Taking your pet to the spa can be very expensive and time consuming, but you don’t have to pay big bucks to get your dog into a special spa. In fact, you can do your own spa treatment right at home. It’s a great way to bond with your dog and since most dogs prefer to hang out with their own humans, this is something that your dog is bound to enjoy.

What You’ll Need

There are a few essentials that you’ll need in order to give your canine friend a good experience. Items such as a comb or brush, shampoo and towels are all a very necessary part of bathing your pet. However, these are just the basics. To make the at home spa treatment something different from a normal bath, here are a few items that will make the whole experience better.

- Lavender scented conditioner. Make sure it’s formulated for dogs and don’t try using human conditioner which can burn sensitive skin.

- Music. Most pets really enjoy music and this can have a calming effect on both of you.

- Detangler spray. This is very helpful if your dog has long hair that tends to mat in the bath.

- Removable shower head. This allows you to easily rinse your dog without having to dump buckets of water on him.

- Knee pads. These will keep your knees from getting sore as you kneel by the tub.

- Non-slip bath mat. To prevent slipping and sliding, your pet can stand on the bath mat.

These extras will help your dog truly enjoy his spa treatment and it will make things easier on you, as well.

Tips for a Successful Spa Session

- Start with a massage. Get your dog nice and relaxed by stroking him and then lightly massaging his back and sides. Start lightly and then increase the pressure to where your dog seems happy. Watch for the sensitive area where the hips join the body, this can be rather ticklish.

- Keep treats handy. This is a pampering experience, so be sure to have some of your dog’s favorite treats on hand. Throughout the session, compliment him on his great behavior and give him a treat.

- Use conditioner to add shine. One of the great things about a spa treatment is that your pet’s coat is bright and shiny afterwards. The best way to get this professional look is with a good conditioner and then spritz a high shine spray over his fur as you brush him out.

- Don’t use a blow dryer. While it may seem faster, the heat can be too much for the sensitive skin of your pet. It’s best to simply dry your dog with a big fluffy towel instead.

- Brush first. This will ensure that the extra hair will end up in the brush or mitt, rather than your tub drain. Since most dogs tend to shed, even if you’ve done a thorough brushing, it can be useful to get a drain trap. This is simply a small bowl made of metal screening that sits in the drain, catching anything that threatens to go down. You can just lift it out and clean it later, without having to deal with clogged drains.

Giving your pet a home spa treatment can be a wonderful way to spend some quality time together. The end result is pretty nice, too. You’ll have a sweet smelling dog who will be thrilled that you took the time to spend with him. Most animals are also calmer after a soothing treatment that includes aromatherapy (the lavender conditioner or spray) and music, along with a massage.



By: Amy Nutt

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There is a professional and an amateur way to bath your Shih Tzu. Bathing your Shih Tzu should be done only after the coat is thoroughly brushed and combed. The professional will prepare all necessary materials to be ready at hand before putting the Shih Tzu in the tub. These materials are a sponge, bristle brush, container of shampoo and a heavy towel. A hose attached to the faucet with a spray is most helpful. Water temperature should not be too hot or too cold.

Start at your Shih Tzu’s hindquarters and completely soak the Shih Tzu. Use your hands if necessary to force the water through the Shih Tzu’s coat. Some Shih Tzu have coats that is more water resistant than others. Do not fill the tub with water. Let the water run freely down the drain. To correct bath your Shih Tzu is more like giving it a shower than a bath.

Once the Shih Tzu is thoroughly soaked, saturate the sponge with shampoo and from the rear to front, shampoo every part of the Shih Tzu. Areas that are frequently overlooked of the Shih Tzu are the anus and the foot pads. Be especially careful about shampooing around the eyes of your Shih Tzu. Always use a tearless shampoo to wash the face and around the eye area of your Shih Tzu. A toothbrush works well to wash around the eyes and on either side of the nose just under your Shih Tzu’s eye.

After shampooing your Shih Tzu, take the bristle brush and work the shampoo thoroughly into the coat. Rinse all the shampoo out of your Shih Tzu’s coat. Rinse your Shih Tzu until the water runs completely clear of any suds and shampoo. Take care not to get water directly in the eyes of your Shih Tzu. You can cover the eyes with one hand when rinsing your Shih Tzu’s face, and cover the ears (by placing your thumb over the ear canal) when rinsing near your Shih Tzu’s ears.

If the Shih Tzu is extremely dirty, one shampoo may not be enough. You may need to shampoo your Shih Tzu twice.

When you are certain the Shih Tzu is thoroughly clean, squeeze the water out of the Shih Tzu’s coat with your hands as much as possible. Use a heavy towel to squeeze as much water off the Shih Tzu as possible. Use a cage dryer on the Shih Tzu’s coat to get it damp-dry. The next step is to blow dry your Shih Tzu.

Shampoos: What is a good shampoo and what is a good crème rinse to use on your Shih Tzu? A good shampoo for the Shih Tzu is one that cleanses the Shih Tzu thoroughly and does not contain any harsh detergents harmful to the skin and coat of the Shih Tzu. I like using HealthyPetNet shampoos.

A good shampoo will lather up to a good foam. It will have good feel to the hands and a nice scent of which both you and your Shih Tzu will enjoy using. A good shampoo will leave the coat of a Shih Tzu free of all dirt, grime and grit? It should leave a white coat of a Shih Tzu sparkling white.

Special shampoos: There are many good Shih Tzu shampoos manufactured for specialized needs of the Shih Tzu. There are shampoos to highlight the specific color of the coat of a Shih Tzu. There are shampoos that will do well on the very softer coated Shih Tzu. There are tangle-remover shampoos and many more you can use on your Shih Tzu. You need to experiment and find one good, all-purpose shampoo for your Shih Tzu. You should also be aware of the need for a medicated shampoo if necessary for your Shih Tzu, and a safe flea and tick shampoo for the flea and tick season. You might even find that adding a “tick dip” after the regular shampoo of your Shih Tzu. Be sure you mix the dip according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Crème rinse: A crème rinse is recommended to use after shampooing your Shih Tzu. A crème rinse will help keep the mats out of your Shih Tzu’s coat. To find a good crème rinse for your Shih Tzu is much like finding a good shampoo. The crème rinse you use on your Shih Tzu should perform well. It should have no negative after-effects. Does the coat of your Shih Tzu feel soft and clean afterward? If so, then this is a good sign the crème rinse is appropriate for your Shih Tzu. If you can dilute the crème rinse with several parts of water without losing potency, this often proves even better for the coat of the Shih Tzu.



By: Connie Limon

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Any mess that is remotely related to liquid can be cleaned by the most basic of Shamwow products. The base product of Shamwow is the Shamwow Cloth. This product is available in two sizes and these cloths can do wonders for your home or apartment. Using a combination of rayon-like material and special weaving techniques, these cloths are able to provide absorption of over twenty times their own weight. The product can be closely compared to a leather chamois. However, chamois become hard and brittle when dry. Shamwow’s unique construction allows it to have the extreme powers of absorption without eventually growing hard and unusable. This makes the Shamwow perfect for many functions.

The most basic use for this product is that of a towel. These towels have been used by Olympic swimmers for many years, and would be more than suitable for anybody. Part of what makes these cloths work so well as towels is their ability to absorb when wet. The massive absorption capacity allows the Shamwow to almost continually absorb large amounts of liquid. They are also durable enough to be used to wash cars, dry off pets and even function as a bath mat.

Shamwow can be used in almost any way that you can imagine. Are you tired of waiting for your sweaters to dry after they have been washed? Then lay your sweater out on a Shamwow, roll the cloth up and in only a few hours your sweater will be completely dry. The Shamwow is the ultimate cleaning cloth. Whether you have a large project such as a bathroom wall, or simply want to polish your coffee table, the Shamwow can perform perfectly. These cloths can handle a wide variety of uses, and can are also durable. Indeed, the Shamwow cloths are so durable that they come with a ten-year warranty. You can wring out the cloth, cut it, shape it and it still gets the job done correctly.

Now if that was not enough to prove the durability and the Shamwow’s ease of use, it can do more. For starters, it is machine washable. Unlike most sponges and sham towels, it does not fall apart in the washing machine. It needs to be air dried, but that is only a minor inconvenience. Another feature that sets the Shamwow apart from other cleaning devices is that it does not drip. All of the liquid stays in the cloth until you wring it out. It is a completely mess free way of cleaning. Overall, the Shamwow can perform a variety of tasks making it an excellent cleaning product.

While the Shamwow cloth can be adapted to meet just about any need, there are better ways to use the technology. The Shamwow brand has put its technology into use as many similar products. One of those products is the Shamwow mop. This mop provides the same technology found in the cloth, but in an easy to use floor-cleaning device. The absorbency power helps make your floor sparkle, and the no drip fabric leaves your floor clean and dry by the end of the day. The mop is built with a handle that can be twisted to wring out the head. This helps you avoid placing your hands on a dirty mop head or in dirty water the entire time. The Shamwow mop is a perfect combination of durability, ease of use and effectiveness.

Have you ever had to clean venetian blinds? How about air conditioning vents? These types of surfaces are among the most frustrating of all to clean. Shamwow has solved that problem. The fabric used by Shamwow is capable of working well as a duster, and this ability has been included ingeniously in a device designed specifically for hard to clean surfaces. A handle with three protruding prongs makes up the base of the Shamwow Shutter Cleaner. Each prong is covered with Shamwow cloth. These prongs can be placed inside the gaps between blinds or other surfaces, and then, with a button press on the handle the prongs tighten on the surface. A simple swish over the blinds and all dust and dirt is gone. Like the Shamwow cloth, these sleeves can be machine-washed and are extremely durable. Say goodbye to your blind cleaning troubles.

A final product is the Shamwow ball. Using strips of Shamwow cloth collected into a ball, the engineers at Shamwow provide a perfect solution for buffing, polishing, and cleaning hard to reach locations. This item will attach to any drill and can be used for even the most intense cleaning jobs. The Shamwow ball can meet almost any cleaning need.

Shamwow technology provides a perfect combination of durability, usefulness and quality for all of your cleaning needs. With long warranties, a variety of uses and easy cleaning and maintenance, the Shamwow can provide your family an excellent cleaning product for many years to come.



By: Sandy Darson

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These health care products are used for the joint pain, skin infection, amoeba, Giardia. Many health disorders can be cured by these health care products.

You can get some ayurvedic health care products like Nutri Bactrin capsules made of meat, fish, and egg. These capsules are antibiotic and good for bacterial infections. The other one is Nutri silk is a herbal medicated shampoo which protects hair fall and helps to grow new hair. The other one is Nutri Madhumehantak Gr is an ayurvedic remedy for the diabetes mellitus. Nutri Vita is another ayurvedic product, which works in powerful way for health, vigor, vitality, and tranquility. Nutri Sunidra is another ayurvedic health care product to get relief from stress.

You can have different types of home health care products such as biohazard bags, breast pumps, feeding pumps, Foley pumps, emergency alarms. All these home health care products fulfill various physical requirements. Along with these products, there are other products like bathroom safety products, which include bedpans, Sitz baths, and toilet seats. You can get bathroom supplies, which include bath mats, bathroom safety bars; shower chairs, and washbasin.

There are different types of women’s health care products like anti acidity tea is made from the leaf of Aspalathus linearis is a excellent herb which has great cure powers. The other product is female cordial, which is used for female disorders such as mc disorders, leucorrhoea, and sterility. The other product is breast cancer detection gloves is a much sensitive breast lump detector glove. The other product is sanitary napkin.

There are various health care products such as chyawanprash awalesh and herbal candies, which solve the different problems related to health and beauty. These herbal candies include herbs, which has many advantages.

There are different sites through which you can get various health care products at glance such as amla products, which include amla powder, amla sweets, amla candy, and amla honey. These amla products are provided without destroying their medical importance and traditional value. These amla products are considered as excellent in quality. These amla products are provided which you don’t have to need to take those painful treatments of chemicals flavors add.

The formation of health care products is made from the best quality natural resources. You can get some other herb and health care products like Ginkgo Biloba, fish oil, vegetarian Glucosamine, and cranberry.

You can have various dental health care products such as Rota dent electric toothbrush is made to get relief from harmful bacteria. The other product is brux bite tray is made with excellent feature, which include a three-hold center to aid breathing when we use it. The other product is Hydro floss oral irrigator, which has various magnetic benefits.

You can get some personal health care products, which include medical products, hygiene products and beautifying products. You can get these personal health care products online. These personal health care products include adult undergarments, patient lifts, and lightweight wheelchairs.

There are some other health care products like various kinds of tablets; liquid orals water disinfectant, glucose-D. All these health care products give you more energy and these products are considered as safe products. So with the help of these various types of natural, personal health care products you will really solve the health related problems.



By: James Peterson

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Do not wait too long to start grooming your Shih Tzu. It is hard to make brushing a positive experience if you wait until your Shih Tzu is matted and start by yanking out the mats and tangles. If this becomes necessary, carefully clip out mats, then begin working with your mat-free Shih Tzu to acclimate it to grooming.

When you use scissors to remove mats, snip a few hairs at a time. Be sure you have clearance between the mat and the skin. If your Shih Tzu puppy is too wiggly to do this safely, please seek the help of a professional groomer.

Do not bathe your Shih Tzu puppy too frequently. You will risk drying out its skin and coat. Bathe your Shih Tzu puppy no more than once weekly and every two weeks if possible.

Create a positive association with bath time using the following steps:

1. Let him hop into his bathtub to eat treats you toss on the tub floor (without water in the tub). You can also place him in the tub if he cannot jump into the tube and feed him treats. Provide a nonskid surface on the tub floor. 2. To accustom your Shih Tzu puppy to towels try touching him, then rubbing him with the corner of a towel and feed him a treat. Gradually work up to more vigorous toweling. No water at this time. 3. Introduce the blow-dryer by starting with a handheld pet or human dryer set on low and hold a few feet away from him, turned so it does not blow on him. Feed treats during the process. Gradually bring the dryer closer and start by moving the air across his toes, then his legs. Continue until he is accustomed to the warm air blowing all over his body. 4. While he is standing in the tube, soak a sponge in warm water and dribble it over him. Allow your Shih Tzu puppy to shake it off, and then offer a treat. Gradually work up to turning the faucet on and allow him to stand in the water. Gently begin hosing him with the warm water. 5. Take a small amount of dog shampoo (I strongly recommend using HealthyPetNet shampoos instead of human shampoos). Lather a small part of his body. Rinse. The next time you are at this step, increase the soaping and rinsing until you are bathing the entire dog.

If you will follow these steps slowly, you should be able to teach your Shih Tzu puppy to enjoy his bath time, which will make this very important routine much easier for the both of you.



By: Connie Limon

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Are your feet itching and burning? Maybe you have Athlete’s Foot. Athlete’s foot is an infection of the upper layers of the skin and is predominantly found on the foot. It is often seen as an dry, itching, burning, scaling redness of the feet especially in the webbing of the toes. When left unchecked, sufferers may notice that their skin peels frequently and in extreme cases there may be cracking, pain and bleeding of the skin.

While commonly associated with the foot, athlete’s foot can also give rise to skin disorders such as jock-itch. It is caused by the overgrowth of certain types of fungus, including trichophyton, the ringworm fungus or the tinea pedis fungus, each of which can be easily transmitted from one person to the other upon contact. This contagious condition thrives in warm, moist environments and without the proper growing conditions; it will not survive at all.

Athlete’s foot is often transmitted when we walk around barefoot at public pools or in public showers, in locker or changing rooms, in home bathrooms, especially in the shower. It can also thrive in individuals who’s feet sweat excessively, who wear the same shoes without allowing them to fully dry out or when the feet are not dried thoroughly before covering them. Interestingly, this disorder is seen more often in teenagers and adult males.

In health circles, it is generally believed that prevention is the best course of action to take. If however, you do end up with a case of athlete’s foot, there are a number of natural and alternative health remedies you can employ.

Recommendations For Wellness

Avoid all yeast containing foods: yeast breads, fermented beverages (beer, wine, brandy, scotch, etc.) moldy cheeses, fermented vinegars, salad dressing, peanuts, biscuits, canned citrus fruit juices, cake mix, ice cream, all dried fruit, oranges, pickles, tomato sauce, sugars, yeast powder, processed and smoked meats, malt products, barbecue sauce, olives, mayonnaise, and chili peppers.

Avoid sugar (especially hidden sugars such as those found in soft drinks, pastries, canned fruits and vegetables), artificial sweeteners, and all refined carbohydrates.

Supplementation with a probiotic such as acidophilus can help to restore the good bacteria in the body and help protect you from infection.

If you are at the gym or at a public pool, wear sandals in the locker room, in the shower and in the pool area.

Wear cotton socks and if your feet tend to sweat, change them often, making sure you dry your feet well before putting on a fresh pair.

Sprinkle baking soda on your feet before putting your socks on to help absorb moisture.

When the weather is hot and humid, go barefoot or in sandals whenever possible.

Be sure to air your shoes out at night to allow any moisture in them to evaporate. If possible don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day.

A tincture of black walnut can be applied directly to the affected areas of the feet and toes to help kill the fungus.

Lemon balm, rosemary or a mixture of lavender oil and tea tree oil can be used externally to help eradicate the infection.

Herbs such as goldenseal, pau d’ arco, olive leaf extract or garlic can be taken internally to help heal the infection. They can also be applied externally the affected areas or by soaking the feet in a herbal bath made from these substances.

Some experts recommend adding grapefruit seed extract to your wash, especially when you are cleaning your socks, gym clothes, bath mat or towels.

© Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer – www.soulhealer.com 2007. All rights reserved.



By: Dr. Rita Louise

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Generally, in cold winter days stepping onto ice-cold and chilled floor in your room can be a great torture. Electric radiant floor heating is a great way to resolve the issue of cold floors in the morning. Similarly, on your bathroom tile in the morning stepping in can be tough especially when it is moist and damp. Perhaps it is one of the cruelest ways to wake up in the morning.

To protect our family members and ourselves especially small kids we take some extra precautions such as wearing slipper and bath mats. We literally spend a fortune to make our dream home where every member of our family can relax and enjoy irrespective or any weather. Nevertheless, some of us just do not care for the proper floor heating. However, if you care, electric radiant floor heating makes that possible.

No matter, what type or make electric radiant floor heating mats you have, they are almost same when it comes to construction. They have an aluminum foil heater with twin conductor having primary insulation of flouropolymer, which is sandwiched between two layers of specially reinforced aluminum foil.

Technically radiant heat is the most comfortable form of heating. Almost every electric radiant floor heating mat is simple to install & affordable to operate. Most electric radiant floor heating has the toughest and thinnest electric heating element on the market.

However, there are many companies that provide electric radiant floor heating mats and other systems, but a few have earned a great reputation in floor heating market segment. One such name is Warmup, which is the only company to offer radiant floor heat with a 30-year warranty, and a unique one-time homeowner transfer and a safe installation guarantee for total peace of mind.

Warmup is an award-winning, leading manufacturer of radiant floor heating products. They have a large range of radiant heating products for tile, stone, laminate, engineered wood and more.

Remember, as an informed customer you must ensure that every electric radiant floor heating mat meets all test requirements of IEC 60335. They should have all the necessary features, such as conforms to the requirements of CE marking, ease of laying and connection, temperature control through programmable / non-programmable thermostat, uniform heating, thermostat controller, proper earthing provision is provided for safety.

In addition to the above-mentioned features and characteristics for years of safe and trouble free service, they should also conform to the product safety requirements as per latest directives by the government.

Also as generally seen it is neither feasible nor economical to have alteration in our home construction. Therefore, we must choose a suitable electric radiant floor heating system that can be adjusted in our already existing setup. A wide range of heat-loads and sizes ensure suitability to different sizes and kinds of floorings.

They should be custom built based on our individual requirements of heat-loads, voltage requirements along with their lengths & width. Also as compared to other metals, they should be made of aluminum, which is technically considered as a green metal. At one hand, it is light in weight, while on other it does not emit any harmful greenhouse gases while heating.



By: Martin Applebaum

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If you’re working with a budget and need to add some life to your bathroom then adding some cheap and cheerful bathroom accessories is a great way to add some extra detail to your decor. This, of course, can also save you a lot of money too! The following are a few of the items you might want to think about when redecorating your bathroom.

Do you hate the sensation of walking on a wet bathroom floor – especially first thing in the morning? A wet bathroom floor floor is not only annoying but also downright dangerous. Any wet bathroom floor is a definite health hazard. One way to solve this problem is to invest in a good bath mat. They’re not the same drab old items that they used to be either. You can get discount bath mats in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors – just make sure whatever mat you choose is highly absorbent and easy to wash.

There’s nothing more annoying that having that well prepared bath overflow onto your floor and cause a mess is there? Why not invest in a water level bath alarm to make sure this never happens to you? That way you won’t have to keep a constant eye on the tub as it fills because an alarm sounds when the water reaches a certain level and you can stop the disaster before it starts.

Even the tidiest of bathrooms can be a messy place. All those cotton balls, soap wrappers and other toiletries need to be disposed of at some point. A pedestal bin is ideal in this situation because it’s opened easily with a foot pedal and then closes to keep the trash tidily out of sight. This type of bin is perfect for bathroom waste because it keeps it out of sight.

The shower curtain is another area to be addressed. The days of drab and droll shower curtains are long over. These come in styles ranging from plastic to fabric with patterns in numerous colors and designs. You can also purchase coordinating hooks and liners to further enhance your bathroom design scheme.

Before you start shopping online for the above accessories bear in mind that you’ll need to purchase them to suit a consistent theme so that the finished bathroom has a balanced look and feel to it. Nothing worse than a bathroom full of random accessories that just make no sense at all.



By: Niall Roche

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Whether you want to spruce up your bathroom to make it a more calming space for you or you want to do it increase the resale value of your house, here are some quick inexpensive ways. The walls are biggest area of your bathroom and can be used to make the biggest impact. You will be surprised what a coat of paint can do to refresh the whole look of a bathroom.

If you plan on selling your house in the near future, use neutral colors on the wall and accent with bolder colors. Make sure you buy paint specially made for bathrooms as these are moisture resistant and easy to wipe clean. To personalize the walls get creative and stencil a border. A new shower curtain can be the focus of your “new” bathroom. Select a decorative shower curtain and build everything around it, even the wall color. This will ensure a themed and unified look to the entire space. Choose some special and decorative shower curtain hooks to add extra punch. You must buy coordinating window curtains and do not use mini blinds which give a very dated appearance.

A quick and easy trick to make plain tile look unique is by using tile transfers creatively. These are just like stickers and even come in embossed 3D look and go right on your existing tile. They are, of course, waterproof, washable and can be cleaned just like regular tile. You can also customize your other hard surface accessories with the same decals for a unified look. Replace accessories like tumblers, toothbrush holders, trays, lotion pumps, soap dishes, hamper and wastebaskets for an instant update to your bathroom. Use decorative baskets for scented soaps, candles, special lotions, and bath salts. Do not overdo the accessories because that will just create a cluttered look.

Select brightly colored or special towels and bath mats to further accent your room. Although the towels do not have to exactly match the shower and window curtain design, try to pick up one of the colors to stay with the theme. To keep within a low budget, you can take plain towels and sew on some lace or fringe to make them unique. If you are handy with a screw gun, replace your towel bars, towel rings, toilet paper holder and robe hooks. It will make a world of difference. Check out your local home improvement store for some of the new finishes like rustic bronze and brushed nickel to replace chrome which is now considered out-dated.

For finishing touches frame some calming prints or even pictures. Believe it or not the latest trend is to use personal photos in relaxing backgrounds like the beach or boating for the bathroom. A couple of indoor house plants will help bring some life and color into your bathroom. Do not worry if you do not have a green thumb because plants do very well in this humid environment. Go ahead and try some or even all of the above ideas for a quick and easy update to your bathroom and you will see what a difference it can make.



By: Ann McKee

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Bath time can and should be one of the most enjoyable times of the day for parents and children; a perfect opportunity to bond and relax with baby. But once baby has moved into the big tub, the big shiny faucet and warm streaming water can be too much to resist, despite mom and dad’s repeated warnings. So how can parents ensure that bath time is safe, enjoyable and relaxing for everyone? A few precautionary measures go a long way.

Stay in Touch

The single most important action that a parent must take each time a bath is given is touch supervision. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), touch supervision requires that an adult be within arm’s reach of baby at all times. If you cannot touch your baby at any time during the bath, then you are too far away.

Nationally, drowning is the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in children younger than one and the second leading cause of injury-related deaths in children ages one to four. In fact, young children can drown in less than two inches of water, according to AAP’s Injury Prevention Program (TIPP). Drowning frequently occurs quickly and quietly, in the amount of time it would take a parent to take or make a phone call. Regardless of the intended time of absence, a parent must never leave baby unattended in the tub at any time for any reason. Very simply, touch supervision saves lives. No gizmo or gadget will prevent drowning or substitute for the adult supervision that can.

Keep Your Distance

The second most important action a parent must take is to protect baby from the faucet and fixtures. According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, 5,000 children a year require emergency room treatment for tap water burns. The AAP warns that the bathtub is a source of severe scalding burns. In addition to burns, contact with the faucet can cause injuries resulting in stitches, bumps, bruises, scrapes and even chipped teeth. The Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus Children’s Hospital found that 75 percent of kids under age five who were hurt in the tub were being supervised at the time.

When selecting safety products for the bath, avoid products that will attract a baby. Bright colors, shiny materials, and happy animals will all draw babies towards them, despite their intended safety purpose.

In addition to touch supervision and the right safety products, parents should also take the following precautions when bathing baby:

- Set water heater to 120 degrees or less.

- Check water temperature on the inside of your wrist before placing baby in the bath.

- Place a rubber mat or non-slip appliqués on the bottom of the tub.

- Have bathing supplies, clothes and towels already assembled prior to baby’s bath.

- Always bathe baby using as little water as necessary.

- Do not allow other children to substitute for adult supervision.

With the right preparation, precaution and products, bath time can be less struggle and more fun.



By: IC

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