14 week old baby girl hates baths!!!

Well my princess is now 14 weeks old and bath time is a real hassle. I was bathing her daily as she has badbaby acne and ezcema but my GP said she didnt need a daily bath as she didnt do much to get dirty. Since i cut down tha baths to every 2-3 days (i still top and tail) she has started screaming the house down. How do i get her to enjoy bath time again... She used to love laying in the tub swishing her arms and legs.

I talk to her while undressing tell her its bath time etc, we sing or just talk while she's in there but she's too busy screaming for anything to work. I tried bath toys and the special tile stickers to make the bath seem more fun but still nothing helps... It ends up being an in and out wash as she screams way too much.

Any ideas would be great... should i go back to daily baths to get her used to them????

Hi Jess, my DD HATED baths for awhile there too, my resort was to jump in the shower with her or give her to DP while he was in the shower, she really loved the warm water on her back, I'd suggest you give that a whirl?

Hi Jess!
Matilda loves her baths, however she loves it even more when I run a big bath and jump in with her. I am not sure if this is an option with you as you have another child at home as well, but might be worth a go to get her confidence back and to make it more fun?

My friend had a baby who hated being bathed and she found that swaddling him in a towel and putting him in towel and all helped- he liked the secure feeling of it. Maybe worth a try, especially if she has started being more clingy with you. It might be more that she's scared of feeling disconnected in the space, rather than not having a bath every day.

The towel thing sounds like a good idea. I wish someone came along with that idea when my kids were little!
My DS was about that age when he decided he wasn't too keen, so we started putting him in with Dh or I. Either in the bath or shower.

My DD hated baths from the day she was born until she was maybe 10 months old. My hubby nearly always had a shower with her until a week ago when she turned 2. She now enjoys baths, we just didn't push the issue and once she learned how much fun she could have splashing and playing with her toys she began asking for baths.

We have the heat lamps on in the bathroom to keep it warm and we also put a warm wet flannel over his belly to keep him warm. His daddy usually does the baths while I get his towel and clean clothes ready. Sometimes, I'll take him in the shower with me and he loves that. DP is too scared to do the showers with him yet.

Thanks for the replys.

Never tought of the towel idea. I have tried the baby bath and the big bath. I usually fill it up enough for my DS also. That way i bath DD and then put him while i'm getting her dressed. I have tried the face cloth over her tummy, she likes bathing on her tummy more then back in. (still screams thou just not as much)

I bathed her today while DP was in the shower and she screamed so much... HE told me to pass her in to the shower... Silence... COmplete silence... She loved it... I'm not sure how i'd go showering her myself (alone) but might be worth it when DP is home... (couldnt believe he offered, he wouldnt shower with DP until he was like 6 months at least)

Our bath is small but i might try to get in with her and see if she's better then. If worst comes to worse i'll just have to shower her.

Thanks again for the replys

That's right Jess, showers ROCK! :lol: Good luck.

Interesting topic. How do you shower with 14 week old baby? Holding her while the water rans? I personally couldn't do it, I would let her cry while I bath her but thank goodness my baby girl loves bath time. She stares at me while I talk to her or sometimes she talks back but perfers to listen me instead. Good-luck Jess.

I was going to say shower too. It is scary at first, but it gets easier. Depending on your shower you might even be able to sit in there with the water running over you and that would be easier.

Otherwise, if you are too nervous about the shower, you could always try daily baths again and see what happens. GL.

Girl22,
If you are scared of your baby slipping, a suggestion is to wear a sock, with the end cut off on your arm, that way there is a non slip element, or wear a singlet yourself (personally I think the singlet takes the skin on skin away which is special with a baby of that age) you could wear it until your confidence grows.

MatildasMummy,

That's a really great idea. I might shower her one day, to see how she will react.