How to Remodel for a Safer Kids' Bathroom
3 pros!
Renovating your kids' bathroom requires special considerations for accessibility and safety.
Do you have an old bathroom and young kids? If you're planning to remodel a bathroom for a child's use, remember these tips to create a safe kid's bathroom.
RELATED: Tips for the Best Bathroom Remodel
1. Prevent falls
Water and slippery surfaces combine to make bathrooms a prime site for falls. To minimize the chance of your children falling in the bathtub, shop for a tub with a non-slip surface, use a non-slip tub mat or apply non-slip strips or decals to the bottom of the tub. Also, install a non-slip floor surface or make sure your rug has a non-skid bottom, designed for wet feet emerging from the tub or shower.
Keep in mind that not all bathroom falls are due to slippery situations. You should also make sure that towel racks are positioned so that children cannot climb onto them from the top of the toilet or use them as climbing handholds. If the bathroom is on an upper story and has a window, install a window guard or choose a replacement window that doesn't open wide enough for a child to fall through.
Kids' bathrooms should contain safety features to prevent accident or injury. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Debbie C. of Milford, Conn.)
2. Prevent scalds
If you've ever had your shower suddenly turn piping hot when someone flushed the toilet or turned on the cold water tap, you'll understand the utility of anti-scald valves. These devices, when installed on bathroom faucets, will keep the water at a steady temperature, reducing the risk of scalding in the shower. The National Institutes of Health recommend that you keep the water temperature on your water heater set below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Prevent drowning
To keep roaming babies and toddlers safe from drowning, install a toilet lock on the toilet, and always keep the toilet lid closed and locked when it is not in use. Of course, you should never leave a child younger than 6 years old alone in the bath, not even for a second — even if the child is in a baby bath seat.
4. Easy access
You can prevent other bathroom accidents by providing children with easy access to the items they need to reach, such as the toilet, sink, soap, towels and toothbrushes. Make sure kids have a safe, solid step stool so they can wash their hands and brush their teeth without having to jump or hoist themselves up, and keep a potty ring available for younger children so they will feel secure when sitting on the toilet.
While you can implement many of these safety tips yourself, some will require consultation with a plumber or other bathroom remodeling professional. Check the local listings on Angie's List for highly recommended remodeling professionals to help you with your bathroom remodeling project.