The Importance of Childproofing Your Bathroom
A bathroom could be one of the most dangerous rooms in a home for a small child. There are many things found in this room which could cause serious injuries, cuts, poisoning or a variety of other medical emergencies.
Below is a guide to help childproof the bathrooms in your family’s home.
- Unplug all hair dryers, curling irons and straighteners after you are finished using them. Even if you turn them off and leave them sitting out, there is a chance that a child could grab one of them, press buttons and accidentally turn them on.
- Keep the toilet lid closed at all times. It may be a smart idea to install a toilet lock to prevent your child from lifting the lid and accidentally falling inside.
- Keep a baby gate in front of your bathroom door at all times. This will help prevent your child from walking into the bathroom when your back is turned – even for a minute!
- Be sure all razors, nail clippers, tweezers and scissors are placed in a locked cabinet or on a high shelf.
- Keep all medications inside a locked cabinet where there is no chance that your child could get their hands on them.
- Never leave anything plugged in while you are giving your baby a bath. If something plugged in accidentally falls into the tub, you and your child could both be electrocuted.
- Make sure that your water heater is set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less. If it is any warmer, your child could get burned. Scalding of the skin can happen in just three seconds.
- Be sure that your baby understands the importance of staying seated during a bath. If they are splashing around and trying to stand up, they may accidentally fall and hit their head.
- Keep a non-slip rubber mat next to the bathtub on the floor. This can help prevent falls.
- Never leave your child unsupervised in the bathtub. If you are worried about missing an important call, be sure you take your phone into the bathroom with you or bathe your child at another time. Be sure you have everything you need for after the bath inside of the room with you before you start – e.g. clothes, diapers and towels.
These tips will help you to safely and effectively childproof your bathrooms.