Bath help!

OK, the only bathtub in the house is a Jacuzzi tub, which is deep and hard for me to reach the kids. Up until tonight, I have given them baths in these big blue buckets, like the ones you put kegs in at parties. I thought I would finally try bathing my children in the real bathtub like a normal person. What a disaster!!
First off, how in the H#LL do you get them to leave the faucet alone? Bea would not stop turning the water on! It was extremely nerve wracking. I could barely wash them because I couldn't reach them that well. I guess I could have sat on the side, but I didn't want to get wet too, and it was only me tonight. They wouldn't leave the tub either, even after the water was drained, they wanted to stay in and play.
I feel like an idiot, but I really don't know how you do it in a tub like this. The turning the water on thing was driving me batty.

 

If they haven't been in a tub before, much of that is probably the novelty of being in the big tub. Just be consistent about the water, and let them have the time to play. You will find that after 4-5 times, they will go back to regular bath behavior.

 

We have only the Jacuzzi tub. It is a pain but like Sharon said, once they get used to it, they'll leave the water alone. I have no suggestions as our water handle comes off and we used to screw it off after we had the water in there. :blush: I hope things get easier for you!!

 

I have a jacuzzi tub- it can be challenging for sure!! I have my 4 year old I also put in the mix!! I always give my kids a bath solo. I bet they will be a little easier after a few more baths. Its a novelity thing. If they enjoy the bath- I'm guessing they love it.. Try to tell them if they touch the faucet they get taken out IMMEDIATELY. And follow thru with it. My kids freak if I tell them no and take them out. Also do you have a walk in shower? I have one with two shower heads and it is awsome with the kids. I take showers with them ALL the time. I have since they could walk steadly. PROS- I get to take a long shower. I don't have to chase after them. For a half hour, we all get cleaned and I get to relax AND shave my legs!!! Just looking forward to when they can dress themselves HTH

 

The turning the water on thing is probably a novelty of the first time of being in a bathtub and should wear off.

We do have a jacuzzi tub in our master bath, and DH had been complaining the other bathtub was getting too small for them to bathe together because they like to "swim". so he gave them a bath in the jacuzzi tub the other night, but he went back to their bath tub after that. I don't think he liked the logistics of giving them their bath in the jacuzzi tub. But on the other hand, he doesn't like change so that could be the problem too. DH is the bath guy, I know I'd have trouble reaching them in the jacuzzi tub.

 

My Mom's is like that and when we visit them, we put them in there and I sit on the edge with my feet in. I put myself in proximity of the faucets!!! Sometimes I will even put opaque large cups (think fast food restaurant large plastic cups) and put them over them.

The other thing is (mine love the bath so...) I will wash them up first and get them clean, then if they are splashing too much or playing with the faucet they get 1-2-3 bath over! Maybe some new novel toys would take their minds off it?

 

It's definitely the novelty of newness.

T&T have used the big tub since they were old enough to sit up well. They now get in, flip the drain lever, turn the water on, turn the water off when it's "full" (roughly 6" of water), and flip the drain down when they're done. They can even work the shower switch (they often enjoy playing in the shower spray while the tub is filling). I just sit in the bathroom to make sure nobody gets hurt and soap them up sometime in the process. For me, it made more sense to let them do as much as they can handle themselves than to try to keep them from it. This is another one of those things that makes my mother shake her head. :lol:

 

Just make sure your water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees so that if they were to turn on only the hot they will not burn themselves badly. I just watched a horrible news segment about a child whose grandmother was looking after it. She left the room for a few seconds but the child turned on just the hot water and so badly burned itself that they died 4 days later.

So turn your water heater down! Mine was at 135 degrees and is now down to 120.