9 month old suddenly terrified of water, help?!

[calm]

Before we would bath the twins daily, but their atopic skin meant that the baths had to go down to two baths a week. They have a standing bath which we hold them in. They have always seemed happy enough in the bath but in the last so many weeks one of our babies seemed traumatised by it. I think I might know how it happened and feel awful about it. The bath has a plastic tube which the water drains out of, and we have to hold it with a bottle of shampoo because I lost the silly little plug like on day 2. So it slipped out and started gushing everywhere one day, and I screamed in horror, and so did DH. LO started to scream all of a sudden too as we obviously frightened him He sort of seemed not to like the bath very much since then, on and off. We then bought chairs for the big bath. He hated it, he can really scream when not happy, but this was on a different scale, his whole body went red. DH picked him up and he clung to him like he was a life boat We then went back to the tiny bath, same reaction but far worse! I have googled this, and it seems it can be quite common in babies and toddlers to suddenly fear water and the reason is often unknown. I am planning to buy him some new bath toys (he has a couple of ducks but we never really played much in the water as they are supposed not to be in it for long due to their skin problems), and I'm going to put music on, and just put his feet in first. Is there any other ideas or suggestions any of you could give me?

 

[Dolly84]

Sorry didn't want to read and run but my ds had a similar fear at that age (o think it was dh dunking water on his head to rinse the shampoo off) that did it as I'm more careful, only lasted a few weeks then went back to his usual self. It happened again tho at about 16 months for a month with no reason that time. The thing that helped my ds was me actually getting in the bath with him to reassure him and play. Within a couple of baths he was like his normal self then I gradually retreated so it was just him in the bath again x

 

[SurpriseBub]

Awwww. Poor thing! The only thing I can think of would be to try playing in the bath with no water to sort of desensitize the whole thing. And also maybe try to fill the bath up very slowly with baby in it? Just thought it might be helpful if it is a slow trickle vs. a full bath if the very sight of it is scary.

Good luck! let us know how you get on.

 

[Perplexed]

My dd started being really afraid of having a bath but closer to 10 or 11 months. it was awful and went on for months. it coincided with other things like being clingy, not wanting to sit in her stroller/high chair, learning to walk, etc.

I bathed her less for the duration of the phase, and eventually it passed. she enjoys bath time now and sometimes doesn't want to leave the bath.

we've been using the big bath but I never actually fill it up. I just use a bucket. she likes playing with water in the bucket. I also got her a set of stacking bath toys since the beginning of that phase.

 

[calm]

Happy to update that it solved itself when we started taking them to the baby swimming pool. Now the baths are not a problem.

 

[Literati_Love]

I'm glad it has resolved.

My 11 month old has recently become terrified of baths and running water. It is odd because she LOVES swimming in lakes and pools and shows zero apprehension in those situations. To my knowledge, she never had a bad experience in a bath to traumatize her...so I'm pretty confused!

 

[calm]

Aw, I wish I could help but it just sort of went away for me as I said. I did put him in the pool very gradually and on top of me though. Have you tried getting in the bath first and then sitting him with you?

 

[Literati_Love]

I actually have tried that and she still freaked out! Hoping it will just gradually pass like you said!