OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

Please, what do you do? DS is 16 months old and VERY active. He gets a bath EVERY night as part of his much needed bedtime routine. It used to be so enjoyable for both of us. Lately it's a wrestling match. How do you guys do it? Am I missing out on something? Haven't been able to use the changing table in months so after bath lotioning and dressing has been done on my bed. Now that he can climb off the bed I spend at least 1/2 hour chasing him around with the lotion.... Any suggestions on how I can bring the bathtime routine joy back??? I dread it now every night, it's so exhausting...

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

Just make all those things you mentioned fun! Chase him around, let him jump up and down. I think kids have like a CRAZEE hour before bedtime where they need to go CRAZEE before they can slow down for bed, make it fun, don't fight it. Just let him go CRAZEE!

Bedtime should be fun!

eta...forget the changing table, at 16 months old just put a changing mat on the floor or the bed, the changing table is dangerous with a toddler imo.

Message edited 8/20/2008 7:21:14 AM.

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

Maybe try bathing him every other day and see if that helps

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

Do you have a bath seat? This really helps with DS, He LOVES to take baths ans is very active, so with out a bath seat it he would be all over the bath tub, which is not so safe at his age (he is 16 months)

Also after the bath I take him to my bed to dry him off & get his PJs on. He does not love that part so I usually let him take one of his bath toys with him so that kinda occupies him, but I have to do everything qucikly, and as a Rachee said I make a game out of somethings, like I will smellhis feet as I am outtign the lotion on and say eww stinky and that really cracks him up. Little tings like that entertain him long enough to get him all dress.

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

I have an almost 16 month old too and we FINALLY got over that stage recently.

Here's what I do:

I run him RAGGED from 6:30 to 7:00 before bath time. We race, we jump, we play we climb, etc.

Around 6:45 I start saying "almost bathtime". At 7:00 I get all excited and say "BATHTIME!!!"

I let him go up the stairs "by himself" to go to the tub.

We make getting undressed a game "Hands Up!!" "Shoes Off" "Step Out!"

Then, (and this is my secret weapon), I don't fill up the tub until he's actually in it.

I put hiim in the dry tub, he sits down and I turn the faucet on. He LOVES to play with the water coming out and I give him a cup to play with so he fills that up and dumps it, or drinks it (it's coming from the tap, so it's fine).

You have to be very careful with the temperature though. Make sure no one runs any dishwashers, etc. that suddenly change temps.

By the time the tub is where I would usually fill it to, he's pretty much clean and anything after that I consider a bonus.

I also give him his toothbrush in the tub.

If he stands up, bathtime is over

Once we're clean and done, I pull him out, he sits on my lap and we dry off with a "fun towel" (monkey, duckie, whatever).

And then he gets to run naked into his room.

I sit on the floor, and we do lotion nd A&D on the hiney.

Then I give him his brush for his hair and lay him down for diapering and get him dressed as quickly as possible, still playing games "Where'd Logan go?"

Then it's on the chair with me or DH for a story and a bottle then right down for bed.

Usually takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes total.

HTH!

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

Posted by leighla

I have an almost 16 month old too and we FINALLY got over that stage recently.

Here's what I do:

I run him RAGGED from 6:30 to 7:00 before bath time. We race, we jump, we play we climb, etc.

Around 6:45 I start saying "almost bathtime". At 7:00 I get all excited and say "BATHTIME!!!"

I let him go up the stairs "by himself" to go to the tub.

We make getting undressed a game "Hands Up!!" "Shoes Off" "Step Out!"

Then, (and this is my secret weapon), I don't fill up the tub until he's actually in it.

I put hiim in the dry tub, he sits down and I turn the faucet on. He LOVES to play with the water coming out and I give him a cup to play with so he fills that up and dumps it, or drinks it (it's coming from the tap, so it's fine).

You have to be very careful with the temperature though. Make sure no one runs any dishwashers, etc. that suddenly change temps.

By the time the tub is where I would usually fill it to, he's pretty much clean and anything after that I consider a bonus.

I also give him his toothbrush in the tub.

If he stands up, bathtime is over

Once we're clean and done, I pull him out, he sits on my lap and we dry off with a "fun towel" (monkey, duckie, whatever).

And then he gets to run naked into his room.

I sit on the floor, and we do lotion nd A&D on the hiney.

Then I give him his brush for his hair and lay him down for diapering and get him dressed as quickly as possible, still playing games "Where'd Logan go?"

Then it's on the chair with me or DH for a story and a bottle then right down for bed.

Usually takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes total.

HTH!

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

Posted by leighla

I have an almost 16 month old too and we FINALLY got over that stage recently.

Here's what I do:

I run him RAGGED from 6:30 to 7:00 before bath time. We race, we jump, we play we climb, etc.

Around 6:45 I start saying "almost bathtime". At 7:00 I get all excited and say "BATHTIME!!!"

I let him go up the stairs "by himself" to go to the tub.

We make getting undressed a game "Hands Up!!" "Shoes Off" "Step Out!"

Then, (and this is my secret weapon), I don't fill up the tub until he's actually in it.

I put hiim in the dry tub, he sits down and I turn the faucet on. He LOVES to play with the water coming out and I give him a cup to play with so he fills that up and dumps it, or drinks it (it's coming from the tap, so it's fine).

You have to be very careful with the temperature though. Make sure no one runs any dishwashers, etc. that suddenly change temps.

By the time the tub is where I would usually fill it to, he's pretty much clean and anything after that I consider a bonus.

I also give him his toothbrush in the tub.

If he stands up, bathtime is over

Once we're clean and done, I pull him out, he sits on my lap and we dry off with a "fun towel" (monkey, duckie, whatever).

And then he gets to run naked into his room.

I sit on the floor, and we do lotion nd A&D on the hiney.

Then I give him his brush for his hair and lay him down for diapering and get him dressed as quickly as possible, still playing games "Where'd Logan go?"

Then it's on the chair with me or DH for a story and a bottle then right down for bed.

Usually takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes total.

HTH!

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

Re: OMG The bathtime ritual... And question

DS is 14 mos old and has recently started walking so the last thing he wants to do is sit still while I lotion, diaper, and dress him.

I just make it a game for him now. I sing to him and we make silly faces and noises together. Before you know it, he's all done and we go and play with his toys before bed.

I think it's all a matter of the parents' perspective. Kids can sense when we're getting frustrated and can find it funny so they'll do whatever they can to keep the fun going. If you see if from his point of view, it may help remove the frustration for you.