Bathtime

[zayneegirl]

so, i really like the idea of a nightly bathtime added to our bedtime routine. My DS is now 12 weeks, and i think it would be great.

HOWEVER--- While my DS LOVES his baths-- kicking and splashing and frolicking and such, he HATES getting out. Hates it. He screams his most sad and miserable scream when we get him out, and it continues to escalate until he's diapered, dressed, swaddled and rocked for a time.

I've considered that it might be chilly getting out, so we:
1. turn the heat up
2. put a towel and a blanket in the dryer
3. wrap him immediately in towel when he gets out
4. dry him quickly, then immediately switch to the warm blanket
5. we check both towel and blanket to make sure they are not TOO hot
6. we avoid massage and/or lotion immediately after, because this only seems to upset him more...

My questions are these-- why is he still so upset?
 Can we do anything differently? has anyone else's LO been like this? When might he grow out of it? Because of his EXTREME reaction, would you recommend NOT trying to implement this regularly?

Thanks everyone!

EMily

[oilerbaby]

My ds does not like getting out of the tub either - way too much fun in there I think!  We find he is much better with me than with dh (maybe because I rub his feet  but we have a little heater in his room and what I also started doing was turning it on towards him so he stayed toasty while I got him pj'd up. 

How long has it been since you started the evening bath and what is the routine like?  Do you feed him before he baths or after?  With all three of our kids the bath always worked into the last feed as well.  We would give them 3/4 of their bottle and save the last bit for after their bath.  When they started cereal (about 3 months) we gave them their cereal before their bath and the bottle afterwards. 

And if I don't reply to you over the next bit it's because we're away on a holiday!  Promise to read when I return! 

[Vicku]

Hi there!
My LO did excactly the same as yours at same age. When she was a little older we could sometimes distract her with a toy to look at, to hold or chew, but not always. It eventually went away though. If he really enjoys the bath then I think it's fine to add it as part of your routine, as long as you can put up with the crying...
A few questions: what time are you usually giving the bath? Could it be that DS is getting OT by end of it and therefor has a stronger reaction? In that case you could try to see if a different timed bath, E.g. am instead of pm, would make any difference?