BABY-PROOFING YOUR BATHROOM AND KITCHEN PLUMBING

Kitchens and bathrooms can be dangerous places for babies, toddlers, and young children. Even with Mom or Dad supervising, the water and electricity used in plumbing appliances can cause accidents. Baby-proofing your bathroom and kitchen makes sense, and that means developing safe habits as well as installing safety equipment and devices.

A Baby-Proof Bathroom

Water safety takes first place when it comes to making your bathroom plumbing safer for your baby. Water as shallow as one inch presents a drowning hazard, and scalds from hot water are another danger. To help keep your baby or toddler safe:

• Fit a toilet lid lock.
• Fit a latch on the bathroom door, too high for a young child to reach.
• Cover faucets with burn-prevention devices.
• Set your water heater to below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place anti-slip mats in your tub and shower.

Baby-Proofing Your Kitchen

Dishwashers, kitchen faucets and electricity can be dangerous for your baby while he or she is in the kitchen.

• Close your dishwasher when you aren't using it.
• Install anti-scald devices on your faucets.
• Wipe up any spills on the floor immediately to avoid slipping hazards.

More Tips to Keep Your Baby Safe

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) help keep your baby safe in the kitchen and bathroom. Wherever water and electricity are in proximity in your home, GFCIs reduce the risk of electrocution by cutting the electricity if there's a fault.

However, regardless of the safety devices you use, nothing beats Mom's or Dad's watchful eye. It's never safe to leave a baby, toddler, or young child alone in a kitchen or bathroom.

It doesn't take long to install some safety devices to protect your baby, and it gives you some peace of mind. For more information on baby-proofing your kitchen and bathroom plumbing, contact Ragsdale.