We've gone through a variety of bath stages with Autumn. Like most babies, she hated the sponge baths we gave her when she was just itty bitty. Too cold.
When we graduated to the infant tub, she liked it for a while. As she grew bigger, that, too, became less fun because more of her little body was out of the water and, again, cold.
At this time, our house had two shower stalls, but no bathtub. So, we started putting a big storage tote in a shower stall and would bathe her in that tote. That worked for a bit, but it wasn't big enough we could lay her down to wet her hair. So, she stood there and screamed because she knew we'd be pouring a cup of water over her head to both wet her hair and then to rinse the shampoo out.
One contractor, one week and some money later, we had a lovely new bathtub (and a new floor) in our bathroom. Three days of one of us sitting in the bathtub with her (swimsuits on Mommy and Daddy, of course), and she realized the tub could be fun. Splashing to do, rubber ducks and squirt toys to play with. The tub was a nice place. Some bubbles later also made it fun.
She didn't like the running water, which was OK. We'd just put her in after the water was in the tub and all would be good.
Now, however, the tub is no longer fun and I have no idea why. She no longer runs straight for the bathroom when I take her clothes and diaper off. Instead, she runs to the corner of her bedroom and waits there for a few minutes. When we put her in the tub, she stands. The whole time. She won't sit down at all.
My coworker, J, suggests some new bath toys. If we're just as creative about the bath as Autumn is about not wanting the bath, J thinks we might just win this little battle for independence. I do have some of those bath crayons at home, so that's the next thing to break out. I'll keep you posted.
If anyone knows of anything else that would be great, feel free to share. We do have little water squirters in the shape of animals, foam water creatures that stick on the tub, rubber duckies and these little things made by Sassy where if you push them under the water, they make bubbles.
On a whole different note, BabyZone just sent me list of ideas for Father's Day. Click here to see their ideas for gifts for Dad. They also have, on a related link, 10 great Daddy Dates.