Having a kid imposes certain changes in lifestyle. While your home might have seemed like the safest place in the world for you and your partner back when there were just the two of you, everything is different when a child comes along. And while all the rooms in the house need to be childproofed, the bathroom might potentially be the most dangerous one.
The access to water can lead to burns, and slippery floors can lead to dangerous falls. That's why you need to pay special attention when childproofing this room. With that in mind, here is a guide on making your bathroom a safe place for your kids.
Start With The Bathroom Doorway
This might sound scary, but the bathroom is a potential hazard from the very entrance. This can be easily dealt with by adding a childproof cover on the doorknob so that only an adult can open it.
This way, you can make sure your child doesn't enter the bathroom without adult supervision.
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Secure The Toilet
Toddlers can be very curious and might want to spend their time in the bathroom playing around the toilet. However, kids can lose their balance easily and fall into the water.
A bump in the head is a lighter consequence here - there are more dreadful outcomes. The toilet lock is the right solution for this. There are those that reset themselves when the seat is lowered.
Deal With The Slippery Floor
Slippery floors are the most frequent cause of bathroom injuries, and while some of those accidents can be minor, you can never be too safe, especially when it comes to kids. Non-slip bathroom mats are the best way to deal with this hazard.
Choose a bathroom mat that has small suction cups to prevent it from moving around.
Bath Time
Bath time is a special time for both kids and parents, and that's why everything needs to be perfect and harmless. That's why it's so important to choose functional baths and upgrade them with no-slip strips and cushioned faucet covers.
Being extra-diligent with cleaning your bathtub is also very important.
Store Medicines and Toiletry Outside Their Reach
While this is a no-brainer, many parents underestimate their kids and they think a regular vertical storage above their kids' height is enough to prevent nosy kids from trying to find out what's in that closed shelf.
That's why it is imperative to keep the medicine cabinet locked and the caps on the medicine containers child-resistant. Also, you should store the shampoos and other toiletries in similar fashion.
Don't forget the outlets and electrical appliances
Hair dryers, razors, heaters and other electrical appliances are normally kept in the bathroom, but it is safer to keep and use them in other rooms where there is no access to water.
If you are going to continue using them in your bathroom, make sure they are stored in a cabinet with a safety lock.
Just to be safe, you can hire an electrician to mount special wall sockets ( ground-fault circuit interrupters) designed to minimize the chances of electrical injuries in case some of the appliances fall into the sink or bathtub.
Just like in all the other rooms in your house, you should install outlet covers.
Other Potentially Dangerous Bathroom Items
You would be surprised just how creative toddlers can get when in a "fascinating" room such as the bathroom. For example, trash cans can attract their attention, so besides being careful about what you throw in them (e.g. razors), you should use a can that can't be opened easily.
A plunger and a toilet brush should be closed in a closet or another convenient storage. Shower curtains can be a problem, so it would be best to get rid of them altogether.
Following these tips will help you ensure your bathroom is a safe place for your kids, and no amount of time and effort is too big when it comes to the well-being of your kids.
