My best advice is to try to shower while your baby is sleeping safely in her crib (see previous articles regarding crib safety) with a baby monitor to alert you if your baby awakens. I realize that it is not always possible to coordinate showers with nap time, so perhaps the following tips will help you and your baby shower safely.
Create a safe environment in your bathroom in which your child can play. Start by latching the cabinets securely to keep all cleaners, cosmetics, toiletries, razors, blow dryers, curling irons and jewelry locked away. Magnetic Tot-Loks are the best solution for bathrooms because you will want to keep these items away from your children for several years to come.
Do not overlook the wastebasket. The plastic liner can be a choke and suffocation hazard, and the contents may also be dangerous. For this reason, it is best to keep wastebaskets in latched cabinets as well.
Next, make sure the toilet is latched to prevent access to the water both from a safety and hygiene perspective. Unfortunately, several top-heavy toddlers each year still get upside down in the toilet and drown. If the drowning hazard is not motivation enough, just imagine what your child will do after moistening her fingers in the toilet. That’s right; just like everything else, right in the mouth.
Finally, you need to contain your baby within the bathroom. Depending upon the age of your baby, containing her in the bathroom area can be achieved by using an infant carrier or carseat (placed on the floor – not the counter!), a play-pen, a door latch or a safety gate. A play saucer proved invaluable to our family for this purpose.
Again, there is no substitute for direct supervision of your baby, but hopefully following these tips will give you the piece of mind to grab a quick shower safely. We all know that showering regularly makes for a happier mommy and, thereby, a happier baby.