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Bathroom
It's easy to get complacent about the everyday routine of giving your child a bath. And that's the danger. Because for a child under 5, it can be the riskiest time of all. And here's why...
- Never leave a child under 5 alone in the bath, even for a moment. A small child can drown in as little as 3-5cm (1-2 ins) of water within a matter of seconds.
- Scalding from hot water is a particular danger for young children. Run the cold tap first and then mix in the hot water until your child's bath reaches the right temperature. Better still, fit a thermostatically controlled mixing valve and turn it down to no more than 43C (109F).
- Always use both hands when lifting your child in or out of the bath.
- Sit your child on a non-slip bath or shower mat when they're in the bath to reduce the risk of them sliding under the water.
- Empty the bath immediately after use.
- Bath toys can be fun - but they can be dangerous too. Remember that the first instinct of very young children is to put everything they can get their hands on straight into their mouths!
- Lock razors, scissors, medicines, toiletries and cleaning materials away in the bathroom cabinet or move them out of reach.