5 month old doesn't like baths-ideas to stop the crying?
I don't know if he's scared or doesn't like the water, but he likes the mirror and we entertain him and have him happy just seconds before he hits the water and then- he's freaked out. We've tried changing water temperatures, adding toys, singing songs, playing peek-a-boo... he's just not a happy guy. Thoughts and suggestions?
5 Answers
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We've given bathes to our kid very infrequently. I mean the bottom half gets washed and cleaned a lot, but the soaking part of the bath we have not done very much. At one point she didn't reallly like them. Now she is crazy for baths. I don't think it is necessarily so that you have to keep giving baths if they are not enjoyable so they will get used to them, although that can happen. Your kid gets a bit older and starts to enjoy bath toys more - things could completely change. Nice bath toys were a big improvement for us. A cup and some floating pigs. :)
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Two ideas come to mind:
- put him in the tub without any water in it and just do a sponge bath (if he still cries, let him investigate the tub on dry land before adding water)
- use the regular sized tub and get in with him
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When our kids were that age, they both had times of not liking the baths. As parents, we decided that we valued creating a bedtime routine more than pacifying the kids, so we still did baths we just made 'em short. Eventually, they got comfortable. Adding in distraction might help, so consider that rubber ducky or a parent making goofy faces while you try the bath. It ought to get easier!
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I agree with everyone else about no need to force them frequently. Our son had eczema and our doctor told us that unless it's very hot and they get sticky, infants only need baths about 1x a week.
I know that you said you tried different water temps, our baby girl only like baths that are almost scalding hot AND when we ran a space heater in the bathroom to make sure she wasn't ever cold. After that she started crying only when we took her OUT of the water. :)
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All of our kids have gone through phases where they've hated the bath. We try to have infrequent baths during these times. In addition, we get in with them or, when they were little, took showers with them. When they really hate it and we are in with them, they sit on our laps and touch almost no water, we just wantt o keep them in the habit of taking baths.
