baby hates bath

Posted by omaharrison (73 days ago)

OK, here's the story.
Baby around 4 months old, used to be fine with bath even loved it. Recently, he screams his lungs out when put in water.
I thought it's the soap so tried with only water, no change. Checked the water with hand, elbows, knees anything, it's not too hot.
Today I just put his feet in the water and he started screaming :s
I don't think it's a naked problem, feeling unsafe and all that cause I play with him before and after and all is fine.
Tried talking, singing to calm him down. Nothing, as if I put him in acid. BTW, his skin is fine doesn't look as if he has any allergies, only face turns red from the screaming.
Any tips?
Thanks

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by axptguy38 (73 days ago)

The best thing is probably to take a break. Fears don't have to be rational and since you can't reason with him...

Use sponge baths for a week, then go back to the bath.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by omaharrison (73 days ago)

What's a sponge bath? forgive my ignorance LOL

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by omaharrison (73 days ago)

OK, googled it. The thing is, that he just touched the water with his feet and just paniced.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (73 days ago)

With a sponge bath you can be a bit more relaxed. Just use the changing table (put a towel under baby). Getting feet in water and being touched with a wet washcloth are quite different sensations so baby might not react badly.

Gently wipe him with the washcloth. Follow with a wet washcloth that has a very small amount of wash fluid/soap mixed into the water. Finally rinse the suds off with the washcloth. Give baby a washcloth to play with. That tends to be popular.



BTW a sponge bath is what nervous first time parents like us gave their baby before we ventured into real bath territory. ;) Perhaps it's a US English expression.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by omaharrison (72 days ago)

Today we took a bath together and he was just fine. I guess it was a naked-exposed thing after all.
Thanks for the tips axptguy.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (72 days ago)

Bath together. Totally forgot about that solution.

Glad it worked out.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Katetam (71 days ago)

Well, happened to my son too at the same age ! If it makes any sense to you at all, babies at 4 months... according to some books, is the 4th trimester... finished. When baby is becoming actually AWARE of the real world. So putting him in a bath with water, is a sense of insecurity to him.... especially if he was once lowered in to the baby too quickly, or he felt he was falling (like my son)... his arms was in the air like he was falling, then he started crying and screaming.. and for 1 week, he wouldn't go into the bathtub until I changed the place where we bathe him. New surroundings, and I was totally hugging him into the bathtub... finally after 1 week, he was ok.

Yes, the other solution is bathe with him....

(I am based in Hong Kong)