Terror in the tub!

re: Terror in the tub!

Roper — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:28:32 GMT

I'm so glad to hear that this is a normal phase...I just hope it's not a long one! Last night, Alastair tried getting in the bath with the girls, and it didn't seem to help much. Tomorrow night, I'll try the same, though I don't expect the results to be much different. I like the idea of bringing dolls into the tub...maybe it's time to get those baby dolls out of attic storage!

re: Terror in the tub!

Julie — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:33:21 GMT

Yep, same thing happened to us with our son (of b/g twins) when he was about 31 months old. Complete terror and screaming "I want to GET OUT" the whole time he was in the tub. I agree with Bryony - don't make a big deal and give her quick baths and she will gradually get over it. It's hard to give one twin a quick bath without the other twin having to get out early too, so try to do it when your husband is home and can hang out at the tub with Clio. We've never bathed with the kids (didn't seem like there was ever enough room) but I suppose that could work, however it will probably be tough to quit bathing with them if they get used to it. Good luck, Jane!

re: Terror in the tub!

Michelle — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:44:04 GMT

Oh yes, the screaming. It happened one day, out of the blue. She screamed about the bath, about getting dressed, having her diaper changed, going in the car seat..... She not only screamed, but would throw her head back and do a "sky-diver" back arch.

In the bath, she did what Elsa does, stood up and clinged to us. I finally climbed in with her and she relaxed. Now I take baths with her regularly. Ridiculous, but quick and painless.

The screaming subsided as quickly as it arrived, but I don't think we are out of the woods completely yet.

Good luck to you and know that it is normal.

re: Terror in the tub!

Quirk — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:41:43 GMT

Try giving them a baby doll (or stuffed animal) to take in the bath with them - let them wash it with a wash cloth, shampoo its hair, etc. My twins have also gone through phases of hating the bath after months of loving it.

re: Terror in the tub!

Melissa — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:39:55 GMT

I always enjoy your blog because my son is a month younger than Elsa and Clio and is usually going through the same things. Right after your girls started walking, so did Michael!

I have noticed he's less enthusiastic about baths lately. He stays in for less time than he used to. I hope screaming is not coming soon! Maybe you can sponge them down outside of the tub? Like standing in the baby tub or on a towel but without a lot of water??

re: Terror in the tub!

Bryony — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:11:05 GMT

All three of our kids went through this "I hate the bath!!" stage after they were in the "I want a bath NOW" stage. Never fear...they eventually got over it and loved their baths again. We tried not to make a big deal about it and made the baths as quick as possible. (I mean seriously, how much crying can Mummy handle??) Thankfully they went through this stage one at a time (we have a 7 yr old boy and 5.5 yr old boy/girl twins)

re: Terror in the tub!

ewokmama — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:16:38 GMT

My toddler decided he didn't like water in his eyes and freaks out about it. Also, I have read that some of them get afraid if they hear/see the tub draining.

re: Terror in the tub!

mary — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:48:14 GMT

Jane, are you living in my house with my twins, living my life? My twins literally just started doing the same thing on Saturday! Screaming, terror, please mommy save me from this tub I have loved for my last 13 months of life! That was monday, now its Wednesday and the terror has subsided (as of last night). We just continued to bathe them every night as part of their routine, and when they started screaming we just took them out (legitimizing their fears I guess?). Then last night, no screaming. Not sure what we are in for tonite, but hopefully this phase has passed!

re: Terror in the tub!

betty — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:56:44 GMT

at least if you are in the tub with them, that guarantees you, yourself, are bathing somewhat regularly, which for me these days doesn't alway happen. get some wine, light some candles, put on the kenny g. that should relax you, i mean her.

re: Terror in the tub!

knockedup — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:31:15 GMT

I've got to second (third? fourth?) the getting in the tub with baby thing. Axel's a lot younger, so we have yet to experience any happy-then-not-happy bathing rollercoaster, but he does much better when I'm in in the tub with him.

re: Terror in the tub!

lex — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:59:06 GMT

my little guy is now 15 months and did go through the same thing at about 1 year. my husband and i went through about a week and a half of getting in the tub with him, and then he was fine. toddlers are weird.

re: Terror in the tub!

FeministMom — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:43:14 GMT

My 14-month-old, always a lover of water, is going through the same thing. Actually, she still likes the water and playing in the tub, just hates getting washed and shampooed. As soon as she sees the washcloth, she freaks. And I can't tell if she's genuinely in pain or just having a tantrum. Same wash cloths, same soap as always. The only thing I can think of is teething...it's my catch-all explanation for any weird phase... Maybe I'll try getting in the tub with her and see if that works. Good to know we're not the only ones going through this!

re: Terror in the tub!

girlpops — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:29:14 GMT

my twin girls had a similiar bout of tubby anxiety....we introduced a couple of new tubby "toys" ( a small watering can and a few cups w/ holes in them) and that seemed to do the trick,,,i also think that they just go through these unexplainable phases....i had a few weeks of one my twins refusing to let me (and only me) put a diaper on her and then one day she let me....ahhh the joy of twins (my girls turn 2 on valentines day)

re: Terror in the tub!

IGNYC — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:56:23 GMT

My daughter went through the exact same thing when she was about 15 months old. In desperation, I started bribing her by blowing bubbles in the bath. After a week or so, she was fine again...