Bath time may be your child's favorite play time or the part of the day he dreads the most, but you know that bathing is an important aspect of good hygiene. However, if you don't take steps to keep your child safe in the bathtub, he is at great risk of becoming injured or drowning.
Supervision
A child under age six or so should never be left unattended in the bathtub; she should also never bathe under the supervision of a child who is younger than junior high school age, or else she is at risk of drowning, says pediatric health website DrSpock.com. Even leaving a baby alone in a bath seat for a half a minute could lead to tragedy, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP. Protect your young child from the harms of unsupervised bathroom time by keeping the bathroom door closed and installing a doorknob cover, says the AAP.
Water Heater
Because a child under age 5 has thinner skin than that of an older child or adult, he is more susceptible to burns, according to the Nemours Foundation. Three seconds of exposure to tap water above 140 degrees Fahrenheit can cause a third-degree burn in a young child, says Nemours, so your best bet is to set your home's water heater to never exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can't hold your hand comfortably under the tap when the hottest water is running, the temperature is likely over 120 degrees, says DrSpock.com.
Adjusting Bath Temperature
Completely fill the tub and test the bath water with your elbow or wrist before you place your child in the tub, says Nemours. If you need to add extra water to the tub when your child is already in it, place her far away from the faucet, check the bath temperature frequently, turn the hot water off before you turn off the cold if you have separate controls and teach your young child to never touch the faucet handles, says DrSpock.com.
Non-Slip Surfaces
All children are at risk for slipping in and around the slippery tub. Use a non-slip rubber mat or apply non-slip adhesive decals to the bottom of your tub to reduce the likelihood of bathtub slips, suggests DrSpock.com. Also place a non-slip bath mat by the side of your bathtub and instruct your child to step carefully onto it after he bathes.
Other Hazards
Protect your young child from accidental bumps or burns from the metal of the bathtub faucet by placing a soft child safety cover over it, suggests DrSpock.com. Also, keep electrical devices such as hair dryers, electric razors and curling irons stored in cabinets and ensure that any outlets by the tub meet water-safety standards in order to reduce your child's likelihood of becoming electrocuted in the bathtub, says DrSpock.com.
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