Why children are afraid of the bath
Newborns might feel out of control, not like the change of temperature or not like the way floating feels.
Older babies and toddlers might be afraid of the noise of the water draining or of slipping under the water. They might not like having their hair washed or getting water or soap in their eyes.
Handling bathtime fears
When a child is very afraid of the bath, it’s best to take her fear seriously and not force her into the bath when she’s upset.
Newborns
You can make bathtime easier for newborns by:
Babies and toddlers
Here are some ideas that might help older babies and toddlers get used to the bath:
- Slowly introduce baths – for example, by sitting your child in the empty tub and giving her a sponge bath. Once she is OK with this, you could try adding a little water in the bottom of the bath.
- Put the baby bath inside the big bath for a while, until your child gets used to the idea.
- Have a bath with your child. You can put him between your legs or even on your lap so he feels safe.
- Use a bath seat so your child can sit in the bath. Always stay with your child when she’s in the bath seat.
- Use a nonslip mat or stickers on the bottom of the bath. This might help with your child’s worries about sliding under the water.
- Take your child out of the bath (and maybe out of the bathroom) before you pull the plug. The sound of the water going down the drain can be very scary for some children.
- If your child is worried about getting shampoo in his eyes, you could try a specially designed bath cap (available from chemists). These keep bubbles and rinse water away from children’s eyes. Some children even like to wear swimming goggles! It’s also a good idea to use baby or children’s shampoo, which is less likely to hurt little eyes.
If baths just aren’t working, try showering with your child. Either hold
your child in your arms or sit her on the shower floor with the water
spraying away from her.