Dekker hasn’t liked bathtime ever really. We had a few good ones before he turned one, but probably less than ten, I’d say. We’ve had huge fits of rage and panic in the tub, and they’ve gotten worse now that he can walk, giving him the freedom to try and stand up and climb out. Not ideal. So I will openly admit that we rarely bathe him. I know its something a lot of parents do every other night-ish, but Dekker cries with such a vengeance that I wonder if I’m abusing him somehow. I know I’m not, but I feel like its just not a battle worth picking all the time. Seriously, the dirtiest parts of him are his hands, face, and bum, and we wipe those all day everyday! The rest can wait. But there reaches a point where a bath is still necessary.
For the record, yes, we’ve tried everything. Bubble, no bubbles, different temperatures, new toys, me going in with him, Brady going in with him, standing, sitting, lying down, shower, etc. Death screams all around. So as I said above, its not a battle I feel like fighting. Since we’ve started bathing him less, we’ve had less fight these last couple baths. Success! NO TEARS!!
Tonights bath went well. I went in with him because the beginning is where the panic usually begins, and I figure skin on skin is probably the most comforting thing I could give him. He stood while we splashed him with water and got him wet so we could soap him up and rinse him off. I wanted him to sit while we washed his hair since he (like lots of toddlers I think) falls over easily. So I just got his attention and asked him to sit down. And he did 🙂 I’m so proud of him, even in silly little moments like that. He is not comfortable in the tub at all, but he listened and obeyed. So he sat on my lap (not on the floor of the tub, but on my legs) and Brady read him a bath book while I scrubbed his head and neck. Rinsing the shampoo is the worst, am I right? How anyone pours water over their kids head without pouring it all over their face, I’ll never know. That has been known to set him off pretty badly in the past. But not today. He just wiped his eyes and patted his book so his daddy would read it again. When his hair was done, I went for his ears. The main gross thing about less baths is that his ears get pretty nasty. So I took a wet cloth and cleaned them a bit. It seemed to really annoy him. But I feel like I’ve learned how to talk to him better in the recent past. So again, I got his attention and just said “Dekker, I’m going to wipe your face, ok?” I wiped off his eyes and nose with zero problem or fight. He even tipped his face up and waited for me to be finished.
I just love his character. He is showing so much personality and I am loving with I am seeing. He is very obedient and thoughtful. He is also very expressive of what he wants, whether in excitement or frustration. When we ask him if he’s ready for a sleep, he bursts out laughing and basically dive-bombs us, and giggles all the way to his room. What an amazing boy.
Tonight, during my nighttime cuddles with him, he slowly moved his index finger up and down on my neck while he snuggled into my shoulder. I love that kind of affection, and even though some might say he had no idea what he was doing, I’m going to go with he did. What a sensitive little man I have.
Thank you Lord, for tear-free bath time and snuggles at night.