https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 12:09:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2890904 Fri, 12 Jul 2019 19:58:01 +0000 yellowbeach 2890904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. DD (2.5) as of last week had entered an “I hate baths” phase when she’s always loved them until now. Will try some of these tricks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745305 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:56:25 +0000 sojellybean 2745305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think our bath refusal started a little later, 24-28 months but it was clearly drain fear related. We started showering together, first with me mainly holding her and then her standing/sitting on her own. Now at 3 baths are evidently ok again (but I love the speed and efficiency of a shower together!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745296 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:40:11 +0000 agold 2745296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@elljay: My 9.5 month old just starting having this problem last week. She would scream when I rinsed her hair. But I sort of just tried to do it as quickly as possible and last night she did not cry. I gave her a pacifier during the hair rinsing and that seemed to work. I don't know what else to do at this point because I'm a germ freak and must wash her hair every night.</p> <p>@gingerbebe: I was also worried something might be wrong, like an ear infection or something similar. I'm glad to know you had such a concern, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745293 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:32:23 +0000 ineebee 2745293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a similar situation. He loved baths, and then around 24-25 months, he refused to get in. We have this Japanese foam hat thingy that works really well to keep the water out of his eyes, so we know it wasn't that. But around the same time, he was starting to be more resistant to a lot of other things too - car seat, high chair, coming inside, etc. I chalk it up to him getting into a phase where he didn't want to be contained or told what to do at a certain time. </p> <p>It passed after a few months, but it was hard. :( </p> <p>Our "bath hat" looks something like this: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YJ7S1U6?th=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YJ7S1U6?th=1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745292 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:29:14 +0000 gingerbebe 2745292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@elljay: yeah he was in daycare so obviously I'm like red flagging this sudden situation and ped was like he seems fine, nothing physically obvious, toddlers go through stuff like this. DS wasn't verbal so I couldn't tell me what was bothering him. In a month he snapped out of it and it was fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745291 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 12:21:56 +0000 elljay 2745291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I had that worry in the back of my mind, that it was maybe tied to a larger issue, but glad to hear it wasn't a concern for your ped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745253 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 11:05:26 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2745253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine doesn't hate the bath now (19 months) but definitely doesn't enjoy it as much as she was. I think it is largely due to her hair washing. I know it will pass. I just try to keep getting her to tip her head back and I hold a cloth where a visor would go / cover her eyes. She's fine if the water doesn't go into her eyes. We have several bath books that she likes (got them at the dollar store) and some alphabet foam letters that she enjoys playing with.</p> <p>I agree with the suggestions of colour tabs or bath crayons, to make it more fun. You could also bring bubbles and blow them for him while in the tub. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745243 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 10:54:27 +0000 gingerbebe 2745243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son went through this at the same time as yours and he LOVES bath. It was a phase and it passed but we were super concerned and had him examined and what not in case something was bothering him. Pediatrician said he was healthy and that it's part of toddler development. He had his weird sleep regression a bit before this point too so generally 16-22 months was a weird time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745237 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 10:50:27 +0000 elljay 2745237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: I couldn't find that post, but I did find this one that also has good tips! <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2012/01/13/how-to-get-a-reluctant-toddler-to-take-a-bath/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2012/01/13/how-to-get-a-reluctant-toddler-to-take-a-bath/</a></p> <p>@Jennibenni: @brownepiano: @snowjewelz: Thanks for the ideas! Sounds like some fun new toys or other bribes is probably the way to go until he gets over it or figures out how to tip his head back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745208 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 10:17:12 +0000 snowjewelz 2745208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine at some point hated the visor. Then I got this other thing that goes in front of her forehead; she hated that too. So I think since was was 2 (now 2.5) I just tell her to tilt her head and that has been fine.</p> <p>Also she went through a "water is scary" or "water is too hot" phase and I got her in by letting her blow bubbles in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745003 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 21:34:54 +0000 bhbee 2745003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a long time ago mr bee posted something about getting kids to like hair washing by using a small teapot for the water rinse. Possible I imagined this. But every time my 2yo refuses to tip his head I think I should do it (and then I forget!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2745000 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 21:32:07 +0000 brownepiano 2745000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've had a few night and day changes with my 3 yr old. He used to love baths + hated showers, then he decided showers with daddy were fun, then he decided he hated water in his eyes and went back to baths. He was screaming like crazy whenever we washed his hair so we started bribing him with videos if he can be calm and follow instructions (lay down!). Baths and haircuts are the only way he can earn videos in our house so he's all over it. He's had a few times where he didn't obey and got pulled out of bath early (messing with brother in the bath etc) and no video so he's pretty diligent about obeying now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2744990 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 21:03:52 +0000 Jennibenni 2744990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My almost 2 year old also has hated getting his hair washed/water poured over his head for the last six months or so. We have a skip hop moby rinser with a little silicone lip that's supposed to keep water out of the eyes, but it doesn't work that well for us because he will NOT put his head back. We just try to do the hair washing as quickly as possible. </p> <p>What has helped overall is making the tub more fun. We got bath crayons and the color tabs you can put in to dye the water. They've been a hit! So before he wouldn't even want to get in and screamed the whole time and now he only whines while we do his hair which is pretty brief. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-hates-baths-all-of-a-sudden#post-2744988 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 20:58:22 +0000 elljay 2744988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 20 mo has started refusing baths out of nowhere, when he used to absolutely love them. The only thing I can pin it to is he seems to now hate getting water poured over his head - he used to put up with it but the last few times he's had a fit. He also can't yet grasp the concept of tipping his head back. </p> <p>I'm thinking I'll get one of those soft visors to keep water out of his eyes, but curious if anyone else has had this experience? Is there another reason I'm not thinking of that might be causing his sudden bath refusal? </p>