Up until last week our 2-year old son, Thomas, was a water baby. He would try to swim in a puddle and just LOVED bath time so much. He didn't mind getting the water on his face, and even liked to have the shower on for a while when he was bathing.
However, we had to take him to the doctor last week because of a skin infection, (he has eczema which is under control, but it makes him more prone to skin infections), and one of the things the doc recommended was Aveeno Oatmeal in his bath to ease the itching. We got his bath ready that night with the oatmeal in and he FREAKED OUT because the stuff made the water cloudy and he couldn't see the bottom of the bath. He just stood in the water crying and crying and we had to give up.
The next evening I tried running him a bath without the oatmeal, and I even got in it to show him it was okay, but he still refused to get in - just cried and cried. Now if we even just mention a bath or shower he freaks out. I am so upset by this because he always loved the water so much and I just don't know how to resolve it.
I would be grateful for any advice on a) getting him back into the tub, and b) how on earth we can wash his hair without involving the tub or shower!
Thank you,
D.
This is a 'Thank You', rather than an update because obviously this is going to take a long time to resolve! I LOVE all of your ideas, and intend to try all of them - in fact, my husband has taken Thomas out to choose a new bath toy as I type this! He's also going to buy some bath crayons.
We have both tried getting into the bath ourselves to try to tempt Thomas in without any success, and my husband lets Thomas into the bathroom while he showers and although Thomas seems to enjoy that, he will NOT go in the shower himself.
We have to wash his hair tonight because he has an appointment for a hair cut tomorrow, so we're going to try to do it over the kitchen sink, (I see a great big fight in the near future, sigh).
I particularly like the advice about putting oatmeal into a bag! We can even use that when we're sponge-bathing him to ease his itching.
Anyway, thank you all SO MUCH.
D.
Hi D.! My friends have a 5-year-old who really hates having his hair washed, and they use some dry shampoo product on his hair. (This was one battle they chose not to fight!)
I think they are even able to wash his hair in this way while he is sleeping!
Good luck to you!
I had the same problem when my son hit that age. I had to use oatmeal to control his eczema. You can buy bubble bath that has no perfumes or colors so that it doesn't irritate his skin. I use Mr Bubbles, it's the one in the white bottle. It didn't seem to irritate his skin. You could also try those color tablets. Let him put in the bubbles ot tablets, with you help. It will get him excited about getting in.
maybe a little swimming pool in the kitchen?
I would try buying new bath toys. Let him pick it out at the toy store and tell him he can have it if he take a bath. My daughter gets very excited about bath time (she even rushes me!) when she knows she has a new toy. The bath crayons are a hit. As for washing his hair, maybe try holding him up at the sink w/ hair facing sink and his face towards you. It helps if your husband can help hold him and you do a quick wash. Hope this helps! good luck!!
My advice, and I am not sure if this would work or not, would be to draw a small amount of water in the bath tub for a couple of nights but then just sponge bath him from the water in the tub. After the about two or three nights see if he is interested in trying to get in. At least sponging him from the tub water might prove that the water is alright for him he can see that there is nothing in it when you do this.
My mom used to lay a towel on the edge of the sink and lay us down with our heads over the sink.
By the way, I am prone to having eczema. If you find the right cleansers he won't have it nearly as often or as bad. I haven't had it in quite awhile because I use the same stuff all the time. It usually is anti-bacterial that I use.
Not sure if any of this will help! Good Luck!
Hi DawnI also have a 2year old boy and once they get something into their heads, you have to think of inovative ideas to change their minds.
I think maybe he is just scared. I think I would fill up the bathroom sink and see if he will play in the water again. Then ask him if he would like to play in the tub with a basin full of water and if all goes well ask him if he would like a little water in the tub to play with. He loved water so much it should only take a few days for him to remember he loves water and is not afraid of it. Don't pressure him to get in the water it's ok if he walks away, just stay in the bathroom and he will come back to see his mommy is having fun and he will want to join in.
i think that buying a new bath toy or a towel with his favorite character on it might help. my son has eczema as well and refused to use the aveeno in the tub. there is a lotion called aquaphor, it is a little pricey, but i swear by it. all other lotions only made the eczema worse and trying to find a hypoallergenic bubble bath that gives you good bubbles is next to impossible. the aquaphor is like vaseline so it will leave a grease stain on clothes, therefore i put it on and let it absorb as much as possible before i get him dressed. i really glob it on at bedtime so it absorbs overnight. within a week his eczema breakout is gone. best of luck.
prepare the bath early and keep him occupied it will not be cloudy after like five minutes and he will never know the diffrence. or you can try putting rubber ducks in the bath and let him pretend he is in a pond.
This is easy...Buy him some really colorful swim trucks, or really cute underwear and Brand New Bath, Water, or Beach Toys (Kids R Us, Toys R Us)Let him put them in the water...He'll think he's at the Beach, and quite possibly be anxious to get in! (you can even put sun glasses on him!) If he stands there and cries re-direct his attention to those toys and play with him (with your Sunglasses and Beach hat on)...Get him excited about his bathtime, redirect those scared, negative feelings into positive ones. What about those Bath Crayons, to add alittle more fun? Get Creative...Make it fun...(you might even have Fun too). What about an "Island Music" Cd playing in the background?
The same thing happened with my now 5 year old son. He freaked out from the oatmeal in the bath. It took us a while to get him back to loving it. We ended up sponge bathing him for quite a while, then that evolved to sponge bathing him while he stood in the tub, then eventually he just got back in. My niece also had a similar experience after having massage jets activate while she was in a tub on vacation with my brother and sister in law. It also took her a few weeks/months to get back into the bath.
For what it's worth, I think it's pretty common and if you just give him time to get over it, he'll be swimming in the tub in no time!
I am going through the same thing, except I am not sure what made my son freak out. We have been in this rut for 5 or 6 months now where he will only take a sponge bath in any room other than the bathroom. Eventhough these suggestions did not work for me, I thought I would pass them along. In addition to all the previously mentioned ideas, I tried offering him a special - bath time sweet. That is, I tried letting him eat a popsicle in the tub with only a couple inches of water in it. Also, I tried getting a handheld shower with an easy on/off button. Some kids really like the idea of being able to control the flow of water. Good luck and please post an update of what worked!
I had a bit of a problem getting my son to bath for a while myself, because when my husband gave him a bath he slipped in the tub, and fell. no injuries, or anything like that, but just stayed afraid. I put in a non slip thing and it didn't work. I used different toys, and it didn't work. I just got fed up, stripped down and got in with him. while he was cring in the tub with me, I hugged him tight, and talked softly to him. he tried getting out frantically, so I pulled the curtain shut. eventually he calmed down a little but, he stopped shreiking. he was still worried though. so I started showing him his toys, and played with them myself until he decided that he wanted to have fun too. I had to bathe with him about 3 times, and my husband once. after that, he was content to go in without us anymore, and he's fine now.
My suggestion would be make bath time around Thomas. When setting up the bath involve him from start to finish. Maybe even let him turn on the water and put the plug in.
Or maybe it could even be the eczema that is bothering him...the water may irritate his skin. My daughter also has eczema, my doctor did not suggest the Aveno bath but did suggest the Aveno pediatric cream (not lotion) along with the prescription of cream he gave me for eczema (I can't remember what was prescribed). He also gave her samples of clariton-sp? He wanted to rule out allergies. I know this may not solve the problem all together but might help. I have never experienced this problem before..but I do know that my 4 year old Kaitlynn says the water stings her eczema, so that could be why he has a fear of the tub!
D.
try having him add tub tints, they change the water color the color you want it...blue green red..etc, then you can still add the oatmeal....our how about bubble bath
He may not want the bath becuse of the eczema not the oatmeal.My son has eczema and would cry at bathtime due to his skin being red and irritated and the water felt as if it were burning him.Try getting him to play in a small amount of water with some fun toys or even at first with no water.My son loved the soap crayons or bath paint...Then tell him we need water to wash away the paint(then you can start again).It worked for us. Good Luck C.
D.,
Try letting him help set up the bath. Let him dump in the packet of oatmeal bath.
Another thing you can try is in a washcloth put one cup of large oat oatmeal (the kind you can eat) any cook varity tie off the washcloth and drop it in the tub while it fills it will cook the oats and release the soothing goodness into the water and you and ring the pouch-o-oats over problem areas and it will sooth them and not make the water scary.
This also helps with itchy patches on adults-is cheaper and makes skin soft and supple. If you want to try this for yourself you can also add some chamomile tea to the oats and it will relax and destress while you soalk.
I hope this helps let me know if you need anyother ideas (sis had exema and my mom is a book of remedies on this kind of thing.
K.
When my daughter started hating her bath, we started making bubble baths and took her to the store to pick out some bath toys. She was anxious to play with the new toys but since she could only do it in the bath, she was willing to give it a try. The bubbles really seemed to help a lot too.
D.,
Perhaps, taking a bath with him would help, without the oatmeal. Either you or dad get into the tub, make it fun and silly (be playing with tub toys, etc) and see if he wants to join the fun. Taking it slow and easy, no pressure, might eventually show him it's safe and mommy or daddy will be right there to protect him.
B. L, RN, IBCLC
D.,
Oh lord! The things that freak them out. It's amazing how long they can hold on to these phases, too.
For hairwashing, you can sit him naked on the sink if you've got a sprayer, and just wet, soap and rinse there, without him having to get in. Be really careful, they're squirmy.
As for getting him back in the tub, try letting him play in it without any water once or twice. Get some tub paint, and let him decorate the wall if you have tile or a tub surround. My little guy loves it if we'll blow bubbles for him while he's in there. You can put some water in the tub and let him float some plastic boats from the outside, just to be comfortable playing near or in the water.
Would he stand in a shower with you or your husband? He might feel better if he's got a parent with him. Do you have more than one bathroom in your house? Sometimes even a small change like using a different bathroom will stop the refusals.
Best of luck!
Jess
Hello D.,
Just a thought - you might tell him HE can put the clouds in the water - give him the packet of bath mix!
Oatmeal in a bag is a nice resolution, too. I hadn't heard of that one.
Also - try a water table for the water baby. I'll bet he can't resist. Toys, water, and watching Samuel kick the water might help too - or friends who have babies might let him share in a wading pool. (not sure how warm it is where you are...)
Good Luck!
M.
