At some point during the last month Max has decided he hates taking a bath. This is very troubling to Shannon and I because up until now he has loved playing in the bathtub. He cries at the mere suggestion of a bath. The sound of running water sends him into a panic.
The other night I just said “bath time” and he replied with a pitiful “no”. Then he started waving his arms in front of him like a sailor on an aircraft carrier trying to flag down a plane. It was pretty clear how he felt about the whole idea of getting cleaned up. I probably would have let it go if he hadn't had dried snot on his upper lip and dried sweet potatoes on his chin and neck.
Gone are the days when Max would splash in the tub and play with his toys until the water was cold. He sobs from the time you get him undressed until he has been slathered with lotion and is in his footie jammies. It makes us feel awful.
I don’t know what triggered this aversion to water and we are at a loss as to what to do. We have tried a different bathtub. We tried a shower instead of a bath. We have tried just sponging him off in the sink. We have even tried getting in the tub with him. (Granny Alice even put on her bathing suit and got in with him in an effort to convince him it was just swimming.)
Nothing works. He just cries the whole time.
The real problem (besides feeling terrible that my son is wailing) is that he is mobile and active during his every waking moment now. He is working on feeding himself with a spoon and enjoys playing outside. Both of these new activities are causing him to be dirtier than ever. Now that he actually needs a bath, he doesn’t want to take one.
We will have to find a way to work through it because I don’t want to be the father of the “smelly” kid.
4 comments:
The second photo on the blog must have been after the bath and getting the feetie jammies on, or maybe this was one of the times you guys let him skip the bath. Looks pretty clean though. It's bizarre how all the sudden he decides he hates something he used to love. Does the pediatrician have any thoughts on this?
Whoops, forgot to sign that blog. Love Aunt Donna
I have nothing to say to that. Maybe he is just asserting himself and seeing what he can get away with?? Or maybe it's just a boy thing, something he will outgrow? I must admit, it is certainly strange to go from liking a bath to disliking it like that.
~Amanda
And the fun begins of learning WHO is really in control :-)
Becky
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