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Did you know that there is actually an increasing rate of infant drownings reported amongst bath seat users? Why is this? Aren’t baby bath seats supposed to prevent injuries and drownings? Should you throw out your bath seat altogether? Certainly, this at least merits a closer look!
The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that between 1983 and 1995, parental supervision lapsed in 90% of the infant drowning cases they investigated. A study published in Pediatrics online magazine showed that parents are more likely to leave their children unattended in the bath if they are in a bath seat.
So as a concerned parent, what can you do? Should you throw out your bath seat or ring, or not buy one for your baby? Some parents do just this, and struggle with holding baby upright in the tub. Some even bathe each night with their baby, holding him between their legs. If you do decide to buy a bathseat, clearly the key is in careful product selection and in close parental supervision. Let’s look at the advantages of a bath seat, as well as some of the factors you should consider when shopping for a bath seat.
What does a bath seat offer? The reason that so many parents buy bath seats and rings is for added safety and convenience. While you don’t ever want to leave baby alone in the tub, it’s great to have a seat or ring to hold him up so you can use your free hand(s) to wash and shampoo. A soapy baby can be incredibly slippery, as we’ve all experienced, and a bathseat can help stabilize him while you wash.
There are several models available to choose from. Here are a few safety criteria to look at when you are buying a bathseat:
Security: Does the bath seat or ring hold the baby in securely? Can baby easily crawl out, or maneuver her legs under the bars? Is there a seat belt to hold baby in place? Is the shape designed to hold baby in securely (conformed to the baby’s shape)?
Stability: Does the seat have rubber seals on the bottom to hold it in place in the tub? How wide is the base? Will it tip over? Spinning seats may be fun for baby, but may add extra risk of tipping if they aren’t well balanced.
Adjustable: Is the fit adjustable to your baby? A one-size-fits-all approach may pinch a larger baby and allow a smaller baby to crawl out. Even a larger baby may be able to contort his legs out of a fixed seat. A seat with an adjustable bar will allow you to lock in baby at the right setting for his size.
Distractions: Does the seat itself have any spinning knobs, beads or toys? If so, are there any sharp edges or small parts that may
break off? Toys can be a blessing if they distract your baby, and keep her from trying to crawl out of her bathseat. You will want to make sure, though, that there aren’t any potentially dangerous parts!
Some Tips for Bath Seat Use:
• Never, ever, ever leave a child unattended in the tub, even for a moment. Let the phone ring, ignore the doorbell, and grab that item you forgot later.
• Try to keep all of your toys and accessories within easy reach. A plastic handled carry-all is a great way to keep baby’s shampoo, soap, washrag and a few toys all together near the tub.
• Always test the water before you put baby into the tub. Remember baby’s skin is more sensitive, so run water on the inside of your wrist before setting her into her bath seat.
• To wash baby’s bottom in a bath seat, simply undo the bar, lift baby’s bottom up, and wash around with the soapy washcloth. Rinse out the washcloth, lift baby up again and swish around again to get the soap off. Be sure to relatch the bar in front when you’re done.
Always remember that no bath seat can ever replace close parental supervision. Don’t leave baby alone in or even near the tub when the water is running. An unsupervised baby could lean over to reach into the tub and fall in in an instant.
A well-selected bathseat can help keep baby upright in the water, and help keep him from slipping out of your grasp. Be aware, though, that even the most well designed bathseats are easy targets for tiny fingers, and your little Houdini may master his bathseat’s locks easily! No matter how old your baby is, nothing can replace your presence with him in the tub.
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