Home Safety Series: Bathroom

Rub-a-dub-dub, let’s talk safety in the tub! My two-year-old loves taking baths. Even just telling him bath time is near makes him smile and excitedly sign “splish splash.” From an infant tub to a full bathtub, injuries in the bathroom include falls on slippery surfaces, hot water scalds, and drowning. Keep kids safe with these bathroom safety tips.

• Prevent falls by using non-slip mats inside and outside tubs and showers. Consider installing safety bars inside tubs and showers. If your shower has a glass door, be sure it’s shatterproof.
• Prevent burns and scalds by setting your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Always test the hot water after adjusting it and consider installing anti-scald devices on water faucets and shower heads. Always check the water temperature with a temperature-sensing bath toy or your wrist or elbow before putting a baby, toddler or young child in the water.
• Actively supervise kids to help prevent drowning. Drowning is silent, can happen quickly, and in just a few inches of water. Never leave your child unattended around water. Only adults should watch children in the bathtub; do not rely on an older sibling to supervise. Bath seats and rings are not safety devices. Smaller children can easily slip out of them and hurt themselves on the side of the tub, or in the water.
• Make the bathroom safer. Younger children can drown in toilets, so always keep lids down and install toilet locks. Be sure to drain the tub as soon as your little one is out. Store cleaning and personal care products up, away, and out of sight - and put a child lock on those low cabinets.

Learn more about bathtub and shower safety.