Water Safety at Home: Your Questions

As little as 2 inches, according to CPSC (opens in a new tab), and it happens quickly and silently. At home, that means the bathtub, a mop bucket, a cooler of melted ice, a toilet, a pet's water tub or a wading pool can all be dangerous to a toddler. The AAP (opens in a new tab) says never to leave a filled, open-top container of water unattended. Walk through our room-by-room checklist to find the risks in your home.

Sources: cpsc.gov (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

Yes, and it is the most common place babies drown. Among infants under 1, three-quarters of drownings happen in bathtubs (CDC (opens in a new tab)). The AAP (opens in a new tab) says most child drownings inside the home happen in bathtubs, usually during a lapse in adult supervision. Babies can drown silently in 1 or 2 inches of water. Gather everything before the bath and keep a hand on your baby the whole time. See bath time safety.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

No, not even for a moment. The AAP (opens in a new tab) says never to leave your baby alone or in the care of another young child in or near water. Keep a towel and supplies within reach so you can keep a hand on your baby at all times. If you forgot something or need to answer the door, the AAP says to bring your baby with you. The AAP also says children should not bathe alone until they are at least 6. See water safety for babies and crawlers.

Sources: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

Bath seats are a bathing aid, not a safety device. The AAP (opens in a new tab) warns that infant bath seats can tip over and that babies can slip out of them and drown in even a few inches of water. If you use one, keep your hand on your baby the whole time. The AAP says that if you need to answer the door, bring your baby with you, even if you are using a bath seat. See bath time safety and water safety for babies.

Source: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

Yes. CPSC (opens in a new tab) calls toilets an often overlooked drowning hazard, and says the typical case is a child under 3 falling headfirst into the bowl. The AAP (opens in a new tab) suggests latches or locks on toilet seat lids, keeping the bathroom door closed, and taking the bathtub drain plug out when the tub isn't in use. A doorknob cover on the bathroom door helps too. See water hazards at home.

Sources: cpsc.gov (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

Yes. Five-gallon buckets are especially dangerous. CPSC (opens in a new tab) explains that their tall, straight sides and stability make it nearly impossible for a top-heavy infant to get out after toppling in headfirst, and that a bucket is dangerous even when only partly full because it won't tip when a child pulls up on it. CPSC says to empty all containers of liquid right after use and not to leave empty containers outside where they can collect rainwater. See buckets, coolers and containers.

Sources: cpsc.gov (opens in a new tab), cpsc.gov (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

The safest step is to wait. For backyard ponds, fountains and similar water features, the AAP (opens in a new tab) suggests holding off on installing or using them until your child is older. If you already have one, block access with a barrier, keep the yard door locked and never let a young child play outside alone. The AAP also lists wells, irrigation and drainage ditches, and open post holes as hazards. See backyard water hazards.

Source: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

Touch supervision means staying within arm's length of a young child in or near water, close enough to grab them at any moment. The AAP (opens in a new tab) recommends it for babies and toddlers whether it is bath time or swim time, and its 2026 recommendations (opens in a new tab) say the adult should be able to swim and should provide it for weak swimmers too. It means no phone and no stepping away. See Touch supervision and how to supervise kids around water.

Sources: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

A Water Watcher is an adult whose only job is to watch children in the water: no reading, texting or phone games. Pool Safely (opens in a new tab) recommends naming one every time children swim, even when a lifeguard is on duty. At parties, the AAP (opens in a new tab) suggests taking turns and passing a water watcher card to the next responsible adult after a set time, such as every 15 to 20 minutes. Print a and read how to supervise kids around water.

Sources: poolsafely.gov (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

Write down who watches, what blocks access, and what you do in an emergency. Cover the five layers that the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (opens in a new tab) recommends: barriers and alarms, supervision, water skills, life jackets and emergency preparation. Add your home's specific hazards, the rule that a Water Watcher is named before anyone swims, and your address for babysitters to give 911. The builds the plan with you, and our planning guide explains each part.

Sources: ndpa.org (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)

No. The AAP (opens in a new tab) says not to let another young sibling supervise children under 6 in the bath, and its infant guidance says never to leave a baby in the care of another young child in or near water, not even for a moment. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) puts it simply: do not trust a child's life to another child. Older siblings can help, with an adult right there. See rules for babysitters and caregivers.

Sources: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), redcross.org (opens in a new tab)

Use more than one barrier. The AAP (opens in a new tab) suggests safety gates, door locks or doorknob covers, plus door alarms or the door chime on a home security system. Ask older children to always close the door behind them so younger ones don't follow. The CDC (opens in a new tab) adds: after swim time, shut and lock the doors that lead to water. If your toddler goes missing, check the water first. See door alarms and locks.

Sources: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)

No. CPSC (opens in a new tab) says neck floats are not safety devices and that drowning can happen quickly and silently even when a baby seems supported. It received reports of 115 incidents involving infant neck floats from January 2019 to January 2024, including two infant deaths, and has renewed its do-not-use warnings for some models. Keep your baby in your arms in the water. See water safety for babies.

Source: cpsc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Yes. The National Weather Service (opens in a new tab) says just 6 inches of fast-moving floodwater can knock over an adult, and 12 inches can carry away most cars. Over half of flood-related drownings happen when a vehicle is driven into floodwater, and the next most common is walking into or near it. Flash flooding can start within hours of heavy rain, even on city streets (NWS (opens in a new tab)). Never drive or walk into floodwater. See flash flood safety at home.

Sources: weather.gov (opens in a new tab), weather.gov (opens in a new tab)

Do a ten-minute walk-through. Empty every bucket, cooler and wading pool. Put a lock on the toilet lid and a cover on the bathroom doorknob. Check that doors to the yard or pool lock and that the latch is out of a toddler's reach. Then decide who is the Water Watcher at the next bath or swim. The guides you room by room, and the goes on the fridge. The AAP (opens in a new tab) explains why each step matters. See water hazards at home.

Source: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)