Forest of the Plains

Until our Thanksgiving trip to Indiana, Jacob was still getting baths in his blue infant/toddler tub. Jacob was getting too big for that tub, so it was time to transition to the regular tub. My plan was that we would start using a regular tub while we were in Indiana, and then just continue that way when we got home. I should have consulted Jacob.

The first tub Jacob was in, he screamed as if his legs were being cut off. High pitched screams of terror. It was so shocking that I barely knew what to do. Eventually I managed to pick up my wet, shaking, crying boy. He calmed down just as I was starting to think about the risks of holding a diaper-free baby. He did consent to a bath in the bathroom sink, but he wasn't happy about it.

Two days later it was time to try another bath. This time we just started in the kitchen sink. He did okay, but did not enjoy the experience. The next bath time, we tried the tub again. It did work, but took two adults to work with one little boy.

After the last bath experience, Grandma Yoder asked a few questions. Grandma has 7 children, 13 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. I bet even Grandma doesn't know how many children's baths she has given! Luckily, all that bathing experience added up to a happier time for Jacob.

Grandma knew exactly how to help Jacob adjust to being in the big bathtub. First, put his toddler tub in the big bathtub. Fill both with water and show him the great toys outside of the tub. Then put him into the big bathtub, right beside the toddler tub. We had a whole process that took 4 baths, but it worked and now he's pleased as punch with the big tub.

On another baby bath psychology note: I read that you shouldn't drain the water out of the bathtub while the baby is still in the bath because the baby will worry that they'll also go down the drain. That made sense to me, so I've been draining the water after Jacob's out and having him watch and then we talk about the water going to the lagoon. Maybe Jacob wants to visit the lagoon, but he really enjoys draining the water himself while he's still in the tub. It will be interesting to see if he ever develops a fear of the drain.