Most parents are well versed in the dangers associated with having infants around a swimming pool, fountain or other outdoor water feature. They may not, however, have put too much thought into other places where the possibility of drowning may occur. Bath safety is a concern that is not touched upon as often as that of outdoor water safety precautions.
The number one cause of death, that is related to injury, for one to four year old children is drowning. The accidents do not always happen in swimming pools, rivers or lakes. Parents and guardians can prevent a large number of these accidents by learning about bath safety. As a child can drown in only two inches of water, we want to look at bathroom safety very closely.
Over half of infant drownings each year occur in the bathtub. This may be a surprising percentage to those who have developed a false sense of security because of the specially made infant seats designed for bath safety. This can present a dangerous situation if the parent leaves the child unattended for even one moment to do something else. It's wrong to believe that the child is 100% safe in the bath seat.
Drowning can occur in just a few seconds so it is critical to keep the child within arm’s reach at all times. This is an important bath safety practice that can save lives. The bathtub is slippery and special baby bath seats should not be used as a substitute for supervision. Never leave baby alone in a bathtub even if the child is in a secure seat.
Be sure to get organized before putting the baby in the bathtub. Have all the products you're going to use within reach so you will not have to walk away from the tub. If you do have to leave the tub, take the baby with you even if this means getting yourself wet. This is a small inconvenience compared to the safety of your baby. Also, a good practice is to keep at least one hand on the child during the bathing process.
The tub is not the only concern of bath safety. There are other hazards in the bathroom as well. Little children can also get into trouble in the toilet as well. The infant shouldn't be in the bathroom at all if an adult is not present. This also means that young siblings should not supervise the baby in the bathroom, either. Letting your five-year-old watch the baby while you are distracted is not a good idea.
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