About Bathtub Safety
with
Kathy Moore
With a few basic tips, bath time for young children can be both a safe and a splashing good time
Transcript: About Bathtub Safety
Hi, I am Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Did you know that after swimming pools, more kids drown in bathtubs than in any other place around the home? According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, most bathtub accidents involve a child left alone in the tub. With a few basic tips, bath time for young children can be both safe and a splashing good time.Prepare Ahead for Bath Time
Before our kids get in the bath, I make sure the cordless phone is in the bathroom, and gather up all the supplies I will need to help with tub-time, like their towels, pajamas, lotion, diapers and a comb. And, I make sure everything is within reach. I also make sure my hair dryer and curling iron are put up and out of reach so there is no danger of an electrical cord dropping into the tub.Test the Bath Water
My kids love to watch the water filling the tub, but before they get in, I always test the water temperature. If the water feels like the right temperature, I double check it with my elbow or the top of my wrist. When turning off the water I always make sure I turn off the hot water first to avoid scalding. Fill the tub with only 2 to 3 inches for newborns and infants up to six months and never more than waist-high for older children.Supervise Bath Time
Never leave your child unsupervised while in the tub. Kids can drown in just a few inches of water. Add to this the slipperiness of the tub and the excitement of a bath and even an older child can be injured or worse.Prevent Bath Bumps and Slipping
Some parents place bathmats or adhesive strips on the bottom of their tub to keep the kids from slipping around. I have found, though, that these items are really hard to keep clean. Instead, I insist that my kids never stand or jump in the tub.When the kids were little, we also covered the faucet. This helped to make the bath time more fun and also protected the children from an occasional bump.
The kids should also have a non-slip bath rug to step onto when they get out of the tub.
Bath time should be fun for everyone and by following a few of these simple tips you will keep your kids clean and safe. To learn more visit us on the Web at parenting.about.com.