How do I get my 6 mon old to not be afraid of water?

Elita - posted on 04/15/2010

bath with her........keep going to the pool let her know that you are not afraid, also put her in the bath empty to have a play. it will get better My little boy was the same at 9 months he is better at it now. but we bath with him and play with boats and sing songs helped too

Nakia - posted on 04/15/2010

maybe try putting bright fun toys and the tub something that will get her attention. warm warm water, but before the tub let her move around naked first...

April - posted on 04/15/2010

Thanks for all the advise, when I do give her a bath and try to get it done fast and get her out. I have tried puttin her in the sink and holdin her and that didn't work. I will try some of the other suggestions. Thanks for the help, I hope it gets better. I considered a mommy and baby swim classes at the ymca but i wasnt sure if it would help there pools are heated and the pool i went to was cold so that may make a diffrence and maybe it wont I dont know.

Alannah - posted on 04/15/2010

Try showering with her. Even better, bring Dad into the shower with both of you! Let her see you have fun in the water, and it will get better. DON'T force the issue, though, as that will cause more problems! Good luck!

Kate - posted on 04/15/2010

I concur with Alison, try getting in the tub with her....let her see how you are comfortable with the water, and she will learn to feel more comfortable. Maybe the water is still too warm for her, so have it almost tepid(luke warm) and then as she gets comfortable with the water, you can slowly get warmer water in the tub. Their is a rubber ducky you can get a TRU that says when the water is safe for a baby's bath. I was always paranoid about Ryan's bath, and how warm I can do it, as I can stand really warm water, but know not to have it that warm for him(obviously), so I have to remind myself each time to keep the water "just warm". Once the baths are comfortable, then slowly introduce the pool, but it could be awhile. My son did outgrow his freight for baths, but now that he is in the tub and not his baby bath, the water comes up to his belly button, and the first couple of times, it took awhile for him to feel comfortable in "deeper" than usual baths! I did take him to swimming classes, but he was 9mos at the time....not sure if at 6mos he would have been so agreeable to it!
Good luck, and I am sure its just a phase she will soon outgrow. Try show her that bath time can be fun, so have water toys around to amuse her with!

Melissa - posted on 04/15/2010

It's probably just a phase she is going through. My daughter who will be 2 at the end of the month went through that and the only thing we could think of was she had a lot of ear infections when she was very young and if water got in her ears it hurt very bad. She was the same would scream at the sight of water but I just tried to get her in the bath let her scream and get her out as quick as possible to make it easy on both of us. After about a month or two she seemed to get used to the water and now loves the water just hates getting her hair washed cause the water sometimes runs down her face and she doesn't like that, but as long as she has toys to play with she is good to go. I know it's frustrating but hang in there it will get better. Like Alison said I would wait on the pool til she can make it through bath time. Good Luck!!!

Rachel - posted on 04/15/2010

Did you try bath toys?

Jasmine - posted on 04/15/2010

my daughter was jus like that.. she actually jus got used to da water.. i made her sit in da water splashed her a little bit. she cried alot but i guess dats what u gotta go thru to get them not scared of da water... now she loves to take bathes she be splashin in da water.

Alison - posted on 04/15/2010

The pool can wait. Personal hygiene cannot. Have you tried getting in the bath with her? You can also try taking a shower with her. This is probably a phase that she will outgrow. Put off the pool until you have the bathroom thing under control. (Is the pool heated?)