Your baby changes and grows so much in this first year. Track your baby’s development month by month, encourage your baby’s learning with our suggested activities . Find practical information on health and safety. We can help you with tips on crying, sleeping or even what to look for when choosing a baby sitter. Have questions about basic care? We have the answers !
Bath safety and your baby
In the hustle and bustle of every day life it is easy to forget that accidents can happen during bath time. Here are several ways you can make bath time safe for your baby.
- Never leave your toddler unattended in the bath or in the care of another young child. Remember that a child can drown in as little as 1 inch of water. If you need to leave the bathroom for any reason, have someone replace you or take the child with you – it only takes a couple of minutes for a child to drown.
- Get everything ready before the bath. Gather a towel, soap, baby wash etc before you begin filling the bath. Having your supplies close at hand means that you do not have to leave your toddler alone.
- Closely watch the fill level of the bath water – keep it about waist level of your smallest child – this allows children to keep their balance in the water when sitting.
- Monitor the temperature of the water as you are filling the bathtub and before you put your child in the water. As adults, we bathe in water that is much hotter than a child can tolerate. The perfect temperature for a child's bath is around 90-100 degrees or lower. Use a bath thermometer if you are not sure.
- Consider safety proofing the faucet. The large faucet can leave quite a mark if your child hits her head on it. There are rubber covers that protect the faucet and also display the temperature.
- Have an adult-only rule when it comes to the faucet handles.
- Encourage your child to stay seated during the bath as standing up can cause him to slip. Bath seats cannot substitute for adult supervision.
- Check all bath toys on a regular basis for mold and damage.
- Keep all of your bath products out of your toddler's reach. The same goes for razors and anything else not meant for little hands.
- Make sure electrical appliances such as hair dryers and shavers are well away from the bath
- Place non-slip gripping strips to the bottom of you bath tub if you do not have a slip-proof surface already, or use a rubber mat that sticks to the bottom with suction cups.
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