Bathing an infant

Alternate Names

Bathing safety tips; Infant bathing; Newborn bathing; Bathing your newborn baby

What to Do at Home

Bath time can be fun. But you need to be very careful with your child around water. Most drowning deaths in children happen at home, most times when the caregiver leaves a child alone in the bathroom. Do not leave your child alone around water, not even for a few seconds.

Ways to Prevent Bathing Accidents

These tips can help you prevent accidents in the bath:

• Stay close enough to your child so that you can reach out and hold them if they slip or fall in the tub.
• Use non-skid decals or a mat inside the tub to prevent slipping.
• Use toys in the tub to keep your child busy and sitting down, and away from the faucet.
• Keep the temperature of your water heater below 120° F to prevent burns.
• Keep all sharp objects, such as razors and scissors, out of your child’s reach.
• Unplug all electric items, such as hair dryers and radios.
• Empty the tub after bath time is over.
• Keep the floor and your child’s feet dry to prevent slipping.

Extra Tips for Newborns

You will need to be extra careful when bathing your newborn:

• Have a towel ready to wrap your newborn in to dry and keep them warm right after the bath.
• Keep your baby’s umbilical cord dry.
• Use warm, not hot, water. Place your elbow under the water to check temperature.
• Wash your baby’s head last so that their head does not get too cold.
• Bath your baby every 3 days.

Bathroom Safety

Other tips that can protect your child in the bathroom are:

• Store medicines in the child-proof containers they came in. Keep the medicine cabinet locked.
• Keep cleaning products out of reach of children.
• Keep bathroom doors closed so your child cannot get in when they are not being used.
• Place a door knob cover over the outside door handle.
• Do not ever leave your child alone in the bathroom.
• Place a lid lock on the toilet seat to keep a curious toddler from drowning.

When to Call the Doctor

Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about the safety of your bathroom or your child’s bathing routine.

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References

Brenner RA, et al. Prevention of drowning in infants, children, and adolescents. A technical report of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention). Pediatrics. 2003 August; 112( 2): 437-439.