As babies become more mobile, parents need to consider baby-proofing certain rooms. One room that is often overlooked is the bathroom. However, after a few easy steps, the bathroom can be just as safe as any other room in the home.

 Step One: Relocate Dangerous Items

The first thing parents, grandparents or child care providers can do is remove sharp and dangerous items such as scissors, fingernail clippers, razors and tweezers from the bathroom Move these to a shelf in the closet or store them in a high, locked cabinet. Make sure that any prescription or over-the-counter medication as well as herbal supplements and vitamins are moved to a locked cabinet or are put out of reach of small, curious hands. It might be an inconvenience but will make the bathroom safe for children.

 Step Two: Check the Hot Water Heater

Scalding from hot water is a big concern when giving babies and toddlers a bath. Check the home’s hot water heater and make sure it is set to 130 degrees or below. Some companies also sell anti-scalding devices that can be added to faucets for additional protection.

 Step Three: Protect the Head

As children grow, they become more mobile when in the bathtub. Purchase rubber guards to place on the tub spout and counter-top edges to protect children if they should collide with either of these.

 Step Four: Prevent Slippage

Another step to take when baby-proofing a bathroom is adding a nonslip mat or surface both in and outside of the bath tub. The mat in the tub will protect baby and parents from slipping while standing up in the tub. A mat outside the tub will protect the whole family from slipping, should the floor become wet.

Step Five: Lock the Toilet Down

Toilets might look harmless but they can be a drowning hazard if a child were to fall head-first into the water. Install a toilet lock that prevents children from lifting the lid. Locking your toilet also protects the toilet itself from your baby—toys, jewelry, food, and cellphones have been known to find their way into the toilet bowl when there’s a toddler around. To save yourselves some costly replacements, troublesome drain cleaning, and a lot of headaches, keep the toilet closed at all times when there’s a baby or toddler with access to the bathroom.

Informational credit to Valley Plumbing and Drain Cleaning