DD is refusing baths

Hi ladies,

We have gotten into a bit of a power-struggle with DD over bathtime. Ever since DS pooped in the tub a few weeks ago, it has been a challenge to get DD back in the bathtub. For awhile I let her get away with it because she geninuely seemed afraid of "poopie!" Then, I was trying to find ways to entice her back into the tub by offering her a "new" toy (not really new, but a toy that had been pulled out of bath-rotation). Now, I am just fed up with it! Last night it took nearly 10 minutes of me just ignoring her while both DH and I played with DS (who hops in the tub without any struggle), then inviting her into the tub, trying to take off her diaper, her screaming to put it back on, her whining "poopie," me just putting her in the tub, asking her to sit down, finally she sits down and takes a bath.

How would you handle this situation?? I really feel it is just her looking for control and not really a fear over the tub.

Thanks for any insight! (We are two weeks from two-years-old, so forgive me for posting here a little early!)

 

Do you still bathe them together? Maybe she's wanting to be bathed separately. Also, would she take a shower? My DD has gotten to where she does NOT want to bathe with her brother and she prefers to take a shower over a bath. She LOVES the shower. It might be worth a try just for something new.

 

I had the same suggestion as Laura in terms of trying to bathe them separately or even seeing if she would go for a shower. I hope she gets past this soon for you!

 

Even if you don't want to trouble of seperate baths, put her in first and wash right away, then she can choose to stay and play with brother or get out when he gets in.

Or discuss with DS in front of DD about where to poop. Get him to tell his sister what he is going to do.

 

I also like the idea of bathing DD first. That way maybe she knows there will be no "poopie" in the tub. My DD still will not do a shower. :headbang:

 

Try a shower for her! My girls hated the shower last year, but this winter when we remodeled our bathroom (the only with a tub), we had no choice. I talked it up and said it was like it was raining! They grew to love the shower.

 

Around that age we had the same sort of problem, except that it was the bath pooper who was refusing the baths. We really just had to wait it out. Sometimes we would have to force her kicking and screaming into the tub, but luckily it was summer so we did a lot of "outdoor showers" with the baby bath tub and the watering can. Eventually, in a few months it got better on its own. We just had to wait it out.

Hopefully the suggestions of solo-baths or showers will work for you. Those are good suggestions and might be what you need to bridge the gap until she has forgotten about her fear of poop in the bath.