There is something about a bathroom that children find magical. Anyone who has children will tell you, no matter where they go the children have to go to the bathroom. Notice I did not say use the bathroom, because most of the time they do not use it, they just want to explore.
While we teach our children the basics of personal hygiene such as daily bathing, washing their hands, brushing their teeth, and of course, potty training, we also need to teach them the dangers associated with the bathroom.
Children are drawn to water like ducks. There is water everywhere in this special little room. There is water in the tub, the toilet and in the sinks. And they love it no matter where it is. Therefore, the bathroom becomes one of their favorite rooms in the house.
As adults there are precautions we must take to ensure the safety of our little ones. Never, under any circumstances, should you leave a child alone in the bathtub even for a minute. If the phone rings or if someone knocks on the door remove the child from the tub and take him with you. You should also close the bathroom door behind you to ensure that if put down, the child can not return to the tub to attempt to resume his bath alone. It takes only a second for a child to fall in the bathtub. These falls can be very serious or even fatal.
Always keep the bathroom door closed to prevent your child from getting into the room unsupervised. If your child is big enough to open the door alone it would be well worth the few dollars it will cost to buy one of the safety covers to place over the door knob. While easy for an adult or an older child to use, a young child does not have the dexterity to squeeze the safety knob and turn it at the same time. While there is not water always in the bathtub or in the sinks, there is always water in the toilet. Without the upper body strength to pull themselves out of the toilet, a small child becomes trapped. Although there is only a few inches of water, it is enough for a small child to drown.
All cleaners and medications should be kept in a locked cabinet. While many of us do not think of toothpaste or mouthwash as being a poison, it can be to a small child who may eat or drink it because they like the taste. Do not think that just because you do not think something tastes good that your small child will think the same way.
With unrefined and undeveloped taste buds, children have been known to drink shampoo, body soap, bleach, hydrogen peroxide and many other common household substances, sometimes with fatal results. Install a lock on your medicine cabinet to prevent your child from an accidental drug overdose.
While we want our child to become independent in the bathroom, be patient, with your instruction, advice, warnings and a good lock it will come with time. |
