The simplest way to avoid bathroom injuries is to make this room inaccessible unless your child is accompanied by an adult. This may mean installing a latch on the door at adult height so the child can't get into the bathroom when you aren't around.
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The following tips will help keep your bathroom safe for young children.
1. Do not leave young children unattended
Children can drown in only a few inches of water, so never leave a young child alone in the bath, even for a moment. If you can't ignore the doorbell or the phone, wrap your child in a towel and take him along when you go to answer them. Bath seats and rings are meant to be bathing aids and will not prevent drowning if the child is left unattended. Never leave water in the bathtub when it is not in use. It's also important to have anything and everything you think you'll need within arm's reach before getting down to business.
2. Eliminate scalding water
This can be done either by calibrating the water heater or putting a scald guard in place. Calibrating the water heater can be done easily and doesn't take much time. The purpose of this is to keep the water from reaching scalding temperatures. This can be done easily and doesn't take much time. Turn your hot water heater down to 120 degrees and install scald-guard faucets so the water never gets too hot. Test the water before you put your child into the bath, too; if it feels too hot on your hand, it’ll be way too intense for them.
3. Use a rubber mat
Adding a rubber mat to the bathtub floor will help prevent slips and falls. Also, talk to your children about not running in the bathroom as the surface could be wet at times causing them to fall and become injured. Slipping is the most common accident in the bathroom, whether it’s a small child or a physically fit fully grown adult. Kids don’t have the best balance and coordination, particularly when they’re still learning to walk. We’ve all seen them tumble over seemingly nothing. Invest in a non-slip bath mat to reduce the risk of them falling over in the bath. Also place mats on the bathroom floor so they don’t slip on a wet floor once they’re out. For really young children it’s a good idea to teach them that standing up in the bath is a bad thing to do.
4. Keep sharp objects out of sight and reach
How many times have you finished shaving and left the razor on the side by mistake? If you have children in the house then you immediately need to stop doing that. The gleam of scissors will also catch the eye of a child. It may be a myth that crows like to collect shiny objects, but don’t run the risk that it’s also false with your child. Keep them all out of sight and out of reach.
5. Keep medicine in locked storage
Medicines should have child-proof caps and are stored high out of reach of children and in a locked cupboard. It is a good idea to store toiletries separately and to also bear in mind that some of these can be dangerous for young children too. Use high cupboards with child safety catches.
6. Do not allow small toys
Toys in the tub that feature loose or moveable parts. It just takes a second for a very young child to put a detached bead, button or other object in his or her mouth and start choking.
7. Store cleaning products securely
Remove all toilet, sink or bathroom cleaners from beneath sinks or low-lying areas. Only adults should ever use those and they should be kept on the highest possible bathroom shelves. Only child-friendly soaps and hair shampoos should be kept anywhere near the lower shelves. Since young children are likely to put almost anything in their mouths when unsupervised, it’s best to just keep all products up very high on bathroom shelves.
8. Do not store small appliances in the bathroom
Appliances such as hair dryers and curling irons and be sure to put them safely out of the reach of children. If at all possible, it is better to use and store such appliances in another room where there is no water. Remember some items can retain enough electricity even after use to cause shock after they have been turned off.
9. Empty bath water completely and right after
Many people are not aware of just how dangerous even very small amounts of water can be to a child. Children have been known to drown in as little as two inches of water. Always be sure to empty the bath straight after giving your child a bath. Do not leave the child unattended until all of the water has drained away.
10. Keep floors dry
Make sure you leave your floors dry after taking a shower, since bathroom floors can be very slippery, and, therefore, a falling hazard for your children. Another thing you can do is placemats on your bathroom floor and prevent slipping once and for all.
What tips do you have to keep your bathroom safe for young children?
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