[sadie_sabot]

My 19 month dd is a major bath lover, or she was until last week.

we don't bathe her in the tub because it's got one of those sliding doors. We use a huge plastic tub. Last wek she staqrted to refuse to get into it. she'll happily get naked, and then wants to squat down next to the tub and play with toys in the water but gets upset when we encourage her to get in. I'm inclined not to push her, but she hasn't had a real bath for about a week now, and ya know, toddlers get dirty!

And as far as I know, she hasn't had any bad experiences in the bath lately.

Is this a developmental stage or something??

 

[vein]

If you actually have a tub, what I'd suggest doing is having one of you get in the tub with her and bathe her that way. It may take a time or two of her just seeing someone else bathing and knowing that it can be fun before she'll be okay with it, but it's worth a try.

It is a lot easier to do with two people. My SO gets in the bath, I help Gavin in there, they play for a bit, I wash him while he's not really thinking of it being more than playtime, they play a bit more, then we lift him out and dry him off. It was slightly harder at my parents house who have a sliding glass door on their tub, but it was do-able.

Ours isn't that age yet, but from everyone I've talked to, it is a stage a lot of kids go through.

 

[sleeping queen]

Actually, I would consider bath time non-negotiable. This is just one of those things that isn't an option in our house. I think taking a bath with dd is a great idea to get her used to the big tub, after that when she isn't so "happy" about a bath just make it a quick one and just keep your routine. Toddlers are so fickle. What they like one day they will hate the next.

 

[rainbowfairymomma]

My son went through that. I think its pretty normal... it lasted a few weeks, maybe a month or so...
All i did was bath him when he really needed it! (haha) and it was quick. We still have days when he doesn't want to get in, usualy I just go with the flow... and we get in another day.
My hubby usualy gets in with him which does help. Sometimes I will have a shower and plug the bath so my son sits down and there is a little bit of water while i have a shower!

I wouldn't worry to much. I guess there really is two options, you go with her and bath every few days or just make her get in.

 

[Killick]

We went through that stage recently. We give dd a shower when that happens or when we are running short on time. I know that a bath is good for the nether regions, but instead of forcing the bath issue, try a shower. I usually sit on the floor of the stall and let dd play with my hair, which she loves. I also have a cup handy so that I can splash her with water and use it to help with rinsing.

HTH.
Nicole

 

[raleigh_mom]

My youngest has also been refusing baths. She will play beside the tub, but the minute I put her in, she starts sobbing and alsolutely won't sit down. She fights to get back out of the tub. My latest thing?... It's so warm here that I take off her diaper and set her out on the back step with a couple big mixing bowls filled with water, and a washcloth. Yesterday I washed both the girls' hair out there. No crying from anyone, just lots of laughs. Even DH put his swimsuit on and started splashing with them in the water!

 

[mommajubilee]

nak

our ds went through that as well...it was a passing stage.

 

[sadie_sabot]

Last night I got in the tub and had dp hand dd to me. I had to hold her on my lap for a couple of minutes and just splash water on her feet, but within 5 minutes she was sitting in the tub between my legs happily playing. she did object if I moved so that she wasn't wedged in between my legs, but it was a bona fide bath! I figure we'll just do it that way for awhile and see about trying her tub again in a week or so.

thanks everyone. I also like the idea of bowls of water utside. i could definitely see dd going for that!