Bathroom Safety - Childproofing Your Bathroom

Introduction:

Every parent knows that bathing is one of the most important tasks of the day but may not realize that the bathroom can be a dangerous place as accidents can happen. Over one million children under the age of 16 have home accidents in the home every year, with over 10% of these accidents occurring in the bathroom by scalding, slips and falls. Bathroom safety and child proofing your bathroom is essential to prevent these accidents.

There are lots of quick and easy measures you can put in place for bathroom safety - childproofing your bathroom, making it more child friendly to prevent unnecessary accidents and emergencies. Most accidents are preventable if we take proper safety precautions. Here are a few bathroom DIY safety tips;

Avoid Scalding:

Many bathroom accidents occur from hot water taps, with over half of all scalding happen to children that are less than five years of age. A baby or child's skin is thinner than adult's and can scald very easily even at temperatures we feel are moderate. Always check the temperature by dipping your elbow (not your hand, which may be less temperature sensitive) in the bath water. It should feel the same temperature as your body. You can be extra safe by installing a thermostatic tap to ensure that the hot water temperature is suitable for children.

Prevent children fingers from being crushed:

Small fingers can be become easily trapped in the toilet seat from playing in the bathroom. Install a toilet safety seat or cover to minimize the risk of crushing fingers.

Stay vigilant:

Drowning is one of the most common causes of death in babies and young children. A baby or child should never be left alone in the bathroom for even a minute. A baby or child can drown in just an inch or two of water so it's best never to take the risk of leaving their side. If you need to leave the bathroom for any reason, take your child with you. Install a baby safety gate to prevent a baby from wandering into the bathroom when there is no adult present.

Place dangerous items are out of reach:

Keep all medicines and bathroom cleaning products safely tucked away from little inquisitive hands. Seemingly harmless adult items including razors, scissors and bleach can pose serious safety risks to children, Store these items in secure cabinets such as mirrored bathroom cabinets that are out of reach of small children. Or have child safety locks installed on the sink base cabinet unit to store all your cleaning products.

Avoid slippery bath surfaces:

A baby can be put in a normal bath providing you support them at all times and hold them up. If you intend to use a standard bath then the water should only be a few inches deep. Add a non-slip mat to the bath to ensure your child doesn’t slip.

Electrical outlets:

Install safety covers or insert plugs over electrical outlets. Older bathrooms that have not been updated with GFI outlets can cause electric shock and even death if water is accidently splashed on the outlet. Never use an extension cord in the bathroom or an electrical hand device such as a hair drier or curling iron, near a wash basin or bathtub that has standing water in it. Dropping the item in the water will result in electrical shock. If you live in an older house that does not have GFI outlets in the bathroom, consider replacing them. They are not expensive and are an easy DIY project for most homeowners.

Child safety, especially bathroom safety - child proofing your bathroom, is the parent’s responsibility. Children’s safety depends on your vigilance.