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Author Topic: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath  (Read 1550 times)

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Offline Shanonita

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Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« on: July 23, 2007, 18:11:42 pm »
Hi,

Hope it's okay I started a new topic.  We have a developing issue with our bedtime ritual.  My LO is 10 weeks old and has been on a routine since she was 2 weeks old.  Our bedtime ritual has been bath, bottle, bed.  I don't feed to sleep but do give her a bottle before bed.  Anyway, lately as we get ready for her bath and put her in the bath she screams and screams and screams.  I think the bath is very stimulating for her.  I have given her a bath in the day and she doesn't scream so I am thinking she must be overtired.  Is it possible that she doesn't like the bath?  So, considering this, what might we do about our bedtime ritual?  When she screams we immediately take her out of the bath for fear of creating a negative association.  Should we give her a bath anyway?  Or, do you have other ideas? 

Our wind down for naps consists of swaddling, holding close for a few minutes (if she'll have it) and then going into her cot.  We don't use a pacifier--we tried she's just never been a very sucky baby.  Should we stop the evening bath for now and then try again in a few weeks?  I have tried resolving her overtiredness with daytime sleep but this doesn't seem to help.  Will she outgrow this?  Has anyone else had this issue?  Our EASY usually goes something like this (I recently increased her A times because of 45 minute nap issues and this has helped):
E:7am
A:til 8:30
S: til 10
E: 10
A: til 11:30
S:til 2
E: 2
A:til 3:30
S: catnap til 4
A:til 5:30
E: 5:30
S: try for another catnap (she will usu. go 20-30mins only by now)
A: bath
E:6:30-7
S:7ish--bedtime

The EASY is a little off because we often have nap issues.  My LO is spirited so I try to limit stimulation.  I recently increased her A times and she has more consistent AM and lunchtime naps.  It is really hard to get her to nap in the late afternoon--hence the bedtime ritual problems.

Thanks in advance for reading and offering advice.
Shannon
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Offline finlays mam

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2007, 19:05:11 pm »
the only thing i can suggest is does she feel safe when put in the bath?  I never had a problem with Finlay and his bathtime but from day one i always made sure his feet touched the bottom of the bath and secondly get a flannel/washcloth and put it over his tummy, like a blanket/cover and keep pouring water on it to keep it warm....it worked for us!!
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Offline SammyNik

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2007, 19:17:20 pm »
Hi we had this prob with our ds for a while at around this age and we finally figured out (after many stressful bathtimes!!) that he was hungry, could you try doing her bath quite soon after the 5.30 feed then have some quiet A time before next feed and bed? We did something like this
E-5pm
A-straight after feed slow ready for bath taking around 5-10mins and if ds was still happy then into bath generally with daddy in as well which also seemed to make him feel more secure then quiet A time like reading books and investigating mummys hands before bedtime feed then sleep. Hope this is helpful x 
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Offline aisling

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2007, 19:20:23 pm »
Same thing happened to us at this age and I was going to post exactly the same as SammyNik.  :) What we did was, we gave half a feed before bath and the other half at bed before books.  Problem was solved immediately.  I had (have) a hungry guy!

HTH,

Aisling x
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Offline Shanonita

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2007, 20:12:17 pm »
Okay, I hadn't thought that she might be hungry.  I will try that.  Reading books is a good idea, too.  Don't know why I didn't think of that.  I also hadn't thought about her feet touching the bottom.  We use a bath seat that seemed to help her feel a bit more secure for awhile but her feet don't touch and now that you mention it that may be what distresses her.  Maybe I will try holding her in the bath or getting in with her.  Thanks very much!
Shannon
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Offline Grace's Mom

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #5 on: July 23, 2007, 22:51:25 pm »
Mine did the same thing  :)

We did 1/2 bottle or what ever she would eat (she was a very small eater so this was also a plus as she got an extra ounce in or two this way), bath, pj's, rest of the bottle while singing and reading, etc. 

Hope things work out for you!

Melissa
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Offline Shanonita

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2007, 17:01:23 pm »
Hello all,

Just wanted to report back and say thanks for the advice.  We tried feeding just before the bath and I also got in with her.  This seemed to help, she still seemed apprehensive and cried a little but did not scream as before.  Tomorrow will try feeding first then bathing her in her chair without me in the tub and see if that works. 

Thanks again,

Shannon
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Offline aisling

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2007, 19:18:26 pm »
 ;D
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Offline SammyNik

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2007, 20:10:49 pm »
I do remember it taking us a few days to get back to normal without crying and even now we still have the occasional bad bathtime if he hasn't fed well during the day or is tired. If this happens we just get him straight out its not worth stressing him out as as my health visitor pointed out he won't exactly be filthy as what do babies do except sit there and look cute!! Not quite digging up worms in the garden yet!!
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Offline Shanonita

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2007, 06:35:45 am »
Thanks SammyNik.  That's good to know.  We'll keep trying.  Its nice to know we're not alone  :)
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Offline Shanonita

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2007, 17:37:07 pm »
Hello all,

Wanted to reply quickly to say that over the past several days I have been implementing your suggestions and they are working!!  I am so thrilled!  She did not cry at all tonight in the bath and was actually smiling.  What has worked best in the end (in case other folks have this issue) is feeding before bath and also making her feel more secure.  Before the crying started we were bathing in a bath seat in the big tub...this worked all right for a long time (up til recently as you know).  Now, we are bathing in a baby bath with a bath seat.  I make sure her feet can touch the end of the baby bath (thanks for that tip Debbie!) and this seems to help her feel much more secure.  And I sing to her  :D  I am so glad that bath time has become more of a pleasure for all of us!  Thanks again for your support!  You all really helped us work through this before it became too big of a problem.

Hugs,
Shannon
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Offline finlays mam

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2007, 17:26:57 pm »
yey....shannon!!! that's fantastic news, i'm so glad the feet tip worked for you!!  Brilliant ;D ;D

Happy bathing!!!

love Debbie x
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Offline Missy Lou

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2007, 18:06:37 pm »
we did that too.  I would get in the bathtub (big tub) and take a bath with LO. 
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Offline Grace's Mom

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Re: Bedtime ritual--screaming in the bath
« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2007, 15:45:49 pm »
That's so good to hear.

Melissa
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Blog: http://graceadelyn.blogspot.com/
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