Scrub a dub dub, tots in the tub!
January is National Bath Safety Month, and as lovers of all things WATER SAFETY, we wanted to take a moment to offer a few quick tips to keep your little ones splashing happily at bathtime!
Take A Seat Near Babies or Toddlers
It doesn’t matter if it’s on the floor, on the potty, on the counter or in the bathtub itself, you need to be there…right there…when little ones are bathing. Babies, toddlers and young children can drown in as little as two inches of water…silently. So hopping up to answer the phone, open the front door or help little Suzy make a pb&j will just have to wait…even if baby is in a bath seat.
According to a report by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, “Of the reported fatalities, 28 percent involved a lapse in supervision, such as a parent or caregiver leaving the bathroom while the child was in the bathtub to answer the phone or door, or to retrieve a towel; in 23 percent, the child was left with another child, usually older.”
As busy parents ourselves, we understand how easily a 10 second task can turn into a whirlwind of distracted activity. However, bathtime is no time for tasks or even screentime; bathtime is your permission to unplug, pause and admire all those cute, chubby baby rolls that will stretch out before you know it!
Stay Within Arm’s Reach of Preschoolers
Preschoolers need supervision, too, but experts don’t have a definitive age that they recommend. According to Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Child Injury Prevention Alliance, “There is no official recommendation and no real upper [age] limit because kids develop at different rates. Their independence and ability to handle situations varies greatly, so there is no clear answer.” However, as the parent, use your best, cautious judgement when leaving preschoolers alone in the bath.
Be Proactive About Bathroom Safety
- Never leave a bathtub of water unattended where little ones can wander in unsupervised.
- Use rubber grippers inside the tub and bath mats outside the tub to avoid slips and tumbles. A safety bar can also be installed for something to hold onto.
- Hair dryers and other bathroom electronics should remain unplugged and put away to avoid chances of accidental submersion in water.
- Set your home’s hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees, and always test the bath water temperature to prevent burns.
- Place a rubber cover over faucets, and avoid bath toys with hard edges that could cause injury if a child falls on them.
- Keep toilet lids down and potentially locked to avoid toddlers from toppling into the bowl.
Bathtime should be a happy time, a time for you to bond with your baby, play with your toddler and giggle with your preschooler.
We want you to be present in all these memory making moments (before they’re teenagers and using all of your hot water!) Beyond adult supervision, swim lessons are the best way to ensure that your child understands safe water boundaries and develop the skills necessary to remain safe in and around the water for a lifetime.
ARTICLE PROVIDED COURTESY OF AQUA TOTS CHANDLER.
