How to ensure your bathroom is child friendly
One of the major concerns that you have with children is how to keep them safe, particularly around your own home. If you have your own kids, you’ll know that you might only turn your back for a second and they’re into a cupboard they shouldn’t be. The bathroom, along with the kitchen, is one of the more dangerous places in the home for kids to be, with floors that can easily get slippery, cupboards filled with bottles of cleaning chemicals, medicines and lotions in, and, of course, lots of taps and water. Here are a few simple ways to make sure that your children are as safe as they can be when they’re in the bathroom.
The number one rule is that you should always be aware of where your child is in the bathroom and what they’re doing. If the phone rings or someone knocks on the door while you’re bathing them, don’t leave them alone, even for a few seconds; that could be all it takes for them to slip over or grab a bottle of something. If they’re old enough to be in the bathroom alone, make sure to check on them every so often, or prevent accidents by doing as many of the following as possible.
Ensure that your children are able to reach the bathroom pieces safely. Many sinks, toilets and bath tubs are too high for small children to reach on their own. Of course you could install custom ones that are at a child friendly height to prevent them trying to climb up and slipping themselves. But this can be costly because the kids will inevitably outgrow them quickly and you’ll end up replacing them before you know it. Instead, get yourself a safe set of bathroom steps or a stool. If you have a tiled floor, make sure it has rubber fittings on the legs to prevent slippage.
If you keep bathroom cleaning chemicals in a low down cupboard, ensure that it is fitted with a childproof lock. Children will get their hands on to anything they’re not supposed to and may spill it on themselves or try to drink it. The bathroom cabinet is often used to store bottles of shampoo, body wash or lotions, and frequently people store medicine in them too. Consider getting one such as Roper Rhodes which can be placed higher up on the wall and away from prying hands.
Kids are also very skilled at getting water everywhere, whether they like bath time or not, they’re likely to splash water all over the floor. With tiled or wooden floors, they can very easily get slippery, so watch them as they climb in and out of the tub. This is also a good time to think about your water usage. Children are prone to leaving taps running for far too long, so always keep an eye on them when they’re washing or brushing their teeth that they have the tap turned off.
