How to Create a Kid-Friendly Bathroom

By Guest Blogger, Derek L.

How to Create a Kid-Friendly Bathroom

They will all tell you how beautiful it is when your little one says his first word or makes his first steps. But none of them will tell you about the horror of the darkest thoughts that will go through your head and about all that mess that waits for you to clean it up after that little one decides he no longer wants to go pee-pee with his mom, but all by himself – as the true big boy that he is. And speaking of big boys, why did you place that toilet seat so high, so he cannot climb it? And what is a little pee stain compared to the fact your child is now practically an adult? Jokes aside, there are some things that need to be done in order to save both your child and yourself from a lot of potential trouble.

Floors

Floors in a child-proof bathroom should be non-slip. In other words, opt for tiles that are small and rough (anti-slip) in order to eliminate the risk of your little loved one falling down and hurting himself. And if he still isn’t walking quite steadily, a great idea is to incorporate those non-slip mats as well. Finally, after every shower session, make sure every adult family member wipes off all the water puddles.

Fittings

Adult skin is a lot thicker than a child’s skin. And this is why you have to protect your child’s skin from getting burned with hot water. You will do this by incorporating those safe bath tub, sink and bidet thermostat fittings that can only reach a certain water temperature, and select valves with scalding protection. This way, those little hands will definitely remain protected against the heat.

Finishing

Avoid those pointy ceramics for your bathroom at all costs. In fact, you should rather opt for elegant and soft-edged bathroom supplies without any sharp corners that may hurt your child. Next, make sure that all glass areas are well secured. Also, you are more than welcome to install those invisible drawer handles and lockable cupboards that will prevent your child from grabbing the razor, a pair of scissors or a chemical product (which should, by the way, be kept as far away from them as possible – ideally, completely out of their sight and reach).

Space

If you simply aren’t blessed with a big and spacious bathroom, make sure it is always 100 percent decluttered. Use every inch of your bathroom space wisely, so it will both be aesthetically more pleasing, and safer for your child. And if, on the other hand, you do have a large bathroom, you have the luxury to install a large bathtub or shower that will allow several little ones to bathe at the same time, which is both time and money saving.

Levels

Try looking at your bathroom through your child’s eyes (and height). He will definitely need some help reaching the wash basin, so you might want to install a sturdy step-ladder in front of it. Next, keep storage levels on no more than one meter, so it is easily accessible to them as well. Install a showerhead with an adjustable height, so it fits you all. Smart showerheads are a huge trend right now. Finally, note that children quite enjoy seeing themselves in the mirror, so make sure yours is at the appropriate height.

Handling

The harsh truth is that bathroom items are made with only adults in mind – so your child’s little hands may find it quite difficult to use them. So when you go shopping for bathroom furniture, look at it through your children’s eyes. Go with easy-to-open shower doors, choose hooks instead of towel holders, invest in a solid shower caddy, etc.

Fun bathing

It is not always all about safety. What you should also do is to make this a fun experience for your little one. Let him play with his rubber and plastic toys during bath time, invest in a couple of colorful and fun accessories, as well as educational bath toys, have fun with color and maybe even consider putting a cartoon wallpaper to liven the space up a little bit.

Bathrooms can be a dangerous space for kids. And when the time comes when they can use it themselves, do your best to protect them.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
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