# RO: So what were you doing while your 13 month old son was alone in the tub drowning to death? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342 "2011-01-20T16:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/21 "2011-01-20T20:11:20Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > I’ve seen this happen. What’s your point? Wait, you’ve seen a child drown in the bathtub while his parents smoked marijuana in the living room? Why the hell didn’t you save him? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/22 "2011-01-20T20:16:24Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Had I claimed that there had never been a story about a kid drowning in bathwater prior to the invention of the Internet, yes, that would’ve been incorrect. > > I was referring to the present, which is where I currently reside, and where news stories (especially those which would once have been considered minor, local-interest stories) are considerably more likely to go viral if they involve some pop-culture flashpoint or bugaboo _du jour_. ( **guizot** appears to have understood my point perfectly.) > > The hand-wringing and rending of garments may now continue. I got what you said. I’m saying you’re wrong in what you think. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/23 "2011-01-20T20:24:51Z")
The data on drowning deaths of children in bathtubs appears to back up **Vinyl Turnip** ’s point, as per [this 2002 report](http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml02/02169.html): > [@](#): > > Children drowning in bathtubs account for about two-thirds of the 459 reported drowning deaths in the home. The majority of these bathtub deaths occur when the caregiver is not present. In the time it takes to step out of the room to get a towel or answer the phone, a young child can drown. In at least 29 of the 292 bathtub drowning deaths reported to CPSC between 1996 and 1999, the victims were using bath seats. A couple dozen kids a year on average drown in the bathtub, but we don’t see a news story like this with similar frequency. What made this tragic event in particular a hot news item was the “pernicious influence of new technological/social phenomenon” aspect, in this case Facebook. What makes my skin crawl about the bath drowning danger is how FAST it can happen: twenty seconds’ distraction, baby face in water, bye-bye baby. Compounding that is the FREQUENCY of the danger; babies need to be cleaned fairly often, alas. You can’t just say “Okay kid, in another couple of years when you’re old enough to keep from drowning, you can have a bath.” (Although now I kind of wonder if there are any kids who are exclusively sponge-bathed in infancy and early childhood, and how well that would work for hygiene.) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/24 "2011-01-20T20:26:02Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > The stupid thing is that one of the articles I read about this said she was on a LAPTOP. That makes this all the more egregious. If it’s a laptop computer, then sit and watch videos _in the bathroom_ (there’s a conveniently-located seat in every bathroom!) where the child is right there in front of you. There’s no excuse for sitting in another room–and “I don’t want to turn my 13-month-old child into a mama’s boy by staying in the room while he bathes” is a ridiculous sentiment to start with. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/25 "2011-01-20T20:34:46Z")
Had to love this user comment on the newspaper article: “I wonder if Farmville has a prison.” ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/26 "2011-01-20T20:35:05Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > The data on drowning deaths of children in bathtubs appears to back up **Vinyl Turnip** ’s point, as per [this 2002 report](http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml02/02169.html): > > A couple dozen kids a year on average drown in the bathtub, but we don’t see a news story like this with similar frequency. What made this tragic event in particular a hot news item was the “pernicious influence of new technological/social phenomenon” aspect, in this case Facebook. > > What makes my skin crawl about the bath drowning danger is how FAST it can happen: twenty seconds’ distraction, baby face in water, bye-bye baby. Compounding that is the FREQUENCY of the danger; babies need to be cleaned fairly often, alas. You can’t just say “Okay kid, in another couple of years when you’re old enough to keep from drowning, you can have a bath.” (Although now I kind of wonder if there are any kids who are exclusively sponge-bathed in infancy and early childhood, and how well that would work for hygiene.) Right: Babies drowning in bathtubs occur with sad regularity, but it does not usually make the news. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/27 "2011-01-20T20:41:16Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > I got what you said. I’m saying you’re wrong in what you think. I honestly didn’t think I said anything particularly controversial, but I’d like to hear why you think I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/28 "2011-01-20T20:47:23Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > {Dons old southern lawyer persona, _a la_ Craig Ferguson} I see; and where WOULD you like to see people drowning kids? {/oslp} At the public fountain in the park so we can all enjoy the fun. > [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > I’ve seen this happen. What’s your point? > [@saoirse](#): > > Wait, you’ve seen a child drown in the bathtub while his parents smoked marijuana in the living room? Why the hell didn’t you save him? No kidding. Why didn’t you go to jail and get a news article written about you? Calm down I knows its just a yoke. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/29 "2011-01-20T21:01:02Z")
Just to toss out another data point in the “is it a facebook thing” debate…I work for a news aggragator – my job is to track down stories from ten of thousands of news and media outlets. I did a little research on the topic: Tera Bouvier’s baby accidentally drowned in a hotel bathtub when she stepped out of the room – total media generated: Six articles in three years. Shannon Johnson’s facebook story – total media generated: 140 articles in a week. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/30 "2011-01-20T21:37:09Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Tera Bouvier’s baby accidentally drowned in a hotel bathtub when she stepped out of the room – total media generated: Six articles in three years. > Shannon Johnson’s facebook story – total media generated: 140 articles in a week. Shannon clearly has way more friends than Tera. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/31 "2011-01-20T21:46:20Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’m not a mom and have no particular interest in children, and even I know that a kid can’t be left alone in the tub. It takes something like an inch of water for a baby to drown. Well, if she’s in jail for the next 43 years, hopefully she won’t be breeding again. Technically, it only takes an inch of water for anyone to drown. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/32 "2011-01-20T21:54:35Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > It takes something like an inch of water for a baby to drown. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Technically, it only takes an inch of water for anyone to drown. Soooo…what? Valley girls can’t drown? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/33 "2011-01-20T22:07:31Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Tera Bouvier’s baby accidentally drowned in a hotel bathtub when she stepped out of the room – total media generated: Six articles in three years. Shannon Johnson’s facebook story – total media generated: 140 articles in a week. That’s why they call it _news_ – because it’s _new_. Stepping out of the room has been around for centuries; Facebook is something new and different. As **guizot** said, once Facebook is no longer new, this type of story will no longer be news. [Quote=Jackmannii] I’m reminded of an episode of “Dragnet”, where Officers Friday and Gannon are called to the home of a couple whose child drowned in the bathtub while they were getting high on marijuana in the living room. [/quote] I probably shouldn’t admit it here, but that Dragnet episode had a profound effect on me, and is one of the reasons why I won’t hang out with people who smoke pot while caring for young children. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/34 "2011-01-20T22:14:55Z")
What’s on your mind? ------------- **Shannon Johnson** -------------Giving the kid a bath. Had to get out of there, the kid wouldn’t stop making noise. He’s quieted down now. I’ll check on him in a few… -------------Help me with my barn raising!!! ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/35 "2011-01-20T22:14:57Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > Shannon clearly has way more friends than Tera. Duh. She needed all those friends to tend her crops. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/36 "2011-01-20T22:50:55Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > So what were you doing while your 13 month old son was alone in the tub drowning to death? I was drinking and playing World of Warcraft, personally. > [@lavenderviolet](#): > > The stupid thing is that one of the articles I read about this said she was on a LAPTOP. It would be easy enough to watch videos and play games while keeping the kid in your line of sight. I can’t imagine what could possibly go wrong with a moron, a bathtub, and a laptop. > [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > I probably shouldn’t admit it here, but that Dragnet episode had a profound effect on me, and is one of the reasons why I won’t hang out with people who smoke pot while caring for young children. I hate to be the one to break this news to you, but \*Dragnet \*wasn’t actually a documentary. _Babylon 5_, _Gilmore Girls_, _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_, and \*Glee \*are also all fictional. _Scooby Doo_ was totally real, though. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/37 "2011-01-20T23:01:58Z")
I know this is utterly tragic, but I can’t help laughing because _what the hell was she thinking_? You’ve got a year old baby, he needs a bath, but you know, you’ve got important shit to do! Little brat can bathe himself! Just stick him in the tub and he’ll come get you when he’s all clean and dry. That’s how babies work, right? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/38 "2011-01-20T23:20:43Z")
I can understand how something like this would happen. I got on Facebook the other morning, and I got so sucked in that I totally let my bowl of cereal go soggy. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/39 "2011-01-20T23:39:52Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > (Although now I kind of wonder if there are any kids who are exclusively sponge-bathed in infancy and early childhood, and how well that would work for hygiene.) Good question, though I did get rounded upon thoroughly once here for admitting that I had used the kitchen sink to hose off one of my goddaughters who just had had an amazing attack of the runs … [though I honestly do not understand what the big whoop was. If the water temp is proper, you support the critter while hosing her off, dry her off and rediaper then you clean the damned sink. I don’t know what other people clean with, but dish soap is a perfectly good surficant, and fer jebus sake you will grab a sponge and wipe up something on the floor that the dog yacked up, so what is the big deal about some baby-processed used milk products.] I have regularly used the kitchen sink to bathe my goddaughters when small enough [back damage makes kneeling on the floor to bend over and do anything pretty much impossible] and it works out fine. As long as the sink is cleaned before bathing and then cleaned after bathing, big whoop. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342/40 "2011-01-20T23:46:34Z")
When I was that little, my mom gave me baths in the sink. Much quicker and seems safer to me, since it provides a smaller surface area in which to splash and potentially flounder. If a 1 year old tips forward in a sink, their face might just hit the counter, instead of water. Regardless, she always supervised me in the sink too 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-what-were-you-doing-while-your-13-month-old-son-was-alone-in-the-tub-drowning-to-death/568342.md?page=3)