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Keep the water temperature for your house set at about 120 degrees — hot enough to clean clothes and dishes, yet not scalding. If you have no control over the water heater, check your hardware store for anti-scald aerators. Or retrofit a valve with a special temperature-sensitive spring called an actuator to stop the flow of scalding water.
Put non-skid appliques on the bottom of the tub to prevent slips, or use a full-length rubber bath mat.
Don’t leave soap and shampoo on the edge of the tub for a child to grab.
The Bathroom
Use a tub guard to pad the tub’s side and give you a comfortable place to lean when bathing a child.
Never leave water in the tub when it’s not in use. A toddler can fall in and drown in as little as two inches of water.
Do not, under any circumstances, leave a child under five years old unattended in the tub. If you can’t stand to let a phone ring, unplug it or use an answering machine. If you must leave the room for any reason, wrap your child in a towel and take him or her with you.
BATH TUB SEATS
Consider using a bathtub seat to help keep a squirmy child who can sit up secure during a bath. You might also think about using a shampoo visor if a fearful child fights hair washing vigorously.
Place the bath seat in the tub so your baby cannot reach the faucet or spout.
Never use a bath seat on textured or non-skid surfaces unless the manufacturer’s instructions indicate you can.
MEDICINES AND PRESCRIPTIONS
Medicines are usually best kept under lock and key. Or keep them in a room other than the bathroom, such as the kitchen, despite the inconvenience. Be aware that the stepstool that makes it possible for your toddler to reach the bathroom sink will also help him to reach the medicine cabinet or other high and interesting places in the bathroom. Remember, high is not necessarily safe. But at the very least, keep items out of sight and out of reach.
Get a special locking medicine chest (or improvise — even a tackle box may work for you) or use a childproof lock on your existing cabinet. Open it only to get something out and lock it again before you leave the room.
Be sure all medicines are in child-resistant containers and that they’re kept tightly closed. Childproof caps don’t necessarily stop a child from opening a container. They delay the time it takes for some children to accomplish this.
Keep adult medicines separate from children’s so you don’t mix them up in the middle of the night. And don’t take any chances by giving medicine in the dark.
Don’t save prescription containers. When the medicine is gone or outdated, dispose of the bottle or box
Don’t save old prescription medicines, and above all, don’t use them for your children. Dispose of outdated pills and liquids carefully. Illnesses that may seem identical don’t always require the same treatment. And outdated prescriptions can do more harm than good.
Overdosing on children’s vitamins rates among the top phone calls received by poison control centers. These colorful tablets can be dangerous in large doses, especially those that are iron fortified.
Don’t give over-the-counter antihistamines to children under the age of two without your doctor’s approval. Babies susceptible to sleep apnea are particularly vulnerable to the sedatives in many antihistamines.
And don’t tell your child a certain medicine is “good” or “tastes like candy.” It’s better to have to struggle a little to get it down than to have your child want more.
If you child does manage to swallow or eat any medicine, get whatever you can out of the mouth and call your poison control center (1-800-222-1222) immediately. Have the bottle in your hand so you can tell them what was ingested. They will also want to know your child’s weight and age.
OTHER BATHROOM DANGER PREVENTION
In an average year, children under five experience over 7000 injuries from HOT curling irons alone. Keep them away from young children.
Don’t leave a hair dryer or other electrical appliance where your child can reach it and pull it into a water-filled tub or sink. Even one that is turned off can cause electrocution if it comes in contact with water. (Some new models can provide protection whether on or off. They have rectangular-shaped plugs with reset buttons at the ends of the cords.) If you use an electric heater in the bathroom, place it high on the wall where your child can’t reach it.
Unplug all appliances when not in use.
Consider installing child safe electrical outlet covers. Sliding door outlet covers do not require removal. Simply slide the cover to the side to plug in the electrical cord. When you unplug, the cover automatically slides shut.
As of 2008, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are required in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and other areas of your house. (GFCIs can be installed by anyone knowledgeable about house wiring.
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