Whether you have a newborn, a toddler, or young children in the house, it’s important to make sure that they’re safe. You can go around and plug all of the electrical outlets and hide all of the wires, but there are some key places in the house where accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Your bathroom potentially contains all sorts of problem areas, therefore making child safety in the bathroom so important.
Child safety tips for the bathroom
The bathroom should be made as safe as possible for youngsters. While you might already be taking some of these safety precautions, some you may not have thought of. Follow our child safety tips below to ensure you’re keeping your little ones safe.
Supervision is key
First and foremost, if you have a baby or young children, parental supervision is key to their safety. You wouldn’t leave your child alone unsupervised on a park playground, so why would you do so in your bathroom? In fact, with accidents just as likely to occur around the home, and in particular in bathrooms, supervising your children can significantly decrease the chances of incident or injury.
For example, did you know that children can drown in just several centimetres of water? This is why supervision when your children are in the bath, is so important. If bath time is interrupted for any reason and you have to leave the room, even if you think you will only be a moment, take the time to remove your child from the bath, wrap them in a warm towel, attend to the other matter, and then return to the bathroom and continue with the supervised bath.
Always empty bathwater
As per the above, it is imperative to always drain the water out of the bath when you are finished. The same goes for any water left in the sink.
Non slip rubber mats
Given that many children have a bath in the evening as a way of preparing for bed time, it’s a good idea to get into the routine of making sure that bath time is also safe time. Slippery surfaces, like tiles and porcelain, can lead to injuries, so you might want to think about using non-slip rubber mats in the bath, and bath mats with non-slip rubber backing.
Cushion covered tap heads
One other area that many parents don’t give a second thought to, is the bath water tap. The tap itself might seem harmless, but can, somewhat surprisingly, cause serious bruising if the child slips and bumps it accidentally, or sticks their thumb or finger into the opening. To mitigate this risk, you can install a cushioned cover to the exterior of the tap and install a tap head with mesh guard at the end.
Always run the cold water first
When running the bath, ensure that the water temperature is appropriate for your child. Never run it too hot – get into the habit of running the cold water first, and make sure you check the water before lowering your child into the water. Child scalding and burns are common, so checking it yourself can save your child from serious injury and a hospital visit.
Install an anti-scald device
You may also like to consider installing an anti-scald device which, when fitted to the pipes, reduces water flow when the water reaches a certain temperature so that it cannot continue to increase beyond a desired bathing temperature.
Use safety seats
Many parents use safety seats designed especially for bathing young children. These are certainly a good way to decrease the risk of serious injury, but always remember that they are not a replacement for your parental supervision.
Install handrails
If you have a shower over the bath and older children step over the bath to get into the shower, you might want to think about installing a bath bench seat or handrails so that family members can maintain a steady entry and exit from the bath.
Keep the toilet lid down
Always put the toilet lid down after use. A curious child may pull themselves up to the toilet, lose balance and fall in headfirst.
Slip resistant tiles
If you don’t have them now, you may like to consider slip resistant tiles so that droplets of water won’t place you and your child at risk as you move in and out of the bathroom.
Smooth edges and corners
If you are about to undertake a bathroom renovation and have little ones (or are planning to in the future) consider choosing finishes, materials and vanities that have smooth, rounded edges.
Keep the first aid kit out of reach
Most people store all sorts of potentially hazardous items in their bathrooms. Just take a look in your medicine cabinet or first aid box. The last thing we want is for our child to accidentally ingest any tablets, so always make sure that medicines have child proof caps and are stored high up and out of the way of little fingers.
Same goes for toiletries
Our bathrooms are also often home to toiletries, including soaps, disinfectants, shampoo, mouthwash, make-up and cosmetics, conditioner, razors, colognes, and deodorants. Imagine if your child got his or her little fingers on a pack of razor blades? As with medicines, it’s always best to keep these items high up and out of reach.
You may like to think about installing a cabinet with mirrored doors so that you retain the mirror but have a concealed cupboard which allows for the safe storage of items that should be kept out of reach of younger hands.
Beware of electrical appliances
If you have been using any electrical appliances in the bathroom such as a hair dryer or shaver, make sure you unplug them and put them away after use.
Child proof the door knob
The last thing you want is your baby or small child wandering into the bathroom unattended. Prevent this from happening by using a child proof cover on the bathroom door knob.
Use a night light
If you have children who are slightly older and can use the bathroom by themselves, think about using a low powered night light to avoid any mishaps in the bathroom during the middle of the night.
A child safe bathroom
There are many things you can do to make your bathroom safer for your children, and it’s important for you to be attentive to the details. To learn more about installing a child-safe bathroom, get in touch with your local plumber today. Call JEDI Plumbing on 0411 774 381. Our friendly team is on hand to discuss all your plumbing needs.
