[header] How to protect a baby from drowning [title] Never leave your baby unattended near water. [step] A baby can drown even in very shallow water, so there's no safe way to let him or her play in the water alone. Never leave your baby, even for a few seconds, when water is nearby. 
The risk of the baby crawling in and slipping under is too great. [substeps] Turning your back to the baby, or reading a book while he or she plays, even if you're sitting just a few feet away, can also lead to dangerous consequences.