Let’s be honest; children are incredibly curious creatures by nature. They love to get their hands on anything that piques their interest. While it’s nice to see your child explore their surroundings, this doesn’t always turn out for the best, especially in the bathroom.
If you’re a new parent, you’ll be shocked at how even the simplest of things can become a threat to your child’s well-being. Here are some tips on how to childproof your bathroom to prevent problems.
Lock Up Any Dangerous Items
To a child, there are so many interesting things to find in a bathroom. From perfumes, shampoos, toilet cleaner, razors, and soap, you’d be surprised what children will try to play with or put in their mouths.
An effective way to child-proof your bathrooms is to stash these items away. Put them in a place your child can’t reach or won’t be able to find. If you don’t want to lock everything in the medicine cabinet, you can simply put them in the cupboard under the sink and install child-proof locks on the cabinet doors. Alternatively, you could store these items elsewhere in your home, only bringing them to the bathroom when they are needed.
If all else fails and your little one is far too eager to explore, you can always install a sliding lock at the top of the bathroom door to keep them from getting into the bathroom on their own. That way, even if they try to turn the knob, they won’t be able to gain entry.
Prevent Clogged Toilets
Toilets may seem a gross necessity to us, but to curious toddlers, they’re fascinating new toys. It has water in it, a handle is turned, the water goes away and new water comes in. While examining the contraption, your youngster will likely try putting new things in the bowl to see what else they can make disappear. This may be excessive amounts of toilet paper, socks, garbage, or even toys. They don’t mean any harm, but their experiments can do a lot of damage to the plumbing system.
If your child has caused a clog, you’ll first need to contact a plumbing professional to sort out the problem. They’ll be able to find the source of the clog and remove it so that it won’t cause issues anymore.
Next, teach your child about what does and doesn’t go down the toilet. Show them how much toilet paper is acceptable to use, and establish a rule keeping toys out of the bathroom. You may also want to install a toilet lock. This will keep your child from putting anything in the toilet until they learn better.
Keep Them Away From the Toilet
On average, approximately 87 children die due to drowning in the home each year. Though not as much of a culprit as bathtubs, many of these accidents occur because of toilets. Because of their small stature, it’s easy for them to topple head first into the bowl. Additionally, even though flushing the toilet seems harmless enough, toddlers may still end up flooding your bathroom and could drown in the ensuing mess. To prevent drowning, install a toilet lid that’s too heavy to lift. This will also prevent them from smashing their fingers.
As children grow, it’s normal to want to explore the world around them. While you should encourage them to do so, you also need to keep them safe. There are certain things you must keep them from touching in order to keep your child safe from harm.
