My baby HATES the bath... any ideas?!

Question

Hi all, 
My 4 month old absolutely hates hates hates the bath. She screams and I mean she turns purple she’s screaming so much as soon as she gets in which results in my husband and I rushing to get her clean so she’s in and out after a few minutes.  We are practically rocking in a corner afterwards it’s that distressing and stressful for us 🤦🏻‍♀️ 
She also hates having a top and tail wash, hates getting clothes changed, hates having nappy changed etc. 
She is fine however if she has a shower or a bath with me. 
She also hates the car seat and cries as soon as she’s in the thing and often cries all the way to our destination (short distances only) which I feel awful about but we have to get to places!! 
Any ideas or things I can try? I’m kind of hoping she just decides she doesn’t mind all these things soon 😭

Answer

I think you all would benefit from a reset of it's super stressful. Nix the tub. When baby isn't sleepy or hungry, warm the room lay on a soft surface with a pee pad or towel under to catch mess. Use 2 bowls of warm water (one soapy one clean) and 2 cloths, stay positive and calm, maybe have your husband distract her by talking and playing, wipe her gently with soapy water, then rinse her off with clean water and fresh cloth. Check water and room temp most importantly. (Even keeping a towel over baby to keep them warm can help.) If she starts to cry just keep your tone and energy calm and don't rush. They smell fear and feed off or every.  LoL! To work her up to enjoying a bath, start by playing in the sink. Turn on the faucet to a gentle trickle and run her toes under the water, laugh and talk sweet and give lots of smiles. Let them put their hands under the water. Speak calm and happy anytime water is touching them. Maybe instead of submerging her get a bath sponge (look on amazon they're like 6 bucks) and only fill water enough to use to wash or bathe in sink. I'd say the most important thing is taking a break from how you have been doing it and retrain babies brain. Start slow and just sponge bathe until she can learn to enjoy. I'd try to put her hands and feet in water everyday a few times a day like playtime and slowly work her up to bring submerged. Once she's happy being in water and playing then start to wash that way again. Until then just sponge baths and lots of water playtime. I've learned with my daughter when I'm showing her things that I want her to like I laugh and talk really happy a lot so she sees and understands that even though it's a new experience, it's a good one. Good luck!

Answer

Have you tried a chiropractor? My wee boy used to hate going in his car seat and we took him to a chiropractor who role us he was very stiff and uncomfortable. Seemingly if you have an assisted birth (emergency c-section or forceps) then this could happen. Just a thought...

Answer

We used a hair dryer while changing on low. He liked the sound and the warmth

Answer

Mine used to hate baths. Now I wrap her in a towel while in the tub to keep her warm and take it off the parts I am washing. I think she was just cold

Answer

Maybes she really cold? When my little guy hated the bath, hubs and I gave him showers. One of us held him and the other bathed him. They are pretty slippery so you have to be careful.

Answer

My daughter was the same way at 2 months and it seems like it was just a phase. 
Is the water warm when she bathes? Is your house warm as well? She could be cold? 
As far as the car seat - are the seat belts adjusted to her size or do you still have them at newborn? This helped my daughter a lot as I think she hated being strapped in the most & it could have been seat belts were too tight. 
Good luck mommy, it will get better!

My baby HATES the bath... any ideas?!

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