My son, who turned one a week ago, absolutely LOVES his baths. But he's recently started constantly trying to put his face in the water - not all the way under, but enough to get his nose and eyelashes wet, and he usually swallows some water or gets it up his nose, then starts coughing and gagging. Then he sticks his face in the water again. Of course I don't leave his side, so I'm not worried that he's going to drown, I'm just not sure how to get him to stop. When I pull his shoulders up to get his face out of the water, he gets MAD!
And if he's not trying to put his face in the water, he's standing up. I sit him down, he stands up again. I ask him in a firm voice to sit and I sit him down again, and he stands up again. He can't stand on his own yet, so he's holding on at weird angles and his feet slip around. I know he's too little to understand the danger, and he's just exploring his surroundings, but it's a real challenge to keep him safe and get him clean at the same time. So far, the best "punishment" I've been able to think of is to take the bath toys out of the tub, finish washing him, and take him out of the tub without letting him play and splash like he usually does. I want bathtime to continue to be a fun thing for him, but I want to keep him safe too! Any ideas on how I could do things differently?
Do you have a bath ring for him to sit in? If not I'd try that for the standing up. If that doesn't work just take him out of the tub and tell him why he has to get out early.
As far as his face in the water, I wouldn't even worry about that. As long as you stay right by his side he's not going to drown. My kids did it when they were that age and grew out of it by about 15 months.
I would get in the tub with him.. or just take him in the shower when you take a shower.
It is a stage and it will pass.
bathing my 9 month old is an olympic event.
he bounces and stands and splashes..
my daughter sat nicely in her tub.
boys are different.
Hi L.,
Get a hand-held shower and shower him. Get a non-skid mat for the tub for him to stand on. It's quicker, too.
I bought a seat for my daughter that she can't escape from or reach the water with her face. She can still play and splash but can't get totally out of control like she can out of the seat. I think the seat is made by safety first. I found it at Baby Depot in Burlington coat factory.
Hi L.,
My son use to do the same thing. So I started taking showers with him. And I still do. My son is now 5 and we don't have that problem anymore, but I have a 21 month old daughter who also did the same things, and I take showers with her also and it works out great!!!
Good Luck,
J. in Macomb
Hi L.,
I'm a rookie to give advice, but I had the same experience. Our little one stuck her face in the water a couple of times, too and was very shocked and upset that she couldn't breath. When I helped her sit up I gave her a surprised look and comforted her. She did it a couple of more times each time she got in her bath and I did the same thing. It took a more than a few times for her to get it. I let her stand when she wants to get a toy but she found that sitting is better. I have a cushy bath mat that sticks to the tub from baby's r us that isn't slippery. I would imagine that you could do a quicky wash with one hand while he is standing and let him tire himself out trying to play while standing once you are done. Try dumping water out of a cup and hand it to him to try. He'll need both hands and maybe he will sit on his own. He should eventually realize it is much more fun to play while sitting. I'm not sure he can connect you taking his toys with standing, but I could be wrong.
Baths are a great time for the little one's to explore and play so I hope you will continue to let him have his bath. I jokingly call my daughter's bath physics time because she is so intense while she does something new with the water.
A.
I feel you handeled it fine! Sounds like it's time for swimming lessons--Check The Parks ans Rec guide--he'd love it, and this would give him an outlet for his water love!!
Also, no one mentioned toys. give him LOTS of things to do in the tub. Paint brushes and shaving cream, soap crayons, dyes....the ideas are endless!! Every night bathtime at our house was a HUGE activity that the kids loved, and I never had issues. I miss those days:(
