Supervise at all times
Babies can drown in as little as 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) of water in just a few seconds. Always stay within sight and reach of your child when in or around water, including bathtubs, sinks and toilets.
Bath seats and bath rings are not safe
Bath seats and rings are not safety devices. These products can give parents and caregivers a false sense of security. Parents report they were more comfortable leaving their baby alone in the bathtub for a few moments if the baby was in a bath seat. But bath seats and rings are dangerous.
Bath seats can easily tip over or your baby may climb or fall out. Bath ring arms that attach to the side of the tub can slip and trap your baby under water. In addition, your baby can slip under the bath ring and become trapped under the water.
For more information on the hazards of bath seats and bath rings visit Consumer Product Safety, Health Canada or call 1-866-662-0666.
Don’t rely on older siblings
Never leave a baby alone in a bathtub with an older sibling or siblings. Many severe tap-water scalds and drownings have occurred when children were supervised by an older sibling.