When you welcomed your child into your home, you may have had idyllic ideas about the joys of bath time–perhaps you imagined a cherubic baby, all a-glow and splashing gleefully in the tub. The truth is however, that some children do not like baths, and for some parents, bath time becomes a struggle and a battle and ANYTHING but fun. What can be done?
Several months ago, I touched on the subject of expecting children’s attitudes about bathing to change over time and that sometimes they might be into it and at other times they might not. For some children, however, bath time is never one of their favorite activities and baths can actually be a constant struggle and battle for parent and child.
It may take a while to figure out why a child hates baths and what is really going on–it could be that the child does not like the feel of the water or the feeling of being naked (try letting him or her bathe in a swimsuit), some children prefer baths and some prefer showers, sometimes a child may not adjust well to a move or a renovation that makes the bathroom different.
A fearful, cautious child might be scared of water, another might not want to stop what he or she is doing to “waste time” taking a bath. Whatever the reason, it can be helpful to figure out what is going on in order to make adjustments. You can change the bath time routine to fit a child’s temperament. Experiment with bath time (morning or evening), showers, baths, soaps, shampoos, routine, etc. You might find that a little adjustment is all it takes to turn a battle into a joy. Watch out for power struggles, however, and try to help a child feel as in control as possible–this can help to eliminate the bath time battles too.