Bathroom Safety: General

. Bathroom door should be kept closed when the bathroom is not in use. To prevent a child from entering, use a door knob cover or hook-and-eye latch.
. Be sure your locked bathroom door can be unlocked from the outside. . Use nonskid bath rugs.
. Use a safety latch on the toilet lid. . Cover the wastebasket.
. Keep cleaning products and harmful items out of sight and out of reach. . Keep medications in a locked cabinet or box.

Bathroom Safety: Electrical Hazards

. Unplug electrical appliances when not in use.
. Keep hair dryers, razors, and electrical curlers unplugged and out of reach of children.
. Do not use electrical appliances around water.
. Install ground fault circuit interrupters.

Bathtub Safety:

. Lower the household water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If necessary, install an anti-scald device to keep the water temperature less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold water should be turned on first and turned off last. Separate hot and cold water faucets can be hazardous. It is best to have a single faucet.
. Before placing a child in the tub, test the water temperature.
. Do not leave soap bars or shampoo containers on the side of the tub.
. Tub should be empty of water when not in use.
. For younger infants, use an infant tub.
. Do not leave child under the age of 5 - or older if child has increased risk - alone in the tub or shower.
. Stay with the child during bathing. No interruptions. Ignore the phone.
. Purchase a nonskid bath mat or nonskid decals to prevent a slippery tub.
. Use a protective cover over the tub spout to prevent bumps and burns.

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Information about Bathroom Safety was graciously shared by Dr. Patricia Keener, author of Caring for Kids: Useful Information & Hard-to-find Facts About Child Health and Development , and Riley Hospital for Children.