How To Prevent A Baby Drowning In A BathTub: Essential Safety Tips
New parents are constantly stressed about everything being done right for their little angels, even if it is a routine task like bathing. Several parents are anxious when bathing a baby safely as they are less confident about handling the little bundle of joy.
This scenario is crucial as wrong bathing practices can negatively affect the baby; hence, it becomes essential to follow safe yet fun-filled bathing tips to eliminate all the concerns.
Bathing is part of the everyday routine and is essential because it helps cleanse the body and refresh the infant for the day.
However, the parents are responsible for ensuring baby bath time safety, including choosing the right bath supplies, accessories, etc., for a seamless experience.
Valid Safety Concerns with Babies While Bathing
The safety concern is valid until the baby turns a few years old and starts bathing independently, and this aspect becomes more significant in cases where parents use a bathtub.
Undoubtedly, the bathtub is a great investment since it makes bathing easier and gives parents peace of mind, but it poses potential risks in case elders in the house leave the child unattended.
Yes, you read it right! Numerous drowning cases have been reported where kids had severe injuries or even lost their lives. Hence, vigilance and parent involvement are of prime importance to always ensure the best safety for the child.
Understanding the Risks During Baby Bath Time
When we talk about baby drowning incidents, most parents are not aware of the actual figures, which are startling. A report suggests that when cases of deaths by drowning were inspected, it was found that in every four cases, one incident involved a child.
Also, half of the children's incidents belonged to the infant and toddler age group, which ranges from 0 to 4 years of age.
This study signifies that small children are prone to drowning during bathing time; hence, understanding and implementing the right baby bathtub safety tips is essential.
Today, we will highlight some of the factors that increase the drowning risks and help parents comprehend the techniques that they need to adopt before they begin the bathing process to eliminate the probability of such incidents.
Inadequate surveillance is the prime reason for the increased risk of drowning, as there can be situations where parents leave the child unattended to gather bath supplies, answer the doorbell, or do some other work that they believe could be finished in a minute or two.
You, as parents, should understand that for you, it may be a quick go-and-come-back situation, but it is enough for some mishap to occur as the baby is not old enough to take care of himself. So, it is better to be vigilant rather than regretting later.
Here are some practical tips to prevent baby bath accidents and you must make sure to follow them religiously without fail.
Also Read: Ultimate Baby Bath Time Safety Checklist
Significant Measures When Preparing for Bath Time
Whenever you decide it is bathing time for your tot, make sure you prepare for it in advance rather than reaching out for things after you have made the child sit in the bathtub. Here is how you can do it like a pro:
Gather all necessary supplies: Bathing is a daily task, and you know all the supplies you will need during the process, so ensure that you have already kept them within your reach. Also, make sure the child is not able to grasp any of the products to keep him safe.
1. Check water temperature and depth
When using a bathtub, your child may love playing with water for hours, but you must avoid over-filling the tub. The water level should not be too high for the baby. Also, before letting your kiddo sit, inspect the temperature so that the infant's body doesn't encounter sudden temperature fluctuation, which can seriously impact his health.
2. Ensure a non-slip surface
When choosing a bathtub for your child, we recommend you choose one that comes with a non-slip surface. This characteristic may not seem to be vital to you initially, but as you use the bathtub, you will comprehend that the surface lets the baby lay or sit in a comfortable and safe position.
3. Remove potential hazards from the area
As a doting parent, you may focus on baby bathtub drowning prevention but also see that there are no potential hazards that your child can reach. Understand that your tot is too small to know what things he can put in his mouth, and hence, it may pose a serious threat if ignored.
Supervising Your Baby During Bath Time
Bathing time should be delightful, and you should take it as an opportunity to connect with your child. Use this time to let the baby enjoy bathing under active supervision and interact with him while maintaining eye contact so that he enjoys the process and stays safe.
Always be with your baby and attend to any other task only once you have completed bathing and taken him out of the bathtub. It is essential to avoid any unwanted distractions like phones or other gadgets while bathing the baby.
All other tasks are secondary even if someone is at the door, do not leave your child alone in the tub even for a moment.
Critical BathTub Safety Evaluations
Apart from an undivided watch, there are some other safety actions that you can take to prevent a baby from drowning in the bathtub. These will help you enhance the safe bathing experience and convenience.
1. Slip-resistant bath mat
Aim at attaining an anti-slip surface for the baby in the tub as well as at the bathroom door. If you are using a regular bathtub, place a slip-resistant mat that would keep the baby in one place even if he is active.
2. Safety bath seat or support
We recommend you buy a bath seat for infants since they are not able to sit independently which further increases chances of drowning while bathing. These bath seats are designed to give complete support to the baby's back and make it easy for you to handle the child.
3. Proper drainage facilities
Good quality bathtubs have a built-in drainage design that allows easy outflow of used water, so you do not have to struggle to empty the tub every time. Also, these drainage outlets prevent water overflow, which could also be one of the reasons for drowning. You can choose a tub after checking out the specifications, as these simplify things.
Also Read: Things To Consider While Selecting Baby Infant Bath Tubs
Measures After the Baby Bath
Once you are done with bathing, carry your child outside the tub and dry him thoroughly. You need to keep a close eye on him until he is fully dressed and you are content that there is not anything to worry about.
In the first year, you will be doing all the tasks for the child, but as he grows, let him learn the undressing and dressing up skills so that he becomes independent as he grows. Make sure you take one step at a time and do not hurry, as this may not give the best results.
R for Rabbit's Bath Time Safety Solutions and Baby Products
If you are a parent who wants to invest in good-quality and innovatively designed bathing products, you should consider the range offered by R for Rabbit.
The brand is dedicated to offering best-in-class bathing safety solutions and is a popular choice amongst parents. There are several bathtub designs, each equipped with the latest features that aim to elevate your child's bathing experience.
Some models have inbuilt seats and support to maintain the right posture and support the infant's delicate back in the first few months. Every tub is made with high-quality, sturdy materials that can be used for months and let the baby enjoy bath time.
The brand focuses on safety and convenience and this is why you can find unique features like foldable tubs with drainage plugs, water temperature sensors, anti-slip designs, and a lot more.
You can choose the best bathtime products to meet your needs and budget, which makes it a fantastic deal. So, with the best products and your supervision, bathing is no longer a stressful task!
Additional Tips to Prevent Baby Drowning in BathTub
Now that we have highlighted all major points on how to avoid a baby drowning in a tub, here are some additional tips that you may consider to further augment the experience.
Involve the older sibling in the bathing process and teach him aspects of bathing safety and the need to be alert when the younger sibling is bathing.
In case some incident occurs, do not panic as this will not help you find the right solution. Instead, stay calm and act quickly so that you can avoid any serious condition.
When using a bathtub, keep a check for any wear and tears to avoid any accidents. Replace any worn-out parts immediately and maintain hygiene by cleansing the tub after every use.
Key Takeaways
Parents should be watchful and proactive during bath time as this is the best approach to prevent drowning incidents. You should use top-quality products to ensure your baby's safety, as bathing is a daily process that cannot be avoided.
Hence, being informed and the right approach should be your priority to ensure the safety and health of the little one. You can explore R for Rabbit's bathing range products and make the best choice as per your comfort and stay content.
