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My son LOVES taking a bath. I usually let him play in there for awhile but after awhile (20-30 mins) it is time to get out. He has been throwing fits each time I take him out of the bath for the past week or so, this used to not be the case. I have warned him that we are going to get out in a few mins and that doesn't work. Is this just something I am going to have to go through each time or does anyone have any suggestions?

edited Oct 10 at 20:25

Emi
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asked Oct 7 at 23:53

Melissa
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My youngest did the same thing, it only lasted a week or two but we just ignored it, continued to get him dressed etc. He's now 16 months and chooses to get out on his own. We bath him, let him play if he wants to and then he's ready to get out :) – Jay Oct 8 at 0:24

Phil · Accepted Answer · 2009-10-08 02:02:39Z UTC

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Try a timer?

When our daughter liked to take very long baths we would bring in a timer and set it for 10 minutes or so, telling her what we were doing.

When the timer went off, she seemed ok with getting out of the bath because it was the timer telling her it was time to get out, not her parents.

answered Oct 8 at 2:02

Phil
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Wow! THat is a really great idea . . . I am going to have to try that one! – Melissa Oct 8 at 4:42

Yes I agree :) I will start using that idea too. We also convince her to look at her hands and toes, if they are wrinkled its the signal to get out!! – Emi Oct 8 at 7:09

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Timers are excellent for just about everything that your kids resent doing because you tell them. "When the bell rings, it's time for..." - supper - bed - leave for daycare - try to go on the potty - give that toy back from whence it was borrowed... etc etc. – Melanie Oct 8 at 15:03

I think USE A TIMER should be included in the banner of this site, it is SO simple yet so effective. 'Unconcentrating' requires lots of effort, so it is much better to give them advance warning. – Benjol Jan 12 at 12:54

Mommy trial and error · Answer 2 · 2009-10-08 10:35:40Z UTC

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I always drain the water (they get bored in an empty tub) and talk to them about what book we are going to read. It usually gets them out real quick.

answered Oct 8 at 10:35

Mommy trial and error
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We did that to, now we say "want to pull the plug?" and he does it himself. He also likes to watch the water go away. (Robin is 21 months now) – Huibert Gill Oct 9 at 10:28

Our kids learned the word "vortex" at a surprisingly early age because pulling the plug out and watching the water whizz round was so cool! – Paul Stephenson Oct 23 at 8:40

KPW · Answer 3 · 2009-10-08 06:06:46Z UTC

I don't have enough rep yet to post a comment so I'll add an answer and testify that the timer thing (in my experience) works well.

One more thing you can try is to have your son drain the tub himself when the timer goes off.

I feel that its very much one of those "control" things. Let him set the timer, let him pull the plug, etc.

Good luck. :-)

Sabrina · Answer 4 · 2009-10-08 06:45:45Z UTC

You could also try getting him a fun towel to dry off with. Our kids sometimes hesitate to get out and then I ask them, "which towel do you want?" It distracts them long enough to get them out.

We have character hooded towels similar to this one:

monkey hooded towel

Yuval · Answer 5 · 2009-10-08 09:14:40Z UTC

My daughter (22 months old) really likes bath-time, especially when we add a little soap and make it a bubble bath. she plays with her floating toys, but what she really likes to do is "swim" on her stomach or sit up and splash water with her legs.

When it's time to take her out, we usually go through a ritual of saying goodnight to the toys, one by one (each has a nickname), and then pulling the plug and saying goodnight to the water. She's fascinated by the swirling of the bubbly water down the drain, and watches it intently, until the water is gone. Then we splash her with a bit more water to clean away the remaining soap, and pick her up directly into the big towel.

Obviously this is a routine that was developed over many months, but you could try it out and see how he responds to it.

Emily · Answer 6 · 2009-10-09 05:43:14Z UTC

Similar to the timer suggestion, an analog clock can be helpful (especially for an older child - it works well with our four year old). That way the child can actually see how much time he has left. A timer can be startling - time's up and how did that happen??? :) The visual of the clock helps the child understand the pacing, as well as the difference between 10 minutes left and 2 minutes left.

dreamerisme · Answer 7 · 2009-10-09 02:36:10Z UTC

We have the exact same issue! For now what seems to be working is that when we put her in we let her play first for 10-15 mins, at the very end we wash her and she is learning that the washing means its almost over. Finally we drain the water and then pull her out. I am finding the consistancy is working but its a slow process.

When my child takes a bath . . .

7 Answers