Baby bath aids – safety alert

bath; aids; rings; seats; cradles; drown; drowning;

 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a safety alert about baby bath aids.

Baby bath aids come in a range of styles from bath rings and seats to bathing cradles. A baby bath aid provides support for a baby while leaving your hands free to wash your baby. Baby aids are not safety devices.

Six babies under 13 months have drowned in a bath aid in Australia over 10 years and many more have come close to drowning.

What could happen:

• The baby aid could tip over – the suction cups may not stick completely to the bathtub's surface.
• The baby may climb out of the bath aid.
• The baby may become trapped in an opening of the bath aid.

Never leave your child alone in the bath or in the care of an older child. Ignore the telephone and the doorbell – if you need to leave the bathroom, take your child with you.

For more information and a safety checklist have a look at the ACCC brochure 'Baby bath aids – safety alert'

The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).

This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.