Splish, splash they love taking a bath. For most kids, bathtime means funtime. They love nothing more than some refreshing free time in the tub. Unfortunately, things can quickly go awry if the proper safety precautions aren't taken. The good news is that you can take steps to keep your children out of harm's way when they're partaking in their bathtime rituals. For bathtubs, always line the bottom with a rubber bathmat or appliqué. {relatedarticles}This keeps children from slipping. When they're taking a bath, discourage your children from standing altogether. Install a faucet cover to protect your child's head from any bumps or bruises. To prevent scalding or burning, always test the water temperature. Never put your child in the tub until the water is completely filled and turned off. Remove all adult bathing supplies from the area. This includes razors, shaving cream, shampoos, bath gels and more.
That also goes for scissors, nail clippers and toothbrushes. Keep hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons and any other electrical appliances unplugged and out of reach as well. Never ever leave a child under six unattended in the bathtub. The potential for drowning is very real. Even if you think a sibling is mature enough to watch a younger child in the bathroom, don't ever put that responsibility on him. {relatedarticles}Accidents happen. A younger child should always be supervised by an adult in the bathtub. Take proper care of bath toys as well. Rinse out the toys when the kids are done. Set them out to dry so that bacteria doesn't build up in the toys. It's also a good idea to soak the toys in water and a small amount of bleach for a couple of minutes every few weeks. Once you've done this, rinse out the toys.