HotI, I used your balloon idea, and it worked to distract her from her initial panic. So that was great Will do that again!
She started panicking again when I grabbed the soap though, and I ended up getting in with her so I could hold her arms and legs down while I washed her hair. She was calm while I was doing the actual washing - she seems to like head massages - but full on bloodcurdling screams during wetting/rinsing. DH was there trying to soothe her too, I think that helped. And letting her get out on her own once the important stuff was done.
It will get better. I'm proud of you. It's hard to do things your kids don't like, but I must admit to being a bit of the suck it up kind of parent sometimes too. I think if you and DH are calm and confident in how you go about it, eventually she will be too. And if she gets positive attention and encouragement and quality time with mum and dad afterwards she will realise it's going to be okay. And settle down before hand a bit quicker.
Just be aware that sometimes behaviours can get worse before it gets better - they can ramp up the tantruming for a while as they have previously learned that it works. So if you continue on your path - calm and confident, with that empathy for her showing that you wish you didn't have to, but sometimes it needs to be done - hopefully things will improve over time. Could take days, could take weeks. But (unless there are other sensory issues affecting her - which we will assume for now there are not) it will get better xox
It will get better I promise. And sometimes when you do too many things to get her to distract etc it kind of feeds the fear. She can tell what you are doing. That it's out of the ordinary and they freak out more. Think of it in reverse. If it were you and suddenly everyone was making a big deal you'd be wondering why too. The more it is a part of her routine the easier it will be come. She needs to realise that bath doesn't equal pain. Which is pretty fair well done! It sucks when as parents we have to do things to them or for them that they hate. No one ever wants to see their kids cry.
it does get easier! my DD1 (5yrs now) was like your DD1. We used the shower head attachment in the bath and i let her do the wetting/rinsing. sure it made more mess, but I deal better with mess than i do with blood curdling screams. she used to still freak out but she learnt (with help) that if she tilted her head as far back as possible, no/very little water went near her eyes/face. she now gets upset when I say it's not "hair washing day"!
Re: How to get 3yo DD in the bath
Will do that again!
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well done! It sucks when as parents we have to do things to them or for them that they hate. No one ever wants to see their kids cry.
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