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The bathroom is often considered the most dangerous room in the house. Making the bathroom safe for our children is a critical step to take before the movement stage (crawling and walking). Planning ahead can ease your anxiety of bathroom safety! There are many options to consider when "baby-proofing" your bathroom. When planning bathroom safety, you must first evaluate the potential hazards such as the tub, toilet, sink, cabinets, doors, and outlets. Make a list of the hazards in your bathroom and then review the top bathroom safety products to get ideas on how to be safe in the bathroom.
The first potential bathroom hazard is the most obvious; the bathtub. There are many dangers in and around the bathtub. To keep the tub safe you may consider a water thermometer or an anti-scald faucet. There are many child friendly options such as a floating thermometer that looks like an animal! The thermometer will allow you to regulate an appropriate temperature and prevent scalding or accidental burns. Another top ten bathroom safety product is the faucet and tap protector. This is also child friendly and can come in many designs. It is usually made out of heavy duty durable plastic and covers the faucet. This will prevent any injury from bumping into the faucet. There are also tub mats and slip resistant mats that you can put in or around the tub and wet areas. A tub bumper is similar to a crib bumper and can prevent injury from bumping into the sides of the tub. A safety handle is a great way to help your child climb in and out of the tub safely. These attach easily to the top side of the tub and work just like a built in handle would. Another great tub option for an infant is a smaller infant tub, mesh seat, or infant tub cushion. These normally fit right into the bathroom tub and provide a smaller bath area for baby. This is great way to save water and to keep baby safe in a more controlled area.
Another potential bathroom hazard is the toilet. Due to the pool of water in the toilet, it is a great idea to get a toilet seat lock. This will prevent accidental drowning in the toilet. A toilet paper guard will prevent unrolling of the toilet paper.
The sink is usually unreachable to small children, but its good to safety proof it as well. As mentioned above, there are anti-scald faucets and faucet locks. These will prevent burning or drowning.
Cabinets are another significant concern due to the fact that most people store cleaning supplies or medicine in the cabinets. A great way to keep the children out of the cabinets and promote bathroom safety are cabinet locks. They are super easy to install and are very effective! A medicine safe can also be used in addition to the cabinet locks to protect accidental usage. The medicine safe is similar to a regular safe involving a large box with a lock.
A door lock can be installed on the bathroom door to prevent unattended access. A few options include door knob locks that easily slip on the knob or locks that go higher up on the door and can only be accessed by an adult. Never leave a child unattended for ANY amount of time in the bathroom.
Outlets are another bathroom hazard due to the presence of water and electricity in the same area. Use plastic outlet covers to protect any unused outlets. Be sure to keep everything unplugged such as the hairdryer, heater, and electric toothbrush. A breaker can be installed to prevent accidental electrocution.
A nightlight is a great way to provide a light source for children and adults during any nighttime bathroom trips!
As you can see, there are so many options when considering bathroom safety! Remember to evaluate your own bathroom, list potential hazards, and then review the top bathroom safety products to assist you in your important decision! It's essential to baby-proof the bathroom, as well as the rest of the house. Plan ahead to protect your children and be safe!
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