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About baby bath aids
Baby bath aids help support babies while they are being bathed.
Baby bath aids help keep a baby’s head up and out of the water, making it easier to wash them. They are not safety devices, always keep at least one hand on your baby.
They are often used in adult sized baths but can be used with baby baths as well. There are a few different types of baby bath aids including:
- bath seats
- cradles
- flotation rings
- hammocks
- recliners
- shower chairs
- supports.
The type of product you use changes as your baby grows.
Baby bath aids are generally made of plastic, rubber or foam. They can also be made of fabric supported on a frame. Some have toys attached to them and some have a base that swivels.
Risks and injuries from the product
Babies and toddlers can suffer serious injuries and drown in baths and baby bath aids.
Remember that bath aids are not safety devices. Drowning can happen within seconds, silently and in water that is only a few centimetres deep.
If children are revived from near drowning, they may suffer permanent brain injury from lack of oxygen to the brain.
Babies and toddlers have drowned when left unsupervised. This can happen if:
- the child slips off, rolls off or climbs out of the bath aid
- the child becomes trapped in the bath aid openings
- another child in the bath plays roughly and pushes the baby out of the bath aid or tips the bath aid over with the baby still in it
- the bath aid tips over.
Things to look for when buying the product
Babies and children have drowned when left unsupervised in bath aids and baths. For this reason, there’s a mandatory standard that suppliers must comply with.
Only buy and use a bath aid that complies with the baby bath aids mandatory standard.
Design and construction
- No sharp edges or points on the bath aid.
- The child fits properly into the bath aid.
- Any toys attached to the bath aid, or removable parts, are not small enough to fit in a baby or toddler’s mouth. They may be a choking risk.
Marks and labels
- The baby bath aid has a safety warning statement that is easy to read and clearly displayed.
- The safety warning statement is permanent. It should not come off when handled. It should withstand warm soapy water for the life of the product.
The safety warning statement must have these words in this type of format as required by the mandatory safety standard:
WARNING — Children have DROWNED while using bath aids. This is NOT a safety device. ALWAYS keep baby within arm’s reach. NEVER leave baby in care of children.
The safety warning will look something like this:
How to use the product safely
Keep your baby safe by following this guidance.
Set up and use baby bath aids safely
- Follow the product assembly and use instructions.
- Follow product guidelines for your baby’s age, size and development.
- Make sure you don’t cover or remove the safety warning statement.
- Don’t keep baby bath aids if the safety warnings have become hard to read.
Hands on supervision is a must for bath time
- Always supervise your baby or toddler when around water.
- Stay with your baby while they’re in the bath, or while running the bath, to keep them safe from drowning.
- Always keep at least one hand supporting your baby when around water. This helps prevent them from slipping face first into or under water. Babies may not have the neck strength to move their head or face away from the water.
- Ignore distractions like the phone. If you need to leave the room, you must take baby with you.
- Have your supplies ready and within arm’s reach before you start bathing baby.
- Don’t rely on older children to supervise your baby or toddler while in the bath. They may think the baby or toddler is playing. They might not raise an alarm in time. Children often don’t know what to do if something happens or they think they might get into trouble.
Knowing how to perform resuscitation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is important. Visit Royal Life Saving Society Australia for information about resuscitation training.
