Newstricky| When you have children, life goes fast. Times can get noisy and chaotic, and then there are peaceful times full of happiness and warmth. You never know what each day is going to bring. One thing you can be certain of is that home can be a very safe place. To make your home safe, however, you have to have rules in place and those rules need to be enforced.
A house can have many interesting places to hide, climb on, and touch. But many of these places can be dangerous. We will discuss the dangers in the bathroom for a young child or toddler.
Table of Contents
The Toilet
To a child, that new Kohler toilet is a really fun device that has water, handles, and an area to climb on. A parent needs to watch their child closely around a toilet. A small toddler might drop something into the toilet and want to take it out. They might reach in and topple over into the water. This could be devastating. Keep the lid closed and put locks on the lid, if necessary.
A small child can also discover that climbing on a toilet would be a really fun adventure. They can climb up and stand right on that lid, or maybe even the back of the toilet. Bad idea.
A child can easily slip and fall when climbing on the toilet, hitting their head on cabinets, tubs, or on the hard floor. Keeping the bathroom door closed is probably the best idea when you have a climber at your house.
Lock Up Those Cleaners
Some parents put their cleaners in the bottom bathroom sink cabinet. It is handy for a parent to grab what they need when cleaning day is here. You might have things like bleach, toilet bowl cleaners with lye, and other poisonous products. It’s handy to keep them there but so dangerous for a child.
A child’s curiosity can get them into dangerous situations by wanting to “see what is inside that bottle.” A good idea is to put a lock on the bathroom cabinet where the poisonous items are kept. Better yet, put the cleaning supplies up in a high cabinet, even if it is outside the bathroom.
Don’t Leave a Child Alone in the Bathtub
Another spot in the bathroom that can be so dangerous for a small child is the bathtub. A toddler looks at the tub as a fun place, almost like a swimming pool. They can’t wait to get into the water, splash around, and enjoy the bubbles. It can be magical.
For bathtub safety, never fill a tub when a child is alone in the bathroom. Never leave a child alone in the bathtub after it is filled, not even for a second. A child can easily slip under the water and be able to get back up, especially if the water is too deep.
A good rule is to just fill the bathtub a few inches so that the child can still splash around, but where the water won’t be at a dangerous level. They can still have a nice bath in just a lower level of water.
Watch That Water Temperature
One other concern about the bathtub is the temperature of the water. If a parent is filling the tub and they turn their back, a young child could easily grab the faucet handle and turn it to a very hot temperature where it could scald the child. Or if the child is already in the tub and the parent walks out of the bathroom, a child could turn the hot water back on and get scalded that way.
Electrical Hair Appliances
One more important item to be careful about is a hair appliance plugged into the wall. Make sure they are unplugged and put away. One grab of the cord could send an electric hair appliance into the water where your child is. This is a dangerous situation.
Be Vigilant
It is good for a parent to be vigilant about bathroom safety. It only takes a moment for an accident to happen. If you are expecting a phone call, bring your phone into the bathroom so you don’t have to run out if it rings. If you hear the doorbell ring, let it ring. Don’t leave your child alone in the bathroom for a minute.
Bath time can be an enjoyable time for a child. It’s nice to play in the bubbles and wash with soap. Keep this a fun time for all by following the rules above.
