Does your baby love all the splashing and rubber ducks during her bath time? Bath time can be absolute fun for you and your little one. However, there are some important precautions you need to know as a parent to avoid any possible injuries to your child.
The first and foremost thing you need to keep in mind is to never ever leave your baby alone in the bathtub. Read on for more safety tips so your little one stay safe while she gets clean:
NEVER leave your baby ALONE. As mentioned in the early part of this article, the first and most important thing to remember is to never leave your baby unsupervised. Since they still don’t know how to swim, they may drown even in less than an inch of water. As much as possible, ready all the things you need before placing your child in the bathtub (soap, towel, diaper, clothes, etc.) In case you have a visitor and the doorbell rings, take your baby with you – just wrap a towel around her.
Check the temperature. Babies can get chilled easily, so before getting inside the bathroom, make sure the temperature inside is comfortably warm – normally, at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check the depth of the water. When you’re still filling up the tub with water, don’t put your baby into it yet as the water temperature may vary.
Accessorize your tub properly. Bathtubs can be as slippery – so what are the ways to avoid any accidents while bathing your little one? You can put a rubber bath mat in the tub, a cushioned spouts cover that can protect your baby’s head, in case she bumps her head. Moreover, make sure that the glass door of your shower is made from safety glass.
Check the water temperature. You need not only to check the bathroom’s temperature, but also the water’s temperature. Generally, babies prefer cooler water than warm. To check, place your wrist or the inside of your elbow in the water to make sure it’s not too hot nor too cold. If you have a water heater, set it to 120 degrees Fahrenheit as it may only take about two to three seconds for your baby to suffer from third degree burn if you set your heater to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add a bath ring to your baby’s bath time accessories. If your baby can sit up, a bath ring will surely be a big help. Nevertheless, it doesn’t necessarily gives your child a protection – babies can still tip over or get trapped under the ring. Keeping your eye and hand on your baby is the safest option for you.
Choose the preferred soaps based on your baby’s skin type. The recommended soaps for babies are the mild ones. If you are bothered by the thought of using a soap, and shampoo can dry your little one’s skin, there’s another option for you. You can wash your baby with plain water as long as you clean the diaper zone because that’s where germs normally reside.
Watch what your child’s hands are holding. As much as possible, don’t allow your baby to touch the faucet handles as it can lead to serious injury.
Don’t use bubble baths. Yes, it can be soothing with adults when we shower with bubble baths, but it can irritate your baby’s urethra – it can increase the risk of having urinary tract infections.
Other safety precautions. The proper height of the water for babies should be only 2 to 4 inches deep. Additionally, keep other electric appliances such as hair dryers or curling irons away from the bathtub when you’re showering your baby.