Bath and Water help!

My girls are 25 months and r scared to death of water. Baths we hold them down and the pool, well, no way! any thoughts?

 

My kids also went through a phase where they hated bath time. Put as little water in the bath as possible, put a non-slip mat in the bath and allow them to stand. (Mine had to hold onto the side of the bath as I did not want them to slip fall.) Use a sponge and soap them and then just rinse them.

During the summer months I filled a plastic shell(tub) with water and they loved playing in it.On a hot day let them play with a hose or put water in a tub for them to climb in and out of. Put some of their bath toys in the tub. This might help them to learn that water is fun.

Good luck

 

One of mine went through that too. I also let her stand up in the tub, holding onto me while I hung over the side. It took dh and I both to get her washed because she had her arms wrapped around me. My other twin played fine in the tub. Eventually I'd use a small cup and pour water down her legs, then move up her torso to her belly. Over the course of a couple of weeks we'd encourage her to play with toys, then lean over to dip her toys in the water. Eventually I forced her to sit down, while I was still hanging over her. As I said, it took a couple of weeks but eventually we got her comfortable in the water. And yes, I only put a couple inches of water in there for awhile. Once she was used to it I was able to put a bit more water in the tub.

 

We went through that phase, too. I did what Danielle did or I would actually get in the tub and bathed them one at a time. Tight squeeze, but it helped get them through it. The phase lasted a little less than 2 months. My one son still hates to get water on in his eyes so we sometimes still have fits over rinsing his hair.

 

My girls are 22 months and we've been going through this since BIRTH!!! I bought a baby tub from Ikea (instead of the using the big bath tub) and one of my girls is learning to chill out and not scream like she's being murder. She's still not happy though. It's torture giving them bathes.

 

Just a thought if you do let them stand up in the tub and hold the side - you might put a towel or bath mat on the side that they hold to prevent slipping. At 18 months, my oldest stood up in the tub and reached for the side, which had a little water on it. Her hand slipped and she fell into the side of the tub, breaking one of her front teeth. Since it's a baby tooth she doesn't have any "permanent" damage beyond a slightly crooked smile until that tooth falls out but it was still a pretty traumatic experience for her mama!

 

I got into the bath with them for several months when we moved to the big tub. First they sat on my lap, then between my legs, then I was able to get out and dry off while they stayed in the tub and finally they found out that baths are fun.

The other thing that worked while they were younger was to shower with a baby on my arm.

 

Another family who bathes with them here (except it's dh, not me).