There are children who love to get into the bathtub, while others hate bathing and try them all in order to avoid it. Even children who love to bathe at first may develop new fears or go through stages where they refuse to wash. If your baby refuses to take a bath, fortunately there are a few tricks that will help you solve the problem.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Preparing for the Bath
Step 1. Focus on why your baby refuses to take a bath
Pay attention to what happens when the baby begins to resist. Can you understand if he is scared or disturbed by something in particular related to the bath, or his rebellion is nothing more than the expression of a greater need for autonomy? It will be much easier to deal with the problem once the cause is identified.
- Some children feel vulnerable or frightened when they feel the water is particularly deep, or if water gets into their eyes, ears, or nose. In some situations, these fears can be magnified to the point that your attempts to reassure the baby will be of little use.
- Some children don't like the bathroom because they associate it with something they perceive as negative, such as stopping play or going to sleep.
- It may also happen that the baby finds bathing boring because he does not have stimulating toys or distractions while being bathed.
- Finally, some children resist bathing simply because they are developing their own personalities and are starting to test their parents' rules. While this phase can be extremely frustrating, it is still a healthy time of development.
Step 2. Read your baby stories about bathing
Sometimes children's books that talk about a certain topic can be of great help. You can look for books that address the specific difficulties your child is experiencing, stories that explain how bathing shouldn't be a moment of discomfort, but rather a fun activity.
Step 3. Use bathroom accessories that children like
Get towels and bath towels in your child's favorite color, sponges in the shape of animals or cartoon characters. Also buy some bath toys. The options are endless, you can buy rubber ducks, water guns, rubber toys, baby bath books, washable bath pencils, everything that can help your baby to perceive bath time as a moment of play.
Step 4. Let your child know well in advance that bath time is approaching
Generally, children experience the transition from one activity to another better when they can predict what awaits them. Tell your baby that it's time to bathe 5 or 10 minutes early. You can try to use a particular warning to make the child comfortable by taking into account the specific reasons why he or she refuses to take a bath.
- With a child who has a real phobia of the bathroom try to use reassuring phrases: "Now let's take a quick quick bath, and rest assured because I will always be close to you.".
- With a child who is bored and would like to play instead of bathing, try to make it fun: “While we're bathing, let's have a good game! Let's play pirates, or let's color with your new bath pencils!”.
- If it is a child who is entering a phase of rebellion, you must make sure to make him understand that as regards the bathroom, no arguments are allowed: “In a few minutes I will bathe you. I understand you don't like taking a bath. But personal cleanliness is very important, so there is nothing to do: you have to take a bath. ". This way you recognize and respect your baby's feelings, but at the same time convey to him the knowledge that having a tantrum is useless.
Method 2 of 2: Make Bathtime a Pleasant Time
Step 1. Let your child help you prepare the bathroom
Let him decide how hot and deep the water should be, how much bubble bath to pour into the water, which towels to use. This strategy is both a way to help the child overcome fears of water that is too deep or too hot, and a way to make a rebellious child feel that his or her choices are also important.
Step 2. Let your baby wash himself
Allow him to independently manage everything he is able to do, involving him in the various phases of the bathroom. Offer to "help" him wash his hair and back. This way you let the child have more control over the situation.
You should always be in charge of washing your hair. It is important to prevent soap and shampoo from getting into the baby's eyes, otherwise he may associate bathing with unpleasant experiences
Step 3. Always be positive
If you don't feel like bathing your baby yourself and show frustration or boredom, your baby is likely to struggle to love him too. Instead, try to smile, talk, and sing with your baby while you bathe him.
Step 4. Have fun
Use bath toys and paints, read bathroom booklets, play mermaids or pirates. Play with soap bubbles, make a beard and foam hats for your baby.
Step 5. A "bathroom buddy" trick can be
If the child has brothers or sisters, especially close in age, having them bathe together can be more fun. Alternatively, you or your partner could take a bath with the baby. Either way, your child will feel safer and more eager to bathe knowing they have company.
Step 6. Propose the shower as an alternative to the bathroom
If every other attempt fails, resort to the shower. Many children have less difficulty with the shower than with the bath.
With very young children it is advisable that you also enter the shower for safety reasons. In fact, you will have to prevent the child from slipping and falling
Step 7. Make getting out of the bath or shower pleasant
Have the child participate when it comes to drying the body and hair, or applying skin products. Praise him when he takes a bath without throwing a tantrum.
