I didn’t even know that this was a thing. All of a sudden, Aliana decided she hated baths and wasn’t interested anymore. She fought me every time I told her she had to take a bath. I felt helpless and I did not know what to do. I thought she didn’t want to take a bath because the water was too warm, or maybe she saw a bug in the water, or she felt that she didn’t need one. It came to a point where my husband and I had to force her into the bathtub, hold her down, pour water on her really quick, scrub her down, and rinse her as she is screaming and kicking the whole time. My husband and I felt so bad and we were overwhelmed. We didn’t know what made her stop wanting to take a bath.
So one day, I asked my followers on Instagram if they experienced the same problem with their toddlers. I got some of the best advice from them. So I wanted to share some of the tips that have helped other mothers and me alike.
1. Try to make bath time fun for them
When I was a kid, we didn’t have all these toy options. I remember having a mermaid doll and some cups. Toy options are endless these days. Throughout the months, I have bought several toys for Aliana to play in the water. I noticed that she loves imaginative play when she is taking a bath. Here are some toy ideas I also got for Aliana. She has letters and numbers that stick to the wall, cups, animals, fishing kit, boats, mermaids, flashing light animals or balls, and a fountain. Each month I would introduce a new bath toy to her, and she loves it. Bath time was a lot more fun with new toys.
2. Throw in some bubbles or bath bombs
Bubbles always get Aliana excited. I always beg my mom to put more bubbles until bubbles were pouring out of the tub. When Aliana was a lot younger, I introduced her to bubbles, and she loved taking a bath every time. There are a few times I had some bath bombs. OMG, that was a game-changer, and she wanted a bath bomb every day, haha.
3. Change the color of the water
Color drops were a game-changer discovery! I didn’t know this amazing product existed. I read a lot of reviews from parents who struggled to get their kids to take a bath and the drops worked liked a charm. When you add water to these tablets, they start to fizz, and there are different colors and sizes in each pack. When I showed Aliana how cool these drops were, she wanted to throw herself into the tub. Now she askes for these colors all the time. When we travel, I will take some in a ziplock bag.
4. Let them have a cold treat
I got this advice from a friend of mine. The question you will ask yourself, should I allow my kid to eat a popsicle during bathtime? Why not! The mess washes away anyways. Popsicles, ice pops, yogurt pops, can act as a reward for taking a bath. A healthier option is to make your popsicles with yogurt and fruit. There’s nothing wrong with a little bribery with our little ones.
5. Make the bathtub into art
I was ecstatic when I learned about bath crayons. Aliana loves to color and paint. Her face lit up when I showed her that she could draw on the bathtub. The best thing about the crayons is that they easily wash off. I love taking these with us when we travel too.
6. Let’s watch a show
If Aliana is into a movie or show, sometimes I would grab her iPad and have her watch a show while she is in the tub. Screen time is a good way to distract the kids. Sometimes I would bribe her and say she can watch a movie if she takes a bath. This works all the time.
7. Get in there too
Sometimes you need to get yourself in there too. Maybe your child is bored and wants someone else to play with them. There have been times when I took a bath with her. I have so much fun playing with her. When I am in the tub I get flashbacks from when I was a kid, but with cooler toys to play with.
8. Cover the drain and spout
I’ve heard some kids develop a fear of being sucked down the drain. Try to find fun covers for the drain and spouts. We have the whale covers, and Aliana thinks they are so cute!
9. Take a shower instead
Some kids enjoy taking a shower more than a bath. Bring some of their toys in the shower and go in there with them. Since your kids will watch you take a shower, sometimes they want to copy what you are doing.
These are all the tips I got. Test them out and see what works for your little one. I would love to read what has worked for you. Please leave a comment below and tell me what your secret was.
