What every parent should know

Young children are curious, top-heavy and cannot get themselves out of water. They can drown in a few centimetres of water and often do not splash or shout. WHO's drowning fact sheet lists barriers that control access to water, supervised care for pre-school children, and teaching water safety and rescue skills among the most effective prevention measures. Most drowning of young children happens close to home or on holiday.

01Baths and buckets at home

A baby or toddler can drown in the bath in moments, including when sitting in a bath seat. Buckets, paddling pools and water butts can also be hazards.

What helps

  • Never leave a baby or young child alone in the bath, even for a moment; take them with you if you must leave.
  • Do not rely on bath seats or older siblings to keep a young child safe.
  • Empty baths, buckets and paddling pools straight after use.
  • Cover water butts and store containers upside down.

02Pools and garden ponds

WHO highlights barriers, such as four-sided pool fencing and covered wells, as an effective way to keep young children away from water. Garden ponds are a particular hazard for toddlers.

What helps

  • Fence home pools on all sides with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
  • Cover or fence garden ponds, or fill them in while children are small.
  • Check holiday accommodation for pools and ponds on arrival.
  • Remove toys from the pool after use so children are not tempted back.

03Supervision at beaches and pools

Drowning is often silent. Adults can be distracted by phones, conversation or other children. Armbands and inflatables are not life-saving devices.

What helps

  • Stay within arm's reach of young children in or near water, and keep watching.
  • Agree a designated 'water watcher' among adults and swap regularly.
  • Choose lifeguarded beaches and pools, and follow flag signs.
  • Learn CPR so you can act while waiting for help.

Weekly checklist for parents of under-fives

  • Stay with your child for the whole of bath time.
  • Empty baths, buckets and paddling pools after use.
  • Check gates and fences around pools and ponds.
  • Agree who is watching children whenever you are near water.
  • Keep phones away when supervising water play.
  • Book swimming lessons appropriate for your child's age.

When to see a professional

  • After any incident where a child went under water and coughed or struggled, get a medical check even if they seem fine.
  • Breathing difficulty, persistent cough or unusual sleepiness after a water incident.
  • Advice on water confidence lessons for a child with a medical condition such as epilepsy.

If a child is pulled from water and is not breathing normally, call emergency services and start CPR immediately, with rescue breaths for children.

Where ONU fits

ONU is for adults and does not monitor children. Parents can use ONU to keep an eye on their own sleep and recovery. Close supervision, barriers and first aid skills are what protect young children around water.

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Common questions

How much water can a toddler drown in?

Young children can drown in just a few centimetres of water, which is why baths, buckets and paddling pools are risks.

Do armbands keep children safe?

Armbands and inflatables can help confidence but are not life-saving devices. Children wearing them still need an adult within arm's reach.

At what age should children learn to swim?

Swimming lessons help at any age, and WHO recommends teaching school-age children swimming and water safety skills. Lessons never replace supervision for young children.

Sources and further reading

Educational information drawn from the public-health sources listed on this page. It is not a diagnosis, a treatment plan or a guarantee that you will avoid an illness or injury. ONU does not diagnose, treat or prevent disease. Speak to a qualified professional about anything that concerns you, and follow the rules of your employer, sport or local health service.