Quick guide
Bath Safety Checklist (TFBP)
Bath time is a routine activity—but drowning can be quick and silent. This checklist operationalizes “active supervision” into simple, repeatable steps.
1) STAGE (before water is turned on)
- Towel(s) within arm’s reach
- Washcloth, soap/shampoo within arm’s reach
- Diaper, clothes, cream within arm’s reach
- Phone silenced and set aside
Evidence basis: retrieving towel/clothes is a common interruption trigger in bathtub incidents. Source.
2) TOUCH (while baby is in the tub)
- Keep continuous physical contact or a controlling hand position
- Stay within arm’s reach at all times
- Do not rely on bath seats as “safety devices”
Supporting context: CPSC emphasizes that drowning can be quick and silent and can occur in very small depths of water. Source.
3) INTERRUPTIONS = Extract → Secure → Resolve
If anything pulls your attention (door, phone, sibling, pet, etc.), the default is a drill:
- Extract: remove baby from the water immediately
- Secure: towel-wrap and hold (or use a validated wrap/apron only after extraction)
- Resolve: handle the interruption only once baby is secure
Non‑negotiable: Never leave a child unattended in or near water—even “for a second.”