Re: Bathtime rambling .....

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Posted by iZ's mom on May 29, 2001 at 10:29:46:

In Reply to: Bathtime/New Ig posted by Trippe on May 28, 2001 at 15:58:10:

when iZ was small, he was terrified of the bathtub! if yours is too, go sloooooow! it takes time + patience but it's WORTH it ~ as you're discovering! *grin* ...

i discovered that the sound of the faucet running *really* freaks iZ out ~ + it still does 4.5 years later ... so i fix the water *before* i bring him into the bathroom + no prob!

if your ig is scared of the tub, start with VERY shallow water, the "floating feeling" also really freaked iZ out at 1st (tho now he likes it!) ~ make the water shallow enough that your ig DOESN'T float ~ even if that's only 1/2" - 1" deep, that's ok! you're helping him learn to not be afraid ... you can gradually make it a bit deeper as time goes on + he gets used to it + as he gets bigger ... (+ the bath mat + something to sit on that IgJoe mentioned are good ideas!)

as far as "how long?" ... i pretty much let iZ decide that + it varies almost every day ...
my only "rule" is that he HAS to get in + 'go bathroom' and after that, it's up to him if he wants to soak or not ...
supper time is right after bathtime + some nites he convinced he's starving + so wants to get right out ...

he's *Finally* figured out that baths help with the shedding itchies + so some nites he's happy to soak for up to an hour! usually it's about 20 minutes ... he soaks, poops + wants out ... sometimes he soaks, poops, + wants to stay in + gives me dirty looks for taking so long to refill the tub ...
(iZ, if you weren't afraid of the faucet AND the noise the shower hose makes if it's on too high, i could refill the tub ALOT quicker, so just knock off the dirty looks ok?!)

it took alot of patience + effort on BOTH our parts, but bathtime has become the Major Bonding portion of the day for us ... iZ gets backrubs and praise for just being him + he gets my UNdivided attention which he reeeeeeally likes! no one is allowed to come in and they are not allowed to stand in the doorway + talk to me either! ... iZ is VERY possessive! *grin*

spoiled ig hint:
i have a shower hose with the shower head removed that i use to fill the tub up with ... we have an old claw-foot tub and especially in the winter, the water doesn't stay warm very long ... i put a couple of inches of water in the tub and then put the end of the hose under the water (no noise!) and keep it running at a slow trickle ... keeps the water warm + at the same time *gradually* makes it deeper ...
iZ has also decided he likes to have me gently spray him with it ~ but ONLY when HE says to!

best wishes! sounds like you're headed in the right direction!
Bon. + iZ

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: when iZ was small, he was terrified of the bathtub! if yours is too, go sloooooow! it takes time + patience but it's WORTH it ~ as you're discovering! *grin* ... : i discovered that the sound of the faucet running *really* freaks iZ out ~ + it still does 4.5 years later ... so i fix the water *before* i bring him into the bathroom + no prob! : if your ig is scared of the tub, start with VERY shallow water, the "floating feeling" also really freaked iZ out at 1st (tho now he likes it!) ~ make the water shallow enough that your ig DOESN'T float ~ even if that's only 1/2" - 1" deep, that's ok! you're helping him learn to not be afraid ... you can gradually make it a bit deeper as time goes on + he gets used to it + as he gets bigger ... (+ the bath mat + something to sit on that IgJoe mentioned are good ideas!) : as far as "how long?" ... i pretty much let iZ decide that + it varies almost every day ... : my only "rule" is that he HAS to get in + 'go bathroom' and after that, it's up to him if he wants to soak or not ... : supper time is right after bathtime + some nites he convinced he's starving + so wants to get right out ... : he's *Finally* figured out that baths help with the shedding itchies + so some nites he's happy to soak for up to an hour! usually it's about 20 minutes ... he soaks, poops + wants out ... sometimes he soaks, poops, + wants to stay in + gives me dirty looks for taking so long to refill the tub ... : (iZ, if you weren't afraid of the faucet AND the noise the shower hose makes if it's on too high, i could refill the tub ALOT quicker, so just knock off the dirty looks ok?!) : it took alot of patience + effort on BOTH our parts, but bathtime has become the Major Bonding portion of the day for us ... iZ gets backrubs and praise for just being him + he gets my UNdivided attention which he reeeeeeally likes! no one is allowed to come in and they are not allowed to stand in the doorway + talk to me either! ... iZ is VERY possessive! *grin* : : <big>spoiled ig hint:</big> : i have a shower hose with the shower head removed that i use to fill the tub up with ... we have an old claw-foot tub and especially in the winter, the water doesn't stay warm very long ... i put a couple of inches of water in the tub and then put the end of the hose under the water (no noise!) and keep it running at a slow trickle ... keeps the water warm + at the same time *gradually* makes it deeper ... : iZ has also decided he likes to have me gently spray him with it ~ but ONLY when HE says to! : best wishes! sounds like you're headed in the right direction! : Bon. + iZ

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