Bathtime

Updated on December 03, 2006
A.K. asks from Lawrenceville, GA
11 answers

Hi, My son is almost 6 months old. He just hates getting a bath. My husband and I put it off because he cries as soon as we put him in the infant tub. Any suggesstions on how I can get him to like it and enjoy bathtime. Also how long should we use the infant tub?

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So What Happened?

I took into consideration everyone's advice. We made sure the room was warm as well as the water and I held him while we filled the tub. I gave him a ducky to hold onto, to distract him but that only lasted for a minute. I will just keep trying and hopefully he will start to like it.

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J.J.

answers from Athens on

My little one went thru a hate bath phase around that age.Now if he gets anywhere near a tub he climbs in faster than you can blink! My suggestion is that if he can sit up try one of those open sided bath seats..you know the round ones with the open sides. My kids loved theirs and it made bathing them easier b/c i didn't have to worry about holding them up or them slipping. You can get them at walmart or anywhere else. He may not like the baby tub anymore b/c it's cold or it doesn't hold as much water and playing in the water is half the fun.lol. You could also try putting him in the shower with you or daddy. My youngest has been showering with daddy since he was about that age and he loves it.So does daddy they get their quality time together and get clean at the same time!

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B.L.

answers from Atlanta on

I started putting her in the big tub when she could sit up by herself. She never really had a problem with baths. I tried to make them fun by singing and playing, puppets and rubber ducky. She loves it now in the 'big girl' tub and doesnt want to get out!

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C.L.

answers from Atlanta on

hi, try to do it together, you can take a bath holding him, it's wonderful, and he will feel more secure with you in there, i stopped using the infant tub, when my son could sit down on his own, he loves the warm water around him, that way he does not get cold.

good luck

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A.L.

answers from Atlanta on

i AGREE WITH ALL THE SUGGESTIONS, TOYS, CHECK ROOM TEMP.BUBBLES, YOU CAN STICK AROUND THE TUB THOSE COLORFUL FIGURES TO MAKE IF FUN, ETC. i JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE SHOWER SUGGESTION THAT THE BEST WAY TO HOLD A BABY SO HE /SHE WON'T SLIP IS PUTTING A TOWEL IN BETWEEN YOU TWO.
i ALSO REMEMBER, i BOUGHT FOR MY BOYS A LITTLE INFLATABLE TUB, THAT i PLACED INSIDE THE BIG TUB, THAT KEPT THEM IN PLACE AND THE HUGE TUB DIDN'T SEEM SO "BIG".

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K.R.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi there A.! Sorry to hear about your bath time woes. Like the other moms suggested, perhaps he wants a different temperature bath water.I , too, stopped useing the infant bath seat when my son was sitting up. At Walmart or Babies/Kids R Us you can buy a bath seat that sits your child up and attaches to the side of the bath tub. I also suggest maybe moving his bathtime to the sink, my son loved it when he got sink baths (obvisously you clean the sink out really really well before hand). And last, but not least, you could always buy a bath mat and fill the tub up on a little and let him sit up and play and do his own there. Having bath toys are always helpful. Could the problem be you're putting it off too late? Maybe he's just flat wore out by the time you put him in? I know he's a little old, but you could always (or your husband) put on a bathing suit and get in the tub with him and show him thats its fun time, and there's nothing wrong.

Good luck hun! Let us know how it goes!

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K.S.

answers from Macon on

Hi A., My parents live in Snellville. Very close to Lawrenceville. The infant tub only lasted about 4 months with my two boys because they were so big. Try letting him sit up (surely at 6 months he is sitting) in the big tub and let him play with bubbles or toys and splash. Make it fun!! He probably does not like being confined to the small tub. Just always remember to not be more than arms length away from him. My kids absolutely love bathtime and I have a hard time getting them out!!!

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M.K.

answers from Atlanta on

A.,

As other mom's stated, I stopped using the infant tub once my daughter was sitting up (well) on her own.

I'd check the bath temp, room temp - maybe he's too cold or hot? Also, do you run the water while he's in the bathroom? Maybe the rushing water noise scares him or if he isn't in the bathroom while the tub is filling he is unaware of where the water comes from and that makes him scared? Do you have toys in the tub for him to play w/, bubbles, etc? I'd take a step back (which can be hard to do) and try to narrow down the possibilities of what is scraing him.

Good luck and hope you can get to the point of having fun rub-a-dubs ;)
M.

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K.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A., I also have a 6month old son.My situation is the opposite my son loves the tub.Have you tried putting some of his favorite toys in the tub with him? Try and see what if likes it or maybe try sitting him in the tub so that he can sit up.I'm going to stop using the tub within the next.

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D.C.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A.;
When my kids were little, they hated bath time too. I actually held them in the shower with me, and it calmed them right down. If you don't feel comfortable in the shower (Some people are afraid they night drop the baby), try holding him in the tub with you. He'll feel safe, and it'll be a much better experience for both of you.

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C.H.

answers from Augusta on

even though my son likes bath time i sometimes took one with him.And its safe for them to stop using the baby tub once they can sit up, then u can either by one of those that sit in the tub like a seat or buy a non slip mat...thats a must either way.

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J.R.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi A.
My 4 1/2 month old daughter loves a bath, and there was only one or two times she got mad when we gave her a bath ,she was about a week or two old and that was the last time she got mad about a bath. Kaitly loves a bath, she smiles and kicks, and sometimes falls asleep lol. Try giving your son some toys to play with maybe he would like that
J.

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