Some parents might think that a good way to make a bathroom kid-friendly is to make it kid-sized—renovating the space to accommodate a smaller toilet or a shorter vanity. Fun as these may be for toddlers and younger kids, these fixtures won’t prove practical as your children grow older and bigger. A kid-friendly bathroom is also a family-friendly one: for years to come, it can work for your children, yourself, and every adult visitor to your Atlanta home.
Pick the perfect potty
As noted, it’s not ideal to install child-sized toilets. With seats that rise to only 12 inches from the floor, these potties will be outgrown quickly. They could also prove troublesome for grandparents or other visitors who struggle with low seating. On the other hand, comfort-height toilets, which are designed for the handicapped and elderly, have seats 17 to 19 inches from the ground, and might prove too high for many children.
The best choice for a children’s bathroom is still the standard toilet, which has a seat height of 15 inches. It’s easier to adjust to, over the long run, and it’s nothing that a little kid with a step-stool can’t reach.
Don’t be vain about the vanity
With a step stool, kids can also do their routines easily at a standard vanity. But there are other considerations for this fixture. In a guest or master bathroom, the vanity can be a point of style. In the children’s, it should be as utilitarian as possible.
Consider a vanity with a drop-in sink and a spacious countertop as opposed to a pedestal or wall-mount sink. This design allows for more cabinets, drawers, or open shelving to store the washcloths, soaps, shampoos, bath toys, and medicines that children need. Letting each child have their own storage spot, which they can take responsibility for, is also a good parenting tactic!
A spacious vanity will also give you and your kids a place to park accessories during wash time. With enough room, you could even install a double sink so you can avoid potential squabbles over who gets to wash up first or for longer.
However your vanity looks, you will need to “kid-proof” it. Have your Atlanta bathroom remodeling contractor build it with stain- and scratch-resistant materials, as well as rounded countertop edges. A backsplash that runs from countertop to ceiling would also protect your walls from all the water kids will splash around.
Standard safety in the shower
Again, a standard tub or shower will do just fine, but make sure to outfit it with kid-friendly features. While handlebars and anti-scald devices can make showering safer for children, others things like adjustable shower heights and handheld showerheads can make washing up easier.
Finally, don’t forget that the children’s bathroom should be fun! Anti-slip mats cut in funny shapes and curtains with beloved cartoon characters are better than standard mats and sliding doors. Once you have all the kid-friendly fixtures in place, the rest of the bathroom can be as kiddie as can be.
Sources:
Kid-Friendly Bathroom Design, HGTV.com
The Family Home: Kid-Friendly Bathrooms, Houzz.com
Kid-Friendly Bathroom Design, BobVila.com
