When you are designing a house, you have to make sure that it is safe for the little ones. However, designing the house to be more child-oriented is not exclusive to the children’s room. All family members use bathrooms, and they, therefore, must be made accessible and safe for everyone. Here are a few tips on how to make your bathroom child-friendly.
Reposition the Mirror
Make sure the dressing table or mirror is either standard height or taller; younger kids may struggle to reach it, but children grow fast, and they will eventually reach a height where they can comfortably see their reflection without a stool, so you don’t have to make any major changes to your bathroom. If you have more than one child, consider installing a double sink to accommodate them simultaneously if the space in the bathroom allows it. Moreover, consider placing a step stool to make it easy for toddlers to stand and reach the sink to wash their hands and brush their teeth.
Toilet Seats and Toilet-lid Locks
Child height toilets are uncomfortable for adults, so always install a standard height toilet. However, if you want to provide more comfort to your children, especially toddlers, you can add a toilet seat made especially for kids; this way, you cannot sacrifice anyone’s comfort. Additionally, since toilets are drowning hazards for toddlers, you can add a lid lock to make the standard adult toilet inaccessible for them. A bonus is if you add a high-performance, efficient toilet. An efficient toilet uses the water’s velocity to flush out waste instead of using water volume, which is convenient if several family members take turns on the bathroom back-to-back, seeing as it takes minutes to refill.
Provide Ample Places for Storage
Children are usually messy, and wherever there are children, you are bound to have clutter. For that reason, you might want to set up some cabinets for storage where you can store substances that are not safe for children. You can also add for extra safety a cabinet’s lock to ensure that it is inaccessible for young children.
A clever hack is to convert them into slide steps for children to use if you have any drawers. Moreover, children usually have the habit of throwing their wet towels on the bathroom floor because they can’t reach the towel hook, which contributes to cluttering the bathroom. As a solution to this problem, place a multipurpose wall hook that children can easily reach so they can hang their towels after use. Additionally, add different height shelves to the shower or bath enclosure so everyone can get to store their own products without having to leave them scattered on the bathroom counter.
Anti-Slip Surfaces and Water Temperature Control
Slippery surfaces are one of the top hazards that children face in bathrooms. So make sure to use a non-skid mat in the bathtub and the bathroom floor, especially if the floor is not made of a slip-resistant surface. Additionally, you will need to place absorbent rugs or bath mats around the toilet and sink.
Several studies have shown that children are most likely to suffer from severe burns due to hot water in the bathroom. So, it is always advised to install an anti-scalding controller in your water heater, limiting the amount of hot water that flows through the faucets. These devices will keep your children safe from any scalding accidents.
Making Bathtubs More Practical
Shower stalls don’t take up much space in your bathroom, which might tempt you to install it instead of a bathtub. However, if you have a toddler, it will be very hard to bathe them in a shower stall. A bathtub is always the more practical option in a child-friendly bathroom.
Besides, you can make the bathtub more practical by using a showerhead and a cushioned cover over the faucet to protect them if they bump their head against it. Additionally, consider adding a step stool so the little ones can easily climb the bathtub. With that being said, you should always opt for non-porous materials to help combat mildew so it can be easier for you to clean, seeing as mold and mildew can be hazardous to children.
Many people think that by child-proofing their bathrooms, they are making it child-friendly; however, it’s not enough. The design of the bathroom itself and everything in it has to have children’s needs in mind. Moreover, adding these small additions ensures that this bathroom will remain practical in the long run without having to remodel when your children grow up. Make sure to use the tips mentioned above for a child-friendly bathroom so the little ones in your family can stay safe.