I feel so guilty because I just hate it

Bath time that is. I cringe every time we walk to the bathroom. She loves playing in the water, but every single time I wash her hair she screams like I am ripping her arm off, and about 50% of the time, she sh its in the tub!!! Last night as I was disinfecting everything AGAIN, I really just wanted to cry. Bath time should be a nice experience, fun, relaxing and maybe some bonding should go on, but in this house it is the most stressful time of the day. I'm just feeling so sad about hating it so much.

Re: I feel so guilty because I just hate it

we dont have relaxing baths, either. DS is 8.5 months old and tries to bust out of the tub like Kong because he only wants to stand, not sit! It's like a wrestling match. I just do it all really fast to get him in and out.

Re: I feel so guilty because I just hate it

has she always been like this? DD hated bathtime for the first 3 months and now loves it. Maybe it's just a phase? I hope it gets better. I remember dreading bathtime.

Re: I feel so guilty because I just hate it

I'm sorry

Bathtime is not all that relaxing for me either. She likes to climb and stand, head dive, etc. I'm a nervous wreck through the whole thing.

Re: I feel so guilty because I just hate it

Hayley sometimes poops in the tub too. Bath time is no fun here because Hayley thinks its a pool and splashes to the point that my floor has puddles. And then I take her out and she screams. Oh and she doesn't like to wash her hair either.

What do you use to put the water over her hair? Is the water getting in her face?

Re: I feel so guilty because I just hate it

It's not like she hates the whole experience, it's just the hairwashing part that is a horror show. And for the first 6-7 months I never had a problem.

To wash her hair, I first wet it by trying to gently wet it with a washcloth, trying not to let her know what is going on. But the minute she feels the water running down her back she starts flipping out. Once the hair is wet, she calms down while I lather it. Then I again try to rinse it with a washcloth, starting in the back. Finally I lay her back with her head resting on the inflatable wall of the little tub, and I pour the water with a pitcher over her head and get the hair rinsed. The whole time I am looking in her eyes, talking to her telling her everything is okay, but she continues to scream. When things go "well", almost no water gets in her face. When she is really fighting, she does get some down her face, which I quickly wipe off with my hand or the washcloth. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to do it better/easier for both of us? I've tried the pitcher from BRU with the rubber front to press against her face but that was worse when her face was covered up.

ETA: would it be really terrible to bathe her with a swimmy diaper on to prevent the "poop" problem?

Message edited 9/25/2007 9:21:53 AM.

Re: I feel so guilty because I just hate it

Ugh! I don't have any suggestions to make it better. It sounds like you're doing your best to make it not so bad. Maybe make up a song or game to go with the rinsing? As for the swimmy diaper, my opinion is, whatever makes it easier. You "wash" that area all the time with babywipes so it's not really that dirty anyway. Maybe you can wipe her down with the washcloth when you take the swimmy off.

Re: I feel so guilty because I just hate it

bath time is horrendous for us also... DD hatessssssssssss to have her hair washed... and she has A LOT of it.... i am right with ya