Why does my baby suddenly hate baths?

bath time cutie

Monkey has always loved bathtime.  She would climb up the steps and rush into the bathroom, pulling up on the tub and clapping as we turned on the water and threw in the toys.  Warm sudsy water to splash in, rubber ducks to talk to, letters of the alphabet to chew on and stick to the tub.  Mommy and Daddy are there every night to play, wash, shampoo, and dry.  It was a snuggly, giggly part of our bedtime routine.

Until…

About three weeks ago, Monkey started screaming as soon as we put her in the tub and refused to sit down.  Every time she stood up, we would sit her back down and say “No!” and then try to distract her with a bath toy.  But to no avail.  Daddy and I always do bath time together, because we love to, not because we have to.  Now it was one of us holding her down while the other gave her a quick scrub and shampoo, whisking her out of the tub as fast as we humanly could.  I feel like a terrible parent for admitting this, but some nights we looked at each other and said, “does she really need a bath tonight?”  and on those nights she went to bed with lunch still matted in her hair.  (Bad Mama!)

We were at our wits end, trying everything.  For Christmas we got her some new bath toys and none of them worked.  Then, a friend gave us a waterproof book, made for the bath.  Monkey loves books so I don’t know why we didn’t try this before.  She was so calm!  She just sat there, turning the pages of her new book, thrilled that it was allowed in the tub.  As she flipped through, engrossed in her book, cooing away, Daddy and I just looked at each other like, “that’s all it took?”  All the screaming and crying and holding her down.  A book?

Now I have to admit, Daddy still holds onto her ankles, which must make her feel like she won’t slip and she will try to stand up if he lets go.  But the book did the trick.  If you are reading this and you have the same problem, try it.  Or try a bath version of whatever your baby likes most.  And of you have any suggestions at all…please post them!  Because who knows what my little monkey will do next week.

Related Posts:

• Reading with Baby
• No! No! No!
• Sears portraits…never again!
• New Year’s Resolution
• Why isn’t my baby sleeping?