Tackling Bathtime Fear

Bathing can be scary for many toddlers. Here, we walk through steps to take to tackle this fear.

Being in the bath is a strange sensory experience for babies and toddlers. They may feel worried by new sensations such as the abrupt change in temperature or the odd feeling of suddenly being able to float. Sounds like the gush of water out of the taps or the gurgle of water draining down the plughole can frighten little ones, as can the confusion of where the plughole leads. Young kids do not grasp spatial logic well and may fear that they will be sucked down along with the water. Slipping under the water is also a common fear among toddlers. The feeling of getting hair washed or the sting of soap or water in their eyes may be distressing as well. Let’s look at how to address these worries.

HOW TO TACKLE IT

Be respectful of your child’s worries and don’t dismiss them. Make sure your little one feels heard and this in itself will be a comfort. Never force them into the bath if they are actually upset as this can fuel the fear of bathing. Take a calm approach and use your hands to gently hold their chest as this can help them feel more secure in the water.

A consistent routine at bath time can make things less anxiety filled for little ones as it lets them know what to expect. Perhaps you always wash or towel dry in a certain order or maybe you have a special ‘bathtime song’ or rhyme that you say together with your child.

HELPING KIDS FEEL SECURE

Here are some suggestions to lessen your child’s worry around bathtime, including: • Start with a sponge bath in the empty tub. Move on to a small amount of water and slowly increase the level over a few weeks

• Wait until your child is outside the bath, maybe even the bathroom, before you pull the plug as the noise can be scary • Invest in a kid’s shampoo, which is specially formulated to reduce stinging if it gets in their eyes. Some children like to wear swimming goggles to ease their stress around getting things in their eyes! • Sing a special bath song - the routine and participation is grounding for kids. • Don’t feel obligated to bathe your child - showers are a good alternative if their fear is too great. Either hold your child in your arms or sit them on the shower floor with the water spraying away from them.

• Always, always stay in the room while your little one is bathing!

AMPING UP THE FUN

Here are some tips to enhance bathtime fun:

• Use toys like bath crayons, squirty figurines and teacups • Add bubbles for some excitement

• Sing songs, tell stories and play games together

Overall, remember to tell your toddler how well they’re doing whenever they make a positive step with bathtime. These suggestions will go a long way in lessening children’s fears, creating a happier, healthier association with bathing for your little one.