X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Yet Another Reason Why Unsupervised Bath Times Are Lethal to Children

3 min read

It had been a fun day playing snow outside. When it was time to head back into the house, Joanne Pedlow drew a warm bath and put her two-year-old daughter and seven-month-old son in the tub.

She stepped out of the bathroom for a minute to attend to her guests waiting at the front door, and that was when she heard the chilling screams of her daughter upstairs.

Rushing back upstairs, Joanne found a heartbreaking scene before her. Seven-month-old Alex, who had been in his bath seat was face-first in the belly-deep water with his bottom sticking up out of the bubbles.

“According to Joanne, the bath seat was secured to the tub with suction cups and the bathwater did not reach past the bath seat’s water level marker,” reports said.

When the paramedics arrived, they were unable to find the baby’s pulse.  He was then rushed to the hospital where he was put on life support for four days but never regained consciousness.

Yet Another Reason Why Unsupervised Bath Times Are Lethal to Children

Image source: iStock

Dr. Samuel Lamont, a consultant paediatrician with the Belfast Health Trust, said the toddler suffered a catastrophic brain injury after being submerged in bathwater.

As the doctors removed Alex’s life support, the toddler took three or four small breaths, then died in his mother’s arms.

“He was quite a big child and was quite heavy, I think he had leaned forward and toppled it [the seat] over,” Joanne said

“This has highlighted the important issue for parents about the dangers posed when a child is left unsupervised for a short period of time and even in the shallowest of water,” said Coroner Suzanne Anderson.

“Hopefully this message will serve to spare the agony this family has had to endure.”

Alex’s mother and his father, Stephen McCartney, donated his liver, both kidneys and his heart to save the lives of other infants.

Bath time reminders

childproofing your home

Image source: iStock

Partner Stories
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Bathroom Cleaning 101: A Complete Clean in Just 5 Minute Featuring Tips from Zoe Raymond
Bathroom Cleaning 101: A Complete Clean in Just 5 Minute Featuring Tips from Zoe Raymond
Welcoming a Newborn 101: 4 Handy Tips that All New Dads Should Know
Welcoming a Newborn 101: 4 Handy Tips that All New Dads Should Know
  • Bathing your children every day dries out their skin. Simple wet wipes would suffice, especially if you focus on these key areas: face, neck, and diaper area.
  • Whether you give them a bath in the morning or night does not matter; it’s a matter of personal choice. They all have their own benefits: morning baths make for a more fun experience, while night baths help babies sleep better.
  • The recommended amount of water in the tub 2 to 3 inches (about 5 to 8 centimetres) of warm water. To keep the baby warm, pour warm water over his or her body throughout the bath.

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below.

Yet Another Reason Why Unsupervised Bath Times Are Lethal to Children

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

James Martinez

  • Home
  • /
  • Parenting
  • /
  • Yet Another Reason Why Unsupervised Bath Times Are Lethal to Children
Share:
  • 5 Essential Baby Bathing Tips That Every New Parent Should Know

    5 Essential Baby Bathing Tips That Every New Parent Should Know

  • 6 Reasons Why You Should Not Bathe Your Baby Just After Birth

    6 Reasons Why You Should Not Bathe Your Baby Just After Birth

  • Neighbour Complains Of Crying Baby, Mum Hits Back With A Witty Letter

    Neighbour Complains Of Crying Baby, Mum Hits Back With A Witty Letter

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • 5 Essential Baby Bathing Tips That Every New Parent Should Know

    5 Essential Baby Bathing Tips That Every New Parent Should Know

  • 6 Reasons Why You Should Not Bathe Your Baby Just After Birth

    6 Reasons Why You Should Not Bathe Your Baby Just After Birth

  • Neighbour Complains Of Crying Baby, Mum Hits Back With A Witty Letter

    Neighbour Complains Of Crying Baby, Mum Hits Back With A Witty Letter

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.