Bathroom
Safety
Bathrooms are
home to many items that should be kept out of the reach of infants
and toddlers. Among these are cleaning fluids, medicines, vitamins,
cosmetics, hair sprays, razors, scissors, and many, many others.
Look over your bathroom carefully. The following tips can help
you identify some hazards:
Supervise Bath Time Closely - As mentioned before, never
ever leave your child alone in or near water. You will also have
to be very careful to stay within arm's-reach of your child as
children can attempt to stand up in the tub and slip in the process
very quickly.
Move
All Hazardous Items Out Of Reach - Again all hazardous items
should be moved out of your child's reach. This includes cleaning
supplies, cosmetics, sharp objects, medications and more. Search
very carefully.
Use
Non-Slip Mats - Bathrooms are risky places for falls. The
combination of water and slippery surfaces makes falls very common.
Using non slip rugs in the bathroom can reduce this risk considerably.
Use
Non-Slip Appliques - You can make slips less likely in the
tub by using no slip decals on the tub floor. Also, teach your
child not to stand in the tub.
Lock Toilet Lids - Keeping toilet lids locked shut can
prevent drowning in the toilet and playing in the toilet water
(yuck!). Locking devices are available at many toy, hardware and
infant supply retailers
Always Drain The Bathtub - Immediately upon completion
of a bath, drain the bath water. Do not leave items soaking in
the bathtub. A bathtub with water in it can present a drowning
hazard for an infant, toddler or small child.
Set The Thermostat On Your Water Heater Down - Hot water
can cause serious burns. The best way to prevent this is to set
your water heaters' thermostat down to a level that will not cause
burns. Usually this is considered to be below 120 degrees Farenheight.
Potty Training - Once your child is potty trained you may
want to continue using a small child potty until your child is
tall enough to use the adult toilet without a risk of falling.
Cleanliness - Contact with fecal matter (poop) or blood
can present a risk for contracting diseases. Teach your child
not to play in the toilet or with trash. Keep the bathroom area
as clean as possible to prevent the spread of disease.
Go to the next section.
Disclaimer:
Note, these lists are provided to start you thinking about safety.
We guarantee that these lists ARE NOT
COMPLETE! You will have to evaluate your own home.
No list can anticipate every circumstance. The personal health
of yourself , your spouse, children or other factors may dictate
that you take precautions not listed here, or that you ignore
suggestions made here. Ultimately, you are responsible for your
child's safety. When you are unsure or have questions always consult
an appropriate professional. We have made every effort to check
the accuracy of our information, but we do not guarantee it to
be accurate or complete. Use your own judgments and always seek
the advice of a physician when appropriate. These lists are intended
only to help you identify potential problems. Read our
TERMS OF SERVICE for additional information about the conditions
and terms under which this list is supplied.