The NHS has updated guidance on bathing babies and children for parents, carers and health professionals following reports of deaths from Child Death Overview Panels.
Following investigations into infant and child deaths that took place between 2015 and 2023, bath seats were highlighted as a significant cause for concern, with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) reporting that 1 in 3 accidental drowning deaths in under 2’s involves a bath seat.
In light of these reports, Public Health England and NHS England have now updated their guidance on bathing and washing babies.
According to the latest NHS advice, baby bath seats should not be used. Babies of any age can drown very quickly in just a few centimetres of water, with no noise or struggle.
Parents who still choose to use a bath seat are being given the following advice:
- Always keep your child within arm’s reach
- Never leave your child, even for a second
- Make sure your bath seat is stuck firmly to the bottom of the bath
- Do not let bath seats give you a false sense of security (they’re not safety devices)
The updated guidance also stresses that babies should always be supervised by adults; older children should not be allowed to look after a baby in the bath.
The NNA advice is that Hospital Trusts should update neonatal outreach and discharge planning/checklist procedures to include the revised bathing advice so parents and carers are aware of the changes before they leave the neonatal unit.
Parents, carers and healthcare professionals seeking further guidance should visit the following links:

My name is Dr. Julia Petty, and I am a nurse lecturer specialising in children’s nursing with a particular interest in neonatal care. My nursing career in paediatric and neonatal clinical nursing practice began after a BSc Hons degree in Psychology at Warwick University, when I moved to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. Here, I trained in children’s and adult nursing before working there for many years in children’s and neonatal surgical care. I then gained my neonatal nursing qualification at St George’s NHS Trust London and worked at the Whittington NHS Trust NICU before moving back to Great Ormond Street for a senior education role on NICU where I worked until 2001. I then worked as Senior Lecturer at City University, London for 12 years leading the neonatal nursing education portfolio. I studied for a MSc, a PGCE and MA in academic practice during this time, In 2013, I moved to the University of Hertfordshire where my role is Associate Professor (learning and teaching) and Senior lecturer child nursing. I teach on the BSc Hons nursing and master’s degree programmes including leadership of modules, face-to-face/online teaching, assessing and supervision of students at all levels up to doctorate level. I am also research active and have completed a Doctorate in Education. As a nurse, educator and post-doctorate researcher, my interests focus on parents’ premature birth experiences, supporting parents in the transition home from NICU, exploring communication needs of neonates and their carers and studying the educational value of digital storytelling. This combination and variety of roles enriches my working life and brings together my experience as a child / neonatal nurse, educator and researcher. My role and related activities enable me to engage in both education and research while supporting students on their nursing career and education pathway, which is a privilege to be part of.
Hello my name is Claire Richards and I’m the Lead Nurse for the Wales Maternity and Neonatal Strategic Network. This covers nursing leadership but also Neonatal transport. I also have a clinical honorary contract in one Health Board.
Hello, my name is Kim Edwards, and I am a Neonatal Nurse. I am currently the Lead Nurse and Workforce, Education Lead for the Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (ODN)
Hello, my name is Jean and I am a registered children’s nurse with 27 years experience. I qualified with a DipHE after struggling academically due to dyslexia. Over my career I have worked mainly in PICU, NICU and children’s cardiac critical care. I am dual qualified in speciality (QIS) for both Neonatal and Paediatrics. The QIS program is a post graduate modular course completed at level 6/7. To be considered QIS you must successfully complete 4 separate modules, each have an academic and practical component. Only on completion of the QIS course can you apply for a band 6 role. In addition to the above qualifications it is expected you would have several years proven experience in speciality at Band 6 and 7 prior to applying for a Matron’s role.