Water can always be a danger, particularly for smaller children. In the home, seemingly harmless objects like the toilet and bathtub can actually be quite hazardous. In particular, bathroom safety should always be a prime concern.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at how we can keep a closer watch on bathroom safety in our homes.
Knowing is Half the Battle of Bathroom Safety
According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is one of the most common causes of death for children aged four and under. Believe it or not, it doesn’t take much liquid to cause a potential drowning situation. In fact, a person can drown in as little as two inches of water. As long as the mouth and nose can be covered, the water is deep enough for drowning. In other words, drowning doesn’t only happen in a pool or ocean. It can happen inside your own home.
Tub and Toilets
A major culprit here is the bathtub and toilet. These receptacles are easy for your little one to trip and fall into. If they are too young to have full control of their bodies, it is very easy for a small child to accidentally end up face down in the water. This can, and often does, have tragic consequences. To learn more about
bathtub safety, read our dedicated blog post.
When it very young kids, be sure to keep them out of potentially dangerous areas of the home. Childproof your doors and toilet lids to prevent little hands from getting into places they should avoid.
While you’re childproofing the door, it wouldn’t hurt to childproof the medicine cabinet as well. Beyond water danger, these cabinets are often filled with medicines that can be poisonous for curious tykes. Above all, learn the potential dangers of the bathroom and prepare to block or eliminate these as soon as possible.
Active Supervision Wins the Day
In the end, there is nothing that can beat active supervision. Leaving kids unattended in the bathtub or near the potty for even a moment can have disastrous consequences.
In addition to the healthy fears parents already have,
hidden drowning hazards of the bathroom can very suddenly cause injury or tragedy. A child who seems fine one moment can quickly slip under the water the next. In fact, drowning happens far faster and less noisily than many of us expect. According to the
Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 90 children drown inside the home every year. For roughly two-thirds of these deaths, the incident occurred in the bathtub.
Parents and guardians should never drop their guard around water. Watching a child in the bathroom should be taken seriously. A moment’s distraction, or deciding to briefly step out of the room, can be a disaster. As when your child is swimming, active supervision is critical during bath time.
A Word on Potty Training
For potty training, many parents try to give their little ones a bit of privacy. This could mean not watching the child or simply leaving the door ajar. This is an important step for potty training, but special care should be taken to ensure security. Frequently checking in, especially during the early days of this process is necessary to maximize bathroom safety.
