Young children can drown in less than 1 inch of water, according to Kids Health. In fact, Healthy Children reports that drowning is the leading cause of death among children, and most infant drownings occur in bathtubs. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 43,000 children are injured in bathtub-related accidents each year. There are several things you can do to make your child's bath safe.
Drowning
Drowning is one of the most dangerous risks that children face in the bathtub. You should never leave your child alone in the bathtub for any reason. It takes only a short time to answer the phone, but children can drown very quickly in less than 1 inch of water. Always be within arm's reach of your child when he is in the bathtub. And keep your attention fully on your child; don't talk on the phone or read a book, for example.
Falling
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 80 percent of bathtub injuries are related to slipping and falling. Install non-slip bathtub mats or anti-slip bathtub coatings to prevent your child from slipping or falling if she stands up in the bathtub.
Scalding
Very hot water can burn your child's thin and sensitive skin. According to Healthy Children, you should set your hot water heater to 120 degrees or lower to prevent your child from accidentally burning himself. According to Baby Center, you can buy hot-water detectors in the form of toys that you throw in the water and check to see if the water is too hot. Of course, you also can just put your hand in.
Personal Hygiene Products
According to Healthy Children, you should keep personal hygiene products like shampoo, soap and razors out of the reach of your child. Soap and shampoo can make your child sick if she swallows them. Store your shampoos, soaps and razors in cabinets with safety locks, according to Healthy Children.
Bath Seats
Bath seats help you keep a slippery baby upright in the tub. However, you should never leave your baby unattended in a bath seat, because it could flip over, causing drowning or serious injury. Never use a bath seat in place of adult supervision.
