Baby bathtime warning for parents as 'safety device' could be raising risk of drowning

Dangerous so-called safety devices are putting at risk of , a charity has revealed.

Although no parent would leave their infant on their own in the tub, some may be tempted if they are in a bath seat. Now the (RLSS UK) has warned the majority of those under one who drowned in the last four years (seven in every 10) were using the device at the time of their deaths.

The charity said seven in every 10 infants who died were using a bath mat. Last month, the RLSS US revealed at least one child a month drowned at home in England since 2020.

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Charity director Matt Croxall said: “We find it heartbreaking to learn one child a month is drowning at home. In a bid to reduce the number of young lives lost, our latest report seeks to help shed light on the factors contributing to child drownings, so we can help more families be aware of the risks and stay safe.

“In 86% of child drownings, the child was unsupervised by an adult at the time of the incident. In some cases of bath drownings, the parent had only left the bathroom for a moment, and this emphasises just how quickly and silently a child can drown – in a matter of minutes.

“We always advise parents and carers to keep young children within arm’s reach in water. And if you do need to leave the bathroom at all, take the child with you.”

In response to the findings, RLSS UK launched a new campaign, Splash Safety at your Pad, which is running 1-31 October 2024. The campaign is hoping to raise awareness among parents and carers of young children about the importance of water safety when at home, with a particular focus on bathtime, the reported.

Matt added: “We are pleased to introduce our Splash Safety at your Pad campaign, which aims to share important water safety messages with families across the UK and Ireland in a fun and engaging way. We hope this campaign has a positive impact on families with young ones and can help promote fun and safe bathtimes for all children.”