STAY SAFE WITH WATER

One of the biggest risks to safety in any bathroom is drowning. A young child can drown in as little as an inch of water. It’s important to constantly supervise small children in the bathtub, and to prevent them from accessing and activating water sources. Get into the habit of keeping the bathroom door closed at all times, and ensuring the toilet lid is kept closed when not in use. If your small child or toddler is able to open doors, consider placing rubber doorknob guards on the door handles.

There are also locks and guards that can be placed on bathtub and sink faucets to prevent small children from turning on the water. Consider toilet lid latches as well. Not only will this prevent your child from potential drowning, it will keep their little hands out of an unsanitary toilet.

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Water can also cause burns and scalding. Small children can suffer serious third-degree burns from water temperatures as low as 105° Fahrenheit—the average temperature of a hot tub. Always test the water temperature with your wrist or thermometer before placing children in bath water. Thermostatic cartridges—also called scald guards—can also be purchased and installed to prevent water from reaching temperatures that are too hot or too cold and protect against scald injuries. Our line of VIGO Shower Massage Panels come standard with a built-in scald guard to prevent burns and injuries related to water temperature.

PREVENT INJURIES

Floor tiles can be slippery, even when they aren’t wet. If you have the option, install flooring with texture to prevent small children from falling. You can also put rubber-backed rugs on the bathroom floor for added stability. A rubber mat in the bathtub can also prevent slips when a child is getting in or out of the tub.

Glass shower doors can also pose a hazard. All VIGO frameless glass shower doors feature ANSI-certified tempered glass. This glass has been treated with heat to increase its strength. In the unlikely event the glass should break, it will prevent potential cuts and slashing.

PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDS

Keeping any cleaning supplies behind a childproof lock in a secure cabinet is among the most basic of childproofing. But you should be aware of other hazards in the bathroom as well. Make sure any medicines, mouthwash, toothpastes—even child-safe ones!—and perfumes are stored in a high cabinet out of a child’s reach. Also ensure that any razor blades or sharp nail tools are inaccessible.

Keep all appliances—like hot hairstyling tools or electric razors and toothbrushes—out of reach, and unplugged and stored securely when not in use. Place safety plugs in all electrical outlets.

Above all, be vigilant. Keep your child supervised, both in the bathroom and out of the bathroom.