# Why Do Little Boys Hate Baths? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468 "2009-02-12T01:55:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/21 "2009-02-13T00:57:21Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > It’s not so much the bath as what comes before and after. Before– cutting off play time or TV time. After– combing their hair, making them go to bed (and, for some, a last-minute homework check). Not a parent but that’s what I’m observing. It’s cutting into computer/TV time. Personally, I would declare bed-time at X-o’clock and then the bath follows the bed-time so it’s not seen as a loss of play time. Part 2 of this psychological war is to present bathing as a grown-up activity. Only real young children need to be told clean themselves… yadda yadda yadda. I can imagine my mom letting me overhear a phone conversation “can you believe I had to tell him to wash”. My father would have done the ole looking-over-the-newspaper-glare “your mother and I shouldn’t have to tell you to take a bath” lecture with a dismissive look. Part 3 is pre-emptive strikes. My mom was always good about telling me in advance what she expected. I was getting lectures about “fatherhood” before I ever saw a naked \*\*PICTURE \*\*of a girl. She would have started in on the “big boys clean themselves” lecture when I could barely understand English. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/22 "2009-02-13T00:59:19Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > **My** Mommy always took the stopper out while I was still in the tubbie, and I was afraid I was gonna swirl around and go down too! Seems to me I was shown I couldn’t fit into the drain (after the fact). ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/23 "2009-02-13T01:23:17Z")
I hated baths when I was a little kid. I couldn’t explain exactly why. It wasn’t the bath itself so much, that part was tolerable, occassionally fun. It was that squeaky-clean feeling you had right after you got out. It felt unnatural, I couldn’t stand it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a8b319/32.png) [@Captain\_Socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Socks)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/24 "2009-02-13T02:05:12Z")
I guess I like baths. I read books in there. ---
**Author:** ![HolyFreakingMoly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@HolyFreakingMoly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HolyFreakingMoly)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/25 "2009-02-13T02:19:59Z")
I have two little boys, one of them, the 5 year old, likes baths but he’s a kid who can play by himself for hours with some action figures and a box so he keeps himself very busy in the tub but dislikes the washing part, the 8 year old will do anything to get out of a bath but once he’s in he doesn’t want to get out. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/26 "2009-02-13T02:27:02Z")
I was another Calvin, couldn’t get me in there to save your life, and then couldn’t get me out just the same. If your kids hate baths, it’s because you’ve not found the right toys to let them bring with them. Oh, the thousands of dollars worth of Star Wars stuff that I soaked into paint flaked messes… ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/27 "2009-02-13T03:05:26Z")
My three little boys love their baths/showers. If it were up to them, they’d take 3-4 a day. There are no bath toys, just bright scrubbies and kiddie bath gel and baby shampoo. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/28 "2009-02-13T09:08:10Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > **My** Mommy always took the stopper out while I was still in the tubbie, and I was afraid I was gonna swirl around and go down too! Apparently this phobia is so common that Mr. Rodgers wrote a song about it. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/29 "2009-02-13T09:24:38Z")
The Nephew loves to bath, although he hates changing activity so getting him into the bathtub can sound like the conversation in the OP. He’s like his uncle in that respect; Uncle is now 32 but he still takes foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever to get into the shower and foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever to get out of it, forever to get into bed but wouldn’t leave it, the last person to sit down for lunch and the slowest eater… The Nephew’s Proud Daddy, OTOH, has always been an early person. When we said “bath time” he’d want to be in the tub already because, you know, bathing was cool and the bubbles were cool and the little plastic boat was cool and since anyway you have to bath, the sooner you get in, the sooner you’re out and back to playing with your Clicks. He’s still an early person, as am I. So I don’t think it’s got anything to do with “little boys.” It’s more “some people.” ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/30 "2009-02-13T09:37:19Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I have this exact same problem with my son. We’ve gotten to the point where I wash the back of his head, pouring a little water over it and scrubbing like normal, then rinsing, but for the front, he’s absolutely terrified of large amounts of water on his face because he recently sucked in a bunch of water during a hair washing. I cannot wash anything from the crown of his head forward without World War III. So I have to wet my fingers and comb until his hair is wet, scrub, then comb again until it’s rinsed out, then rinse the back again (which I guess I could do last). The whole process takes forever, but I’d rather do that than have to deal with him being terrified of the bath. I wish he’d let me use the sink sprayer. How old are your kids? How did you get them to let you try that? Swim goggles. You have to wash around the strap, but it’s worth it, because at least you have something to wash. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/31 "2009-02-13T10:08:22Z")
My two year old loves bathtime… always has. (Except- he hates having his hair washed.) My 9 month old, it is too early to tell. I think the general trend is towards older kids than mine though… and probably because they would rather continue to play then sit in a boring old bathtub. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/32 "2009-02-13T12:40:29Z")
I think it more of a timing issue. Kids still want to play not take a bath. They may also associate it with you can’t play at what you want after the bath or they have to go to bed after. It’s the same with active girls. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/33 "2009-02-13T12:45:26Z")
Isn’t there anybody here who washes the kids at times other than “right before bed”? Bro bathes the Nephew shortly before bed, but at home it used to be when we got dressed or if dirty (for example after gym class or coming home in a hot day). ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/34 "2009-02-13T12:58:36Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Isn’t there anybody here who washes the kids at times other than “right before bed”? > > Bro bathes the Nephew shortly before bed, but at home it used to be when we got dressed or if dirty (for example after gym class or coming home in a hot day). My niece wants baths all the time, and she gets bathes when she dirty not by the time. It’s all about water play time for her. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/35 "2009-02-13T13:12:56Z")
My two boys love the bath. My three year old can be naked within seconds of hearing the word bath. He’d stay in there til he’s a shrivelled up blue prune! He’d even bathe at others peoples houses if you let him…but don’t touch the hair! Washing his hair is like you were pouring acid over him! You’d think you were pulling his fingernails out when you try to cut his hair. Hoefully, it’s just a phase. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/36 "2009-02-13T13:52:28Z")
> [@carlotta](#): > > Mom of three little boys checking in. > > I think it’s more they don’t like switching gears than that they don’t like bathing. Once they’re in, they never want to come out. This is how it was with mine. They got stuff to do. ---
**Author:** ![discodancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@discodancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/discodancer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/37 "2009-02-13T14:22:07Z")
When I was a little girl, I hated taking baths because the temperature of the house was too cold for me, and I dreaded the feel of the cold air afterwards. Also, I had to stop another activity that I liked such as watching tv or playing with toys to take a shower. Maybe your kids would enjoy showering/bathing more, if you rewarded them afterwards by giving them a treat or by giving them fun bathtub toys. As an adult, I’m still not loving the shower, but of course I do it. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468/38 "2009-02-13T14:38:16Z")
> [@Jaglavak](#): > > I used to hate that shock of water first hitting my hide, even warm water. After that everything was fine but that first splash really sucked. 😕 Did you _dive_ into the bath tub? I’ve never experienced that at all. Either the bath is drawn and I climb in, slowly if it’s too hot, or the shower is turned on and when it reached the right temperature I step in. I loved bath time as a kid. You could keep me busy for hours while I pretended to fight Jaws and stuff. The only time I didn’t want my bath was when I was right in the middle of some serious playtime and I had to stop what I was doing and come in, because the bath didn’t sounds as much fun as what I was alreaydy doing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-little-boys-hate-baths/485468.md?page=1)