18-month old bizarre bath behavior

My son has been acting weird when its bathtime at night for the past few weeks.

He gets all excited to go in the bath and runs to the bathroom, helps me put the toys in when I'm running it and then when I strip him and go to put him in he throws a tantrum and won't go in.

I can usually trick him into it but after 5 minutes of whining, running away and then standing up in the bath and refusing to sit. (but then I can't get him out when its over)

But, last night he threw such a fit, screaming, crying real tears and wanted to go in but when I put him in, he wouldn't go. He was almost making himself throw up it was such a fit.

It was like he was so cranky or whatever that he was mad when I tried to put him in and then was mad when I walked away and he didn't get a chance to go in.

I'm sure this is normal toddler behavior (this is my first) but wanted to know if anyone had tricks or similar experiences. . . I"m getting realllllll tired of this routine. haha

18-month old bizarre bath behavior

is he thrwoing a fit because he is over tired? have you thought about trying to bathe him a little earlier? its been getting dark early, maybe mentally he is already ready for bed?

Re: 18-month old bizarre bath behavior

maybe because its getting darker and he's tired....its just odd!

He's also teething like a mad man so that's fun - maybe connected?

I'll try earlier and see what happens. I usually do it as the end of the day wind down type of thing. But that seems to be done! haha

18-month old bizarre bath behavior

This is my 18 month old DD EXACTLY!!!!
I posted about it the other night.
No helpful suggestions b/c I'm battling it right now, but she is doing EXACTLY what your DS is doing. Word for word.
I bought her an Elmo bathmat and some bathtub markers to entice her in and then I let her stand.
Bath time last night wasn't as awful as the time before, but it wasn't fun.

I'm hoping its a passing phase!
Your post made me feel better. Good to know I'm not alone.

Re: 18-month old bizarre bath behavior

this isn't the case with bathtime. DD LOVES bath time! BUT she is VERY particular at this age!! She just throws a tantrum til we figure out what how she really wants to do things. Maybe he wants to try getting in himself? Maybe the temp? Maybe the time of day? I gotta say, it's just the age :(

Re: 18-month old bizarre bath behavior

thanks all....i tried putting him in with no bath water in there yet and then running it slow and letting him play with the water coming from the spout. It worked and he then threw his fit when it was time to get out.

I keep telling myself that everything is a phase, lol

Re: 18-month old bizarre bath behavior

It's a phase.
I have been reading about this so much lately.
DD does the same thing.
FREAKS out about the bath.
From what I read it's normal and quite common- it's like a control thing.
They do outgrow it but MAN is is hard when they are in the throws of it.