Water safety

Water is great for cleaning and drinking. But it can be a hazard for babies. They can drown in only a few inches of water. Here are some water safety tips:

• Empty your mop bucket right after using it.
• In the house and outside, store buckets, wash tubs and other large containers upside down.
• Always keep one hand on your baby while he’s in the bath.
• Use a rubber mat, rubber decals or a bath chair to keep your baby from slipping in the bathtub.

• Keep toilet lids closed. Use safety latches, if possible.
• Save swimming until your baby is out of diapers. Play with a trickling hose or sprinkler instead. Babies are not toilet trained, so they can leave germs in swimming pools. Chlorine kills most swimming pool germs but not all of them. And it takes only a tiny number of germs to cause infections.
• If you live near a swimming pool, make sure it is fenced and has a locked gate. Keep your baby away from any pools, ponds and creeks.