Conference moira::parenting_v3

 
 As my kids have had almost all their bathing done in the shower from infancy
 on, I can testify that bathtubs are unnecessary.
 
 Do you not have a shower where you are now, that you could try out/train your
 daughter in?  One thing to watch out for is that kids this age (and others)
 sometimes start having fits about having water run over their head (in
 either shower or bath).  You might test out showers first without their
 involving shampooing.
 
 		- Bruce
 

    My kids do quite well with a hand-held shower attached to the shower
    head in the tub.  Now, obviously the hand-held could be used in a
    shower stall, but my point is it gives you and the child more control
    over where the water flows, you can direct it away from the child more
    easily, avoid their face, or just rinse their hair straight down their
    back instead of the general shower head going all over the place.
    
    Kids really enjoy the tub, and I think is't a question of her not
    getting that same type of enjoyment  in a shower instead of a bath.  I
    believe sh'd adjust.  As it stands now with my family, my four kids
    more often take a shower than a bath because it's easier and quicker. 
    As they get older, you may find this to be true also.
    
    

When I was pregnant I couldn't give Kati a tubby anymore (couldn't bend over
that far!) - she rarely got a tubby anyways, and usually showered with me.

Now it is showers every day.  I give her some toys to play in the shower, and
some soaps that she can color on the walls or herself, and she loves it.  Like
Bruce said, the hair washing is the worst.  She was so paranoid about getting
ANYTHING - even water - in her eyes.  I would hold her in my arms and rinse
her hair, but always got something in her eyes, ending the shower in tears.
But a few weeks ago when I had my hernia surgery I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT lift
her (only 35 lbs. but...).  So I gave her a wash rag to cover her eyes, and
just aimed the nozzle at her head.  NO TEARS, NO FUSSING!!!  Now we cover her
eyes every day and showers are again wonderful.

Might this work?

   Thanks for the ideas so far.. To comment a little..
   
   o We do have a shower, but as many have mentioned here and in other
     places, she's not terribly fond of water running down her face.  The
     one time I did have the shower on, she was not happy about it, but
     that was several months ago.  I'll have to give it a try again..
   
   o I have to agree, I suspect that the fun of bath time would change..
     She does like to color, so perhaps that could be the fun of showers..
   
   o I'll have to try the 'cover the eyes' suggestion - I had never thought
     of that, and it sounds good..
   
   Thanks, and keep those cards and letters coming...  
   
   - Tom

    Yes, they do still make stand-alone tin tubs.  Try a hardware
    store that caters to farmers (rather than yuppie do-it-yourselfers)
    or, if you live in the right part of the country, a farm and ranch
    supply store.
    
    --bonnie

    
    Showers are great, but sometimes the kids just need to soak in a tub,
    and have that time to play with some toys. In our house its about
    50-50. Our oldest son used to get high temps and the only thing that
    would take it down was to soak him in warm water. I don't know what
    we'd do without a tub.
    

    AJ has always just **loved** his bubbles in his bath.  We don't do
    bubbles everynight, just often enough to make it special.  As someone
    else mentioned, I'm not sure how I'd deal with a fever without tub of
    cool water to help break it!
    
    We have a WaterPik brand hand held shower head, and it does work for
    quick rinse-off's or if you don't want to get his head wet for whatever
    reason.  AJ like a shower as much as a bath, guess it's all in the
    approach!  When we go camping there is no other option but showers.
    
    Lyn