Bath time is a fun and essential part of a child's routine, but it’s also a moment when water safety is crucial. With our 'Splash Safely at Home' campaign, we want to ensure you know how to keep your children safe while splashing in the bath.

According to the RLSS UK's Child Drowning Update (September 2024), in England, an average of one child drowned at home each month between 2019-2023.  

More than half of parents surveyed (55%) believe that children who are struggling in water usually thrash about and make a lot of noise, but drowning happens quickly and quietly in as little as 5cm (2 inches) of water - enough to cover a child’s mouth and nose.*

Please take time to read RLSS UK's expert advice below to ensure that bath time is as safe as can be!  

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Bath Time Water Safety Tips

Supervise at all times

Always keep your child within arm's reach when they’re in or near water. Remember, babies can be slippery when wet and soapy, meaning they can easily slip under the water. A drowning child can’t speak or control their arms, so constant supervision from an adult is vital. 

Worryingly, 2 in 5 parents (41%) believe it's safe to leave a baby in the bath with an older sibling, as long as it's not for too long. 

Never leave your child in the bath under the supervision of child siblings as they're too young to understand the dangers. 

Fill the bath with just enough water to cover your child’s legs. A shallow depth reduces the risk of drowning while still allowing for plenty of splashy fun.

Avoid distractions

7 in 10 parents of young children admit to checking or using their mobile phone whilst their child is in the bath.

The best way to prevent accidents is to give your froglets your undivided attention, so leave your phone outside the bathroom to avoid distraction - it can't be that ribbiting! 

Find everything you need

Before you start running the bath, get towels, toiletries, toys, nappies and clean clothes or pyjamas ready to go. 

In the last month, 59% of parents of under 5s left their child unattended in the bath, even just for a moment. This was often because they'd forgotten something, such as a towel – you should never leave your child in the bath. If you need to leave the bathroom, be sure to take your child with you. 

Empty it

Check that the Water has Drained - Toys can easily block the plughole, leaving water unexpectedly in the tub - so make sure you check that the water has drained. Of the 1,003 parents we surveyed, just over half (51%) told us that they don't always check this. 

Keep the plug and toys out of reach when not in use and shut the bathroom door to limit children's access without a grown-up.

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Don't forget to share the campaign to friends and family

Protecting your children from the dangers of water starts at home. Please help us to spread the word by sharing our #SplashSafelyAtHome messages on social media and share this webpage with all your family and friends.

Together, we can ensure that our froglets don't hop into harm at bath time!

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Would you know what to do if a baby or child stopped breathing?

‘Save a Baby’s Life’ and 'Save a Child's Life' workshops aim to teach basic emergency skills to anyone who cares for a baby or child. Learn basic life support (CPR), how to manage an infant who is choking, and prevention and treatment of drowning in infants.

Learn more about Save a Life Workshops

For further advice about using bath seats please visit RLSS UK's bath seat advice webpage:

Bath Seat Advice

For further advice about washing and bathing your baby, please visit the NHS website:

NHS bathing your baby guidance

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*Source: RLSS UK consumer survey of parents of children under five years from across the UK (September 2024).