Anxiety over poo/bath in 22 month old

[YouDontWinFriendsWithSalad]

DD is 22 months old and we haven't attempted potty training yet but we do chat about poo, as you do! (eg 'has DD done a poo? Shall we change your nappy?')

We don't think she knows what poo is because sometimes when her nappy is sodden she will anxiously say 'mummy, poo', and then go and lie down on her changing mat.

About a month ago DD pooed in the bath. We had a chat about not pooing in the bath, and we said goodbye to the poo as it went down the toilet, she seemed happy and got back into the bath when it was refilled.

For the last two weeks DD has been afraid to get in the bath. We don't actually have a bath, just a big basin thing in the shower cubicle, which she can climb in and out of. She is happy to potter around the basin and play with her toys but won't get in, and keeps pointing at the bath water and saying 'poo', looking really worried.

If we try to put her in the bath she will scream and scream. We've tried refilling the bath for her but it doesn't make any difference. For now we're just letting her do her thing, pottering around the bath, while tipping the odd cup of water over her and washing with a flannel, which she is fine with.

Has anyone else had anything like this happen? My instinct is to just go with what she wants right now but I don't want the bath thing to be a huge issue down the line.

Any suggestions? Sorry that this is so long.

[MrsRambo]

My DD is a month or so older than yours but we experienced a very similar reaction to doing a poo in the bath about 2 months ago. She FREAKED out when she did the poo and tried to hurdle out of the bath. Next day she started to refuse to go in the bath... Lots of screaming etc This went on for days. She is quite aware of poo etc too, so I was quite surprised by her reaction.

The only way we managed to get her back in the bath is with one of us going in with her and doing lots of 'play' in the bath with her. 2 months on she still tries to persuade one of us to go in with her but is usually appeased with lots of interactive play in the bath. I bought her some new bath toys to help! She especially likes having plastic cups etc in the bath and pretending to make tea for us all etc.

Hope this helps. I think you're right to not force her back in. Try and bribe persuade her back in! Good luck!

[YouDontWinFriendsWithSalad]

Thanks so much for the reply, glad to hear we're not alone.

Unfortunately getting into the bath with her isn't an option but maybe if we shower while she's in the bath that might work. I'm not sure a new toy would work because she has been happily playing with her toys beside the bath, she also has plastic cups.

Will ramp up the play and see what happens.

Thanks again!