" as they are learning new things.
Try oatmeal baths, plus try natural soap. Maybe the water is making his eczema sting. Also, get in with him, maybe that will help.
The same exact thing happen to my daughter Alison around the same age!!!!!!!!! I swear it is totally a phase. You will get through this! I feel for you though because baths are supposed to be relaxing and fun. Alison loved baths, then one day, all of a sudden she hated them and yes, it sounded like we were torturing her. I thought maybe she had diaper rash and her bottom was stinging, but that was not the case, she was simply going through one of her phases. She is back to loving the baths now... just give him time. I actually have to put less water in now because she will splash so much that I'll get soaked!
Good luck, you will get through this!
Does he use an infant tub or are you putting him in the big tub? I wouldn't recommend putting water in the tub while your little one is sitting in it. My dd HATE the sound of the water running. I think it's too loud for her. Try taking a bath with him. Just put a little water in the tub and climb in. My dd loves it when we take a bath together. Perhaps the comfort of having you there will help him overcome his fears.
