Safety in the bathroom

I really struggled with myself about posting this for fear of people leaving hateful responses.. but I am, if for nothing else awareness. And before I get any rude comments, read it through.Well guys, I have a little girl who is almost two. We are teaching her to brush her little teeth and use her big girl potty and bathe herself. Basic hygiene really. As usual before bed time, I take Maddison into the bathroom, and we brush our teeth together, try to use the potty, then take a bath. I get the water running make sure its not to hot and once there is a few inches in there I put her in to splash around. she likes filling up her bath cup with the water and dumping it out. Well i was in the bathroom with her but I was cleaning off the counter when she says “Hot” which made me immediately run and pick her up. She wasn’t burned, but today was the day she figured out how to turn the knobs on the faucet and she could have been. I felt horrible for the incident and immediately told James (the other half) to go turn down the water heater. Something I hadn’t even thought about until that moment. This sort of thing happens a lot and is easily prevented. Some aren’t as lucky as Maddison and I were. So heres the moral, keep your water heater no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Being in the room not even two feet away wasn’t enough apparently. I feel guilty and irresponsible. So maybe me bringing this up will make someone run and check their water temp and prevent this from happening to one of their children.

Here are some other things to think about for bathroom safety…
Preventing Poisonings
The most common source of bathroom poisonings bathrooms is:

• Vitamins containing iron
• Aspirin or acetaminophen
• Topical ointments and sprays
• Tranquilizers and sedatives
• Cold preparations
• Rubbing alcohol
• Almost any prescription taken improperly

Electrical Safety
Water and electricity have to exist in harmony in bathrooms. Reduce the danger by doing
the following:

• Unplug appliances after use
• Store electrical appliances out of reach
• Do not use electrical appliances around water
• Install ground fault circuit interrupters

Tub Safety
Burns, falls and drownings can occur in the tub. A few simple steps minimize the risks:

• Lower the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
• Install an anti-scald device to keep the water temperature safe
• Test the water temperature before your child enters
• Remove soap bars or shampoo from the side of the tub
• Empty the tub should when not in use
• Do not leave child under the age of 5 alone in the tub or shower
• Stay with the child during bathing
• Purchase a nonskid bath mat or nonskid decals
• Use a protective cover over the tub spout to prevent bumps and burns

Two other places that draw a youngster’s attention are the trash basket and toilet. While neither is particularly sanitary, they can also be sources of cuts or drowning. Cover your wastebasket; there are many lids available that kids cannot open. Use a safety latch on the toilet lid, and be vigilant of children in walkers around it.