| Bath time is a very important time in the daily life of | | | | wrapped in the towel. With older babies and young |
| your baby. Not only does it get rid of all those nasty | | | | children you need to prevent them at all times from |
| germs on your baby's skin, it is a fantastic, social, fun | | | | trying to stand up in the tub or play too exuberantly |
| time between parent and baby. Just remember to | | | | because of the dangers of slipping and getting an |
| keep safety a first priority. There are at least three | | | | injury. There is also a danger of getting a head or face |
| possible dangers you need to know about to prevent | | | | injury from the tub spout. There are special tub spout |
| bath time accidents. | | | | protectors you can buy. Slips in the tub can also be |
| First always be careful to check the temperature of | | | | minimized with rubber bathmats or adhesive stencils, |
| the water. The water temperature should be a little | | | | but do not count on them to prevent all possible |
| warmer than room temperature. Some people check | | | | accidents. |
| with their hands. As a mother myself, I find my hands a | | | | Another serious danger at bath time is the danger of |
| little less sensitive to heat because I have my hands in | | | | drowning. I feel the age of five years is about the right |
| hot water all day washing things. I like to get some | | | | age for being able to leave a child alone in the tub for |
| wrist or elbow in the water to get a proper test. Stir | | | | a few minutes. Any child younger than age five should |
| the water around as you are testing its temperature | | | | not be left alone, not even for a second. Many a |
| because sometimes there are hot or cool spots. As a | | | | parent of a drowned child has said they only left the |
| wise precaution when you have children in the home, | | | | side of the tub for a moment to answer the telephone |
| you should have your home water heater set to no | | | | or the doorbell. Either let the telephone or doorbell ring |
| more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 49 degrees | | | | and stay with your baby, or lift your baby out of the |
| Celsius. You can do this yourself easily be adjusting | | | | tub and take them with you to get the telephone or |
| the dial on the water heater. Once in the tub you | | | | door. Be certain before you begin the bath that you |
| should keep your baby away from the faucet in case | | | | have everything with you that you need to complete |
| you accidentally knock the hot water on. | | | | the bath. Either you will need to do without them or |
| The next thing you should be careful about is injuries | | | | you will remove your child from the tub and take them |
| from falls or drops. You should always support a very | | | | with you while you fetch them. |
| young baby at all times. Be especially careful when | | | | With a little common sense you can keep bath time a |
| removing a young infant from water because they are | | | | safe and fun time for your baby. It will be a time you |
| very slippery. I would always drape the towel over one | | | | and your baby will look forward to each day. The |
| shoulder before I even undressed my infant so that | | | | safety aspects of bath time will become second |
| after the bath I could lift the baby securely with two | | | | nature to you, and you can give all your attention to |
| hands and bring them straight to my body to be | | | | splashing and washing. |