But fun as they may be, a bathroom can be inaccessible – and even dangerous – to the littlest users. Planning a kid-friendly bathroom design is a fun and effective solution to the problem. But what does it mean?
Yes, you guessed it – it goes beyond just cute kid-themed décor, though that’s an important part as well. Here are eight ideas you might find useful.
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1. Let there be light
A toilet nightlight is one of those products that makes so much sense in a bathroom your kids use. Not only will your little ones be able to see their way during their late-night trips to the potty, but the light will also soothe their fear of the dark.
Nightlights have made great strides since their humble, plug-in-the-wall beginnings. Although plug-ins are typically the least expensive type, these days, you’ll find anything from stylish sconces that have a nightlight feature with sensors to projectors that display images on a room’s walls or ceilings.
Either way, they’re a great way to add style to your home and ensure safety for its residents without forgoing efficiency.
2. Look! No hands!
When it comes to hand washing, “I can do it myself” quickly becomes a favorite phrase among preschoolers. So why not help them out a bit on their way to their burgeoning independence?
A faucet swap is one of the simplest ways to do that. So, if you’re remodeling your bathroom, make sure to add it to your list.
It’s important that bathroom fixtures are easy for a kid to use. Single-lever faucets are preferable simply because they can easily be turned by their small hands, whereas with two-handled ones, they may grab the hot water knob instead of the cold.
With a hands-free faucet, all your kids would have to do is place their hands under the spout. The water would flow and shut off automatically after 30 seconds, also assuring you that they won’t waste water. Another benefit is the pre-set temperature that would prevent accidental scalding.
After all, when planning a kid-friendly bathroom design, you need to think about safety first.
3. And what about bath time?
Much like with hand washing, kids let their parents know when they’re ready to wash themselves. And, of course, you’re prepared to roll with it, as long as they’ve grasped the pattern and those finer points of bathing – and, as long as they are safe!
When the kiddos express interest in starting their own shower, the hot and cold-water color indicators will take the guesswork out of operating the shower trim. They’re referred to ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ labels simply because kids who cannot read can without difficulty learn and remember what blue and red stand for.
Also, pressure balancing shower trims are always a good idea for guests’ and kids’ bathrooms.
4. Choose durable materials
Given the splashing, roughhousing, and messing around in general, we can openly say that kids can be pretty rough on bathrooms. That’s why it’s best to design your family or kid’s bathroom with that in mind rather than stress out about any damage that may occur.
Installing wainscoting or tiles is your best bet as it will help protect your walls from water, dents, and scratches, as well as stop mold or anything scary growing on your walls. Selecting a quartz countertop is another wise decision. Unlike marble or granite countertops, quartz can resist stains and scratches.
Finally, floors need to be not only durable but also safe. So, choose non-slip tiles to reduce the chance of the little ones slipping.
5. Bathroom cabinetry
The child-friendly bathroom design should include plenty and easily accessible storage for their stuff. Thus, many parents are more than ready to ditch the medicine cabinets in favor of open shelving and storage in vanity drawers.
One of the issues with medicine cabinets is the ability to reach them. And when they do, the tiny fingerprints they leave behind on the mirror are the least of one parent’s concerns. For instance, is your cabinetry tough enough to endure the occasional feet landing on the door frames or a thirty-pound toddler hanging on the door?
Open shelving and vanity drawers are more easily accessed by all ages, meaning the kiddos will more easily and safely grab their bath toys and towels.
6. Babyproof everything
Typical family bathrooms are replete with hazardous objects – razors, medicines, scissors, tweezers, electrical gadgets like hair curlers, etc. For this reason, you need to babyproof your home and make it safe by keeping all these out of reach and locked away in a cabinet.
Any storage shelves and vanity in your kids’ bathrooms should be secured and childproofed. If it’s a shared bathroom, keep your stuff out of their reach, and consider equipping your part of storage with safety locks.
Oh, and make sure to buy a step stool – there’s no kid-friendly bathroom design without one. Or, better yet, have one built into the toe kick of the vanity in your bathroom, given that they’re often designed a bit higher for adult use. These are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to babyproof your bathroom.
7. Easy toilet flush
Some toilets aren’t that kid-friendly. Some seem to have difficult flush buttons that are even harder for their little fingers to push down.
So, if you’re on the market for new plumbing fixtures, always make sure to test out the flush button before making the purchase. Besides picking a toilet with a soft flush button, parents usually recommend getting a one-piece toilet for a kids’ bathroom.
Although a bit more expensive, these don’t have a break or gap between the base and the tank, making it easier for you to clean everything when the number 1 (or number 2) inevitably goes everywhere. This is far easier to wipe down.
8. Choose a bigger sink
Double user sinks have become an overarching trend when it comes to kid-friendly bathroom design if two or more children are sharing a bathroom. They’re great for tight spaces.
However, some parents swear by larger trough sinks instead, saying their ability to accommodate more hands at once and the fact that they’re quicker to clean makes them a lot more practical. And while you’re at it, they recommend that parents get an integrated sink – a sink that’s a continuous part of the countertop – to reduce the number of seams, nooks, and crannies where all the yucky stuff can collect.
A kids’ bathroom that is as easy as possible to clean? Yes, please – it’s a gift that keeps on giving!