Bath time with baby can be filled with bubbly fun, but baths can also present some serious dangers if safety recommendations aren’t taken into account. A 2012 report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) revealed that from 2006 to 2010, 348 fatalities of children under the age of five occurred as a result of drowning in a bath tub or other bathing device. After pools, bathtubs are the second leading location where young children drown.

“Bathing a child should be a fun time, and it absolutely can be when the appropriate safety precautions are taken,” says Dr. Mary Aitken, director of the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and professor of Pediatrics in the UAMS College of Medicine.

Dr. Aitken notes, “The CPSC report shows that in the majority of fatal drowning incidents, the child was either left alone or left with another child temporarily. As parents, we may think of something quick we need to do, whether it be answering the phone or running to get a towel, but it is imperative that a child never be left alone in a tub for any length of time. A child can drown in only two inches of water and drowning is a silent, very quick event.”

“Parents can take steps to avoid situations that may make them feel the need to leave their child during bath time,” says Dr. Aitken. “Simple steps like bringing the phone into the bathroom with them and making sure they have all of the needed bath time supplies, like soap and shampoo, and towels, before bathing begins, can ensure a fun and safe bath.”

Here are some safety tips to keep bath time safe for your little ones, offered by the Injury Prevention Center at ACH:

• Fill the bath with just enough water to bathe your child.
• Keep one hand on infants at all times when they’re in the bath.
• Put all sharp objects such as razors out of reach. Check the bathtub for mouth-size objects before you put your child in.
• Place safety knobs on bathroom doors and safety locks on toilet seats.
• Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strip on the floor of the shower and tub to prevent falls.
• To prevent scalds, set the temperature of your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Test the bath water with a thermometer before bathing your baby.
• Never leave a baby or toddler in the bath to be supervised by a young sibling or other child. Baths should be supervised by responsible teens or adults who know how to provide a safe environment.
• Don’t use bath seats or other props as a substitute for direct, constant supervision. Babies can slide down and out of these seats, resulting in drowning.
• Check often on children old enough to give themselves baths. Don’t assume your child will call out for help or that you will hear them.
• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and ensure that all babysitters and older siblings learn it too—it can save a life if needed.

“Most injuries around the home are preventable,” says Dr. Aitken. “We want to arm parents with the information and resources they need to keep their children safe, including during bath time.”

Call the Injury Prevention Center at 364-3400 for more helpful tips and information. If you’re a new or expecting parent, be sure to visit www.ARChildrens.org to register for your free New Parent Planner, offering safety information specific to babies.