Transitioning from single to family home life requires making some tweaks to your home to make it child friendly. We all know what happens when children get a hold of things that they shouldn’t, and many accidents occur at home because not every home is suitable for kids. If you have small children at home and it is not yet safe for them, there are simple things you can do yourself to make sure that you can rest easy knowing that they are safe even if you don’t have your eyes on them.
The bathroom is one area that you have to child-proof, as you are dealing with water – both hot and cold – and fixtures that can pose a danger to children.
- Mats. You should place non-slip mats all over your bathroom. Shower pods are one of those areas that you should always have a non-slip mat in. Kids love to play during shower time, and during that time they can slip on the floor and hurt themselves. Mats will prevent their feet from slipping on the wet tile floor.
- Fixtures. Make the vanity a little taller, at a height that they will not easily reach, so that anything on the vanity is safe from your kids’ hands, especially cosmetics, chemicals and other stuff. The normal height of vanities is 30 inches, so you may want to get something taller than 30 inches.
- Toilet. A standard-sized toilet is the best size to get for your bathroom. It can still be a little higher for your kids, but using a non-slip stool for them to step on and a child-sized toilet seat will be appropriate for them. Make the toilet seat easily removable so you can put the standard seat for your use.
- Bars. Holding bars are no longer just for old people to help them get up from the toilet and hold on while taking a shower. They are useful for kids too. Install bars in the shower, on the wall by the toilet and one by the tub so they can get up and down quickly, without slipping.
- Storage. Besides your stuff, you can also place a basket for your kids’ toys, in an area and at a level that they can easily reach without having to step on a stool. It’s inevitable that toys will take up your entire house, even the bathroom. Placing a storage basket for their toys will make your bathroom more organised.
- Hot water. This is probably the most dangerous thing you can find in the bathroom. Some kids may not know how to control the temperature of the water in the shower or tap, so using an anti-scald device to place on taps and shower heads will control the amount of hot water that they release, thereby protecting your kids from getting burned.
You have to take into consideration everyone in the family when you build or remodel parts of your home. Kids tend to have accidents doing even the simplest things at home.
To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.
2018 ·