Baby Talk - 8/11/16

As fun as this can be, it is essential to remain vigilant when it comes to water safety with a baby or toddler. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1-4. Additionally, about half of drownings occur within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. Drowning is a silent killer, occurring quietly and quickly, often within seconds. The waving, splashing, and yelling associated with TV drowning is rarely seen in real life.

Here are a few drowning-prevention tips:

• Never leave a child unattended around water – A child can drown in a bathtub, toilet, bucket, pool, lake…any body of water. If you must run into the house, either take your child with you or assign a trustworthy adult to keep a careful eye on your child.

• Designate a water watcher – If at the pool or at the beach with a number of adults, have each take turns (15-30 minutes) watching the children – no cell phone, iPad, magazines, books, people watching, etc. Every single second, their eyes on only on the children.

• Teach your child to swim – Babies as young as four months can enroll in swimming lessons. Learning to swim can be a life-saving skill. Just having your child know how to float on their back could be a potential life saver. Be sure that you, or those you put in charge of watching your child, know how to swim and have the physical ability to save a child’s life if necessary.

• Recognize water toys as water toys – Floaties, noodles, and plastic inner tubes will not protect your child from drowning. They are designed to be water toys, not life-saving devices.

What other water safety tips do you have? Please, share!