pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

How do you teach a 9 month old, not to stand in the bath.

He's been doing it since around 7 months, but I could usually distract him with a toy. We cycle toys so he doesn't get bored. We have cups, and squirters, and fountains galore. We even taught him to splash to keep him busy while I was him up. But lately he could care less about anything and wants to stand. If I sit him down I get tantrums, arched back and screaming. Last night, he arched his back so fast and hard his head was underwater. I am still in tears thinking about it. He recovered just fine, I was probably more stunned than he was.

Any advice?

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

if anyone knows i'd LOVE to know to.

DS stands but the rule for us is when he stands the bath is over!

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

The first place my DD ever stood up without holding on was in the tub. I remember it vividly because I sat there holding my breath...

I don't know that there's much you can do to stop it - and honestly, from what you're describing, I think it may be safer to let him stand, wash him quickly that way and get him out of the tub asap.. rather than try to stop him and then have him throw a tantrum and possibly hurt himself. I'm pretty sure that's what I did with DD. With her we couldn't make an issue out of anything without asking for trouble.

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

I just told them to sit while putting them back into the sitting position. I would have ended bath time if they continued to try but thats all it really took for them to learn.

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

wow, whenever I read your posts lately, I think that we have the same kid. We are going through this too. I started to end the bath early. As soon as he starts to pull up, I hose him off & out he goes.

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

I fought with DD for about a week when she started doing this. She would stand up, I'd sit her down and say "no standing, sit", she'd stand right back up...and repeat and repeat and repeat about 10000000x! I did this every single bathtime for a week over and over and over and it was annoying and she cried and carried on and she barely got washed that week because I just kept sitting her down. But it was worth it because she never stands up in the bath anymore.

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

At that age I still used a small baby tub for Cai in the regular tub with just a little bit of water. there was no room for him to really stand.

When he was 10-11 mts old I moved him to the regular tub. If he stood, I firmly told him "no" and plunked his hiney back down. If you know he is going to arch back, crook your arm behind him and anticipate the tantrum. They get slippery in the tub, obviously, so make sure you get a firm hold.... Do what you need to do to clean him, and then get him out. Not much you can do, really.

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

The tub was where DS did most of his first standing up and cruising. At first I did try to get him to sit, finding also that I was causing more accidents than to just let him stand. I was right there and let him do it carefully and it did not last long.

If you're concerned, get a rubber mat or grippy stickers to help him have better traction.

Also, we have a permantly mounted grab bar in the tub/shower that he would love to grab onto while standing. If you do not have one, they do sell suction up ones that may help him hold on while you wash.

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

ds would stand after a few min of being in the bath..if i wasnt finished washing him i would say no standing and sit him down right away, he would stand up again and id say the same thing and sit him down until i was finished washing him. if he was washed up iwould say NO standing and take him out asap. he started to realize at about 11 12 months that if he didnt stand i would let him splash and play in the bath..

now at 14 months he sits when taking a bath and plays afterwards sitting down.. he knows if he stands im gonna take him out.

it took a few months of being consistant but it worked

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

DS was doing that a lot around the same time as your DS.

I gave him super-quick baths at the time.

He has seemed to outgrow it though (knock on wood) and now sits nicely for the most part. I think it may be due to the fact our house is a little drafty and it's warmer to sit in the tub than to stand. As for toys, he just plays with a cup usually.

Re: pulling up to stand ... in the bath - help me!

Posted by lipglossjunky73

At that age I still used a small baby tub for Cai in the regular tub with just a little bit of water. there was no room for him to really stand.

When he was 10-11 mts old I moved him to the regular tub. If he stood, I firmly told him "no" and plunked his hiney back down. If you know he is going to arch back, crook your arm behind him and anticipate the tantrum. They get slippery in the tub, obviously, so make sure you get a firm hold.... Do what you need to do to clean him, and then get him out. Not much you can do, really.