Bathtub & Bath Time Safety Checklist

For parents and caregivers of babies and toddlers — post it on the bathroom wall

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Fill in the shaded section, then tape this checklist where you bathe your child.

Keep This Information Handy

Child's name(s):  
Child's age(s):  
Pediatrician phone:  
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
Home address (for 911):  
Allergies/medical:  
Water heater set to (max 120°F):  
Emergency: dial 911

Before the Bath

  • Gather everything first — towel, washcloth, soap, clean diaper, and clothes within arm's reach. If supplies are ready, you never have to leave your child to fetch them.
  • Fill the tub only 2–4 inches for a baby or toddler — enough to wash, never more. A child can drown in just 1–2 inches of water.
  • Test the water temperature — aim for about 100°F (warm, not hot). Swirl the water and test with your wrist or elbow to avoid hot spots.
  • Set your water heater to 120°F or lower — this helps prevent accidental scald burns from a tap that gets bumped on.
  • Use a non-slip bath mat inside the tub and on the floor — falls and slips are common during bath time.
  • Silence your phone and ignore the door — decide before the bath that calls, texts, and the doorbell all wait until your child is out and dry.

During the Bath — Never Leave, Not for a Second

  • Stay within arm's reach at all times — "touch supervision" means close enough to grab your child instantly. Watching from the doorway is not enough.
  • Keep one hand on your baby if they cannot sit up steadily on their own. Constant contact is the safest position for infants.
  • A bath seat or bath ring is NOT a safety device — it can tip over or a child can slip out and become trapped underwater. It does not replace your hands or your eyes.
  • Never leave the room, not even "just for a second" — most bathtub drownings happen during a brief lapse in supervision averaging only a few minutes.
  • Do not rely on an older sibling to supervise — only a responsible adult can supervise a baby or toddler in the bath.
  • Remember that drowning is silent — there is no splashing or crying out. A child can slip under without a sound, which is why your eyes must stay on them.

If You Must Step Away

  • Take the child with you — every time. Wrap your baby or toddler in a towel and bring them along. There is no errand worth leaving them alone in water.
  • Never prop the child up and "be right back." If the phone, door, or another child needs you, the bathing child comes too.

After the Bath

  • Drain the tub completely and immediately — never leave standing water in a tub a child can reach.
  • Store the tub empty and upright — empty baby tubs, buckets, and basins right away. A curious toddler can topple headfirst into even a small amount of water.
  • Close the bathroom door and latch the toilet lid — use a toilet lock and keep the bathroom door shut so it is not an accessible water hazard between baths.
  • Empty mop buckets and cleaning pails — never leave them filled and unattended where a young child can reach them.

In an Emergency

  • Get the child out and call 911 immediately — have your home address posted at the top of this sheet so anyone can read it to the dispatcher.
  • Start CPR if the child is not breathing — if you know infant/child CPR, begin right away. If not, the 911 dispatcher will talk you through it. Do not stop until help arrives.
  • Learn infant and child CPR before you need it — the American Red Cross and American Heart Association offer classes. It is the most valuable bath time skill a parent can have.

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