Babies Who Don't Like Baths

Baby bath time can be stressful for some parents. Different babies react differently to water. Some like baths, and would even start crying when you take them out of the water. Others, however, will scream their lungs off if their big toe so much as touches the bath basin.

So how does a parent handle a baby who doesn’t like baths?


It’s Not a Battle.

First off, it helps to remember the purpose of baths.

It may seem silly, but many parents, in their frustration with their bath-hating baby, forget that at the end of the day it’s all about getting the baby clean. The battle of getting the baby into the water can become much more important that the goal of the task! Parents demand and insist, even ignore the racket their child makes, just to get bathing done. Unfortunately these can make bathing unpleasant for your baby. Chances are, your baby will naturally outgrow dislike or fear of water, so there’s no need to create unnecessary stress. And definitely there’s no need to create trauma.

If your child really finds bathing upsetting, there is more than one way to keep babies clean and fresh. Consider a sponge bath while baby is adjusting. After all, it’s only a matter of time before you can give them a bath.


Keep It Fun!

Better yet, why don’t you make bathing interesting for baby?

Throwing their favorite toy in the tub is a good way to distract a child while you’re giving them a bath. Many water-proof toys are available in the market, and there are some intended specially for bathing, such as rubber ducks, toy boats and squirt guns. You can play music while they bathe, even engage them in a little song and dance. You can assign someone to keep baby entertained and laughing, while you go about doing your business. You can teach them how to blow bubbles, or make huge splashes.

Feel free to experiment too with various ways of bathing your baby. A baby tub is always a good idea, as most of them are tested for comfort and safety. But if you can afford to be creative, how about bathing outdoors? You can set up a shallow pool or basin in the backyard, and let them bathe in the sun. Bathe them in the most colorful room in the house; tiles and pipes are hardly engaging sights.


Turn Baths Into Social Events.

There is no reason for babies to hate baths. After all they spent 9 months in the womb surrounded by water; it may be said that before birth, water is their natural environment. If your child hates the bathing experience, it’s likely he or she is taking cue from the people around. Kids can sometimes mistake excitement for alarm. One of the best ways to get them to adjust to water, therefore, is to surround them with people who seem to enjoy baths too.

Join your baby in the tub; it’s an excellent opportunity to bond. You may also get siblings and playmates along. If your child can see that others are enjoying their bath time, they will know that there is nothing to be afraid of in taking a bath.