How to adapt the bathroom for small children?
June 2025
Why bathroom adaptation is important for children’s safety
Children, especially the younger ones, aren’t always able to react properly when they step out of the shower hurriedly and carelessly. They are much more likely to fall on a slippery floor than adults. Usually, children are full of energy and curious about the world, so it’s better to work towards eliminating potential hazards. Parents are masters of preventive measures and try to introduce certain precautions in almost every room. In the case of a children’s bathroom, the potential dangers are particularly numerous, so a thoughtful design is all the more important.
First of all, children are shorter so it’s best that all the pieces of sanitary ware like toilet bowls and washbasins for children are smaller and installed at a lower height. There are some pieces that aren’t easy to find in kids’ versions though. The problem may arise, for example, when the investor intends to buy a bidet for children, however there actually are accessories that can make it easier for a child to use one. Special reducers are an example. The choice of high-quality sanitary ware is important, but it’s not the only thing that determines safety in the bathroom.
Choosing the right safety accessories
Different kinds of accessories play a large role in any bathroom, and you can choose those that promote greater safety. Since the biggest number of falls occur in the bathing area, this is what we should look at first. This area should right away be equipped with high-quality anti-slip mats. They provide effective protection against slipping even after a bath, when the tiled floor can be slippery. Looking through bathroom accessories, we can also find anti-slip mats created for use inside of the shower stall, on the shower tray. Sometimes parents opt for additional grab bars and rails inside the shower unit, but it’s the mats that first come to their mind. Another form of protection in a kids’ bathroom are corner protectors. When bumping against it, it’s less likely that the child gets very hurt.
Keeping the bathroom clean
The bathroom has a specific microclimate and higher humidity levels. Its excess damages the furnishings and can cause diseases and allergies. For this reason, it’s necessary to regularly ventilate the bathroom and wipe surfaces that are covered with steam, especially after bathing. Children’s immune system is sensitive as it’s just forming, so prophylaxis becomes particularly important. It’s worth mentioning here that children, especially the younger ones, tend to touch surfaces with their hands, after which their hands land on their face or in their mouth. The bathroom is full of bacteria, so it’s important to pay attention to this.
There’s also the matter of usual dirt. Even in a bathroom for adults it’s a common sight. Limescale and soap deposits or stains are standard fare, and a kids’ bathroom will have even more of them. Children like splashing and playing with water, so soap and bath product stains will be all over the place. A kid-dedicated bathroom with its sanitary ware and furnishings should be cleaned and took care of even more frequently than a bathroom for adults. It’s very important that children have no access to any detergents or caustic agents. They must be stored either up high or, if possible, in another room.
Storage solutions for toys and cosmetics
Another thing that matters when it comes to creating an ergonomic design of a kids’ bathroom is the organization of storage space. A children’s bathroom, like any other, requires storing towels, cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Also, it will certainly contain lots of small toys, which in spite of appearances can take up a lot of space, and when lying around, appear to clutter the room. Hence the bathroom should have various types of shelving units, cabinets, drawers, shelves and hangers. Ideally, they should have compartments and be placed at such a height that allows your kids to pull out the contents by themselves. Containers, organizers and baskets are very helpful in space organization, as toys, cosmetics and towels can be easily segregated, making it easier to control any mess.
Eye-pleasing decor
When it comes to the bathroom, safety and ergonomics are always at the forefront. However, let’s not forget that the decor itself should be aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. A kids’ bathroom should be bright and preferably in pastel colors. It’s good to opt for children’s patters, for example, in the form of colorful wallpaper or tiles. Unusual accessories will also work great.
Summary
Bathroom adaptation for their young users is not just a matter of safety. It’s also a chance to create an attractive and friendly interior. By keeping an eye on the cleanliness and proper space organization, work on developing hygiene habits can bring better results. Besides, since everything will be designed for children, their parents don’t have to assist them during bathing and other tasks. Thus, the youngest learn independence and responsibility.