← Back to full guide | Tip: print it and tape it inside a bathroom or laundry-room cabinet so the everyday hazards stay top of mind

Home Water Safety Checklist for Babies & Toddlers

A young child can drown in less than two inches of water, silently and in seconds. Walk through your home room by room with this checklist and remove the everyday hazards most parents never think about.

WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

🛁 The Bathroom

  • Never leave a baby or toddler alone in the bath — not for a phone call, a towel, or a doorbell. Take the child with you.
  • Practice touch supervision in the tub — stay within arm's reach with eyes on your child the entire time.
  • Drain the tub the moment bath time ends. Don't let standing water sit while you dress the child.
  • Install a toilet-lid lock — curious toddlers can topple in headfirst and can't push back out.
  • Keep the bathroom door closed and consider a doorknob cover so little ones can't wander in alone.
  • Don't rely on bath seats or rings — they are a convenience, not a safety device, and a child can slip under or tip over.
  • Empty buckets, basins, and cleaning pails stored in the bathroom and turn them upside down.

🧺 Kitchen & Laundry Room

  • Never leave a mop bucket or cleaning bucket with liquid in it within a child's reach — empty it right after use.
  • Empty pet water bowls when babies are crawling, or keep them in a gated, supervised area.
  • Keep the dishwasher closed and latched; standing water can collect in the bottom.
  • Keep washing-machine and dryer doors shut and use the child-lock feature if your machine has one.
  • Store 5-gallon buckets empty and upside down. Their straight sides and weight make them especially dangerous for top-heavy toddlers.
  • Wipe up spills and standing water from coolers, sinks, and basins right away.

🏡 Backyard & Outdoors

  • Empty and flip inflatable and kiddie pools after every use — never leave them filled and unattended.
  • Dump out anything that collects rain — buckets, wading pools, planters, toys, and trash-can lids.
  • Cover or secure rain barrels and water features; fountains and ponds need a barrier too.
  • Fence permanent pools and hot tubs with a four-sided, self-closing, self-latching gate — and keep spa covers locked.
  • Keep a Water Watcher on duty any time kids are near outdoor water, even shallow play water.
  • Store hoses and watering cans drained; even a few inches in a container is enough to be dangerous.

✅ Everyday Habits That Save Lives

  • Make "empty it, flip it, drain it" the automatic habit with every container, every time.
  • Designate one Water Watcher — an adult watching the child only, no phone — whenever water is in use.
  • Learn infant and child CPR, and keep a phone nearby to call 911. Seconds matter.
  • Know the real signs of drowning — it's silent and fast, with no splashing or shouting.
  • Enroll your child in age-appropriate swim and water-survival lessons. It's the one layer of protection that goes everywhere they do.

Our Home Water Safety Plan — Fill This In

Emergency number: ____________ (911)
Nearest cross street / address: ______
Today's Water Watcher: ____________
Backup adult: __________________
Who in our home knows CPR: ________
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

Created by WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC, Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Red Cross

Back to the full guide · Bath time safety · Bucket & container drowning

More Related Guides

Keep reading — expert guidance for families with little ones.

Bath Time Safety for Infants
Read Article →
Bucket & Container Drowning
Read Article →
Toddler Water Safety
Read Article →
Inflatable & Kiddie Pool Safety
Read Article →
The Water Watcher Card
Read Article →
The Signs of Drowning
Read Article →

The Best Safety Layer Travels With Your Child

Emptied buckets, locked toilets, and watchful eyes all buy time — swimming and water-survival skill is what protects a child in the moment. Formal swim lessons reduce drowning risk by up to 88% for children ages 1–4. Find a quality, safety-first program near you.

Find Swim Lessons Near You

Keep Reading