Bath phobia after bad experience - how to fix?
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Disassociate the hurt on his knees to the water in the tub. Fill the bath up one day and just play on the outside of the tub then get some water from in the tub and play with it and show him it doesn’t hurt. Then try sitting on the side of the tub and kick feet in the water and then slide down into the water. It may not happen in one day, but i hope he just forgets his fear soon. I’m currently dealing with my 10 month old not wanting to be in the tub anymore and I have no idea why. It’s not every time but random days he’ll whine if I put him in and try to climb out
Let him play in the water a couple of times without trying to bathe him. You might even have to start with an empty tub and some favorite toys.
My son started doing this as well without having had any bad bath experiences. He went from loving the bath so much so that I could never get him out to all of a sudden having a traumatic meltdown when I tried to put him in right after he turned two. I asked him what he was afraid of and he said “drown” which I have no idea where he would have even heard that word from. Currently having to put on swim trunks and get into the water with him until he feels comfortable enough for me to sit on the edge or get out. so far this is the only way I can get him to not freak out.
Poor baby :( my daughter has had similar experiences so I understand how scary it can be. I wonder how he would do with an outside bath? Like playing in the hose and eventually you could throw some shampoo in his hair… also maybe you could role play this with toys? Like maybe use some action figures and get them messy and have him help you bathe them. Maybe you could wrap his knees in plastic wrap before a bath? I know it’s so sad when they get SO upset like this. 💗