My oldest son lives for bath time. His face lights up with joy whenever I mention getting in the tub. And I am sure that he would happily spend a large portion of his life there if you would allow it.
But my youngest son, however, could not stand taking a bath. I would have to bring him in screaming to the tub. And I didn’t get a moment’s peace until the bath is over.
It baffled me. Why was one kid in love with the water and the other one hated it?
The fact is that many toddlers are scared of bathing. It’s one of the most common things they fear. But you have to keep your child clean, so what can you do?
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Sponge Baths
If your toddler panics when you start to put them in the tub, try giving them a sponge bath sometimes. This can be done by simply taking a damp washcloth and wiping your little one down.
It’s important that they overcome their fear of the bathtub, but there’s no harm in giving a sponge bath from time to time. It can also be a lifesaver when you are in a hurry.
You could even sponge your toddler off for all but one bath a week to get them used to the idea of bathing in the tub.
Once they start to get comfortable with it, increasing to two times a week will easily start to ease them into a regular bath time routine.
Once your little one is content with being in the tub, you can start giving regular baths every time.
Bath Toys
One reason that many kids love to take a bath is the fact that they get to play in the water.
Getting some fun and brightly colored toys and putting them in the tub before you bring your toddler in can make a bath more enticing.
Make sure to have an area to store the bath toys so that they can air out and be easily found the next time you need them.
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Bath paint is also a favorite because it gives them license to make a colorful mess. These are soaps and usually rinse off easily after bath time is over.
A word of caution. Don’t wait until the next day to rinse of the bath paint inside the bath. It is best to rinse it off once the kids are done with the bath.
If your child has sensitive skin or eczema, I would stick with bath toys and avoid the bath paint as it may irritate the skin.
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Once you have gotten your child in the tub with toys, play along with him. Making bath time a time to bond with you will add greatly to its appeal.
The Drain
One thing that many toddlers find horrifying is the tub drain.
Think about it from their perspective: Once the plug is pulled, all of that water that was in the tub goes down the drain and ends up… where?
As far as your toddler knows, it has disappeared. And if it can happen to the water, it might happen to him.
You know that there is no danger posed by the drain. But your child might not.
Avoiding letting the water out of the tub until he is out of the bathroom can avoid any such fears.
Bath time is a grand opportunity for your toddler to unwind.
It’s filled with fun sights and smells, and playing in the water is a blast.
Getting your toddler over his fear of the bathtub may take some time, but once you do he may actually begin to look forward to it.
This post is a part of the series 31 Days of Parenting Tips for Busy Moms With Young Kids. Each day throughout the series I am discussing a different topic regarding parenting young kids. I’d love for you to follow along and share this series with moms who may need some support or just to hear that they aren’t alone in their journey of raising young kids.
Find all of the posts in one place on the series homepage: 31 Days of Parenting Tips for Busy Moms With Young Kids
