by Helen Richardson

Created on: March 26, 2007   Last Updated: April 25, 2007

Fortunately there are many products on the market now that will help you to prevent your baby from suffering from a painful scarring burn. In addition to the products, there are a number of strategies you can take to avoid a burn.

-First, turn down your water heater. It should at least be down to the middle setting, but obviously different water heaters work differently, so you will have to adjust it and test the water to see how hot it is. You should not be able to get steam rising off the hot water.

-Always test the temperature of water before bathing or washing a child with it. If you're not sure what a safe temperature is, you can buy a rubber duckie that has a temperature sensor on the bottom that changes color when the water is too hot.

-Always test the temperature of hot liquids before feeding to a baby by sprinkling some on your wrist. Never microwave formula or expressed breast milk, as this can create pockets of extremely hot liquid that you might not be able to detect.

-Take extreme caution if you are holding a baby while cooking, cleaning or opening a microwave or dishwasher. Steam can burn both you and your baby. Avoid cooking with oil while holding your baby, as they can be burned by popping grease.

-For older children who are crawling or walking, keep bathroom doors closed at all times. You can buy products that keep your child from being able to turn the faucets on as well as doorknob locks to keep them out.

-Never leave a child unattended in the bathtub or the bathroom.

-If you have a baby or small children and you like candles, you might consider switching to battery operated candles or just putting them away for a while. If you have to light a candle, keep it in a high stable place. Remember that even after you extinguish the flame, the container and the wax are still hot and can burn your child if not kept away from them.

-Once your child is able to start eating solid foods, always test the temperature of their heated foods. Be especially careful with microwaved foods because they can heat food unevenly. You can buy special spoons that change colors when the food is too hot so you know.

-For children who are able to pull up and stand on their own, you can buy special locks for your microwave and stove. Keep microwaves up and away from baby's level. All it takes is for a child to pop open the microwave and pour a hot cup of tea on their face to cause a second or third degree burn.

-Coffee pots should also be kept up and away from where children can

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