Making a kid-friendly shower
July 27, 2017 12:58 PM Subscribe
I'd like to teach my kid to shower independently, but the shower could stand to be a bit more kid-friendly. Help us help him!
My elder child Micropanda (7 in a few months) has begun to prefer showers to baths. I think he could manage most of it himself but we could use some help from the hive mind in fixing a couple of sticking points.
1) He has sensory issues and using the overhead shower is a non starter. (The risk of surprise water on his face is the biggest problem, but he's always been terrified of overhead showers.) Our showerhead has a diverter switch to a handheld shower, which he is happy to use. The problem is, the mounting spot for the handheld shower is at adult height next to the overhead showerhead. He can't manage soap/shampoo with one hand, but there's no place to put the handheld shower while he soaps up. We rent, so a screw mounted bracket wouldn't be ideal. Does there exist some kind of secondary mounting bracket that would actually stay up, but could be removed cleanly in the future? The shower interior is tiled. This seems like a unicorn request. Is there some other solution I haven't thought of?
2) The original non skid coating has worn off the bathtub floor and it's slippery enough that I've caught him from falling a few times. What's the best thing to put down to make it safer? I'm leery of something that will mildew if not cared for properly but could go that route if you convince me it's the best solution.
3) Any general tips, tricks, or warnings for transitioning a kid to showering independently? Can I get a magic talisman that will make him keep the damn shower pointed into the bathtub (we have bathtub+fabric shower curtain)? I figure someone will help him set the water temperature for the foreseeable future.
My elder child Micropanda (7 in a few months) has begun to prefer showers to baths. I think he could manage most of it himself but we could use some help from the hive mind in fixing a couple of sticking points.
1) He has sensory issues and using the overhead shower is a non starter. (The risk of surprise water on his face is the biggest problem, but he's always been terrified of overhead showers.) Our showerhead has a diverter switch to a handheld shower, which he is happy to use. The problem is, the mounting spot for the handheld shower is at adult height next to the overhead showerhead. He can't manage soap/shampoo with one hand, but there's no place to put the handheld shower while he soaps up. We rent, so a screw mounted bracket wouldn't be ideal. Does there exist some kind of secondary mounting bracket that would actually stay up, but could be removed cleanly in the future? The shower interior is tiled. This seems like a unicorn request. Is there some other solution I haven't thought of?
2) The original non skid coating has worn off the bathtub floor and it's slippery enough that I've caught him from falling a few times. What's the best thing to put down to make it safer? I'm leery of something that will mildew if not cared for properly but could go that route if you convince me it's the best solution.
3) Any general tips, tricks, or warnings for transitioning a kid to showering independently? Can I get a magic talisman that will make him keep the damn shower pointed into the bathtub (we have bathtub+fabric shower curtain)? I figure someone will help him set the water temperature for the foreseeable future.
For #2, get a nonslip shower or bath mat. You can run it through the dishwasher when it gets icky.
posted by Toddles at 1:13 PM on July 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Toddles at 1:13 PM on July 27, 2017 [2 favorites]
Try this? Just leave the handheld spray dangling down all the time when you leave the shower yoruself, and keep the switch set to let the water emerge from the spray instead of the overhead as the default. He can turn on the faucet slowly, feel the water from the spray emerge to the intensity he wants it to, use it to wet his hair, turn it off to soap up and then turn it on again to rinse off.
posted by flourpot at 1:16 PM on July 27, 2017
posted by flourpot at 1:16 PM on July 27, 2017
Best answer: We use a showerhead suction mount for our extremely awkward shower placement, and I didn't even know such a thing existed until I saw it on a parent forum as a recommendation for kid use.
Ours does need to be re-sucked to the shower wall every few weeks, and water deposits will crust around it that should be washed away periodically or you'll end up with a ring you can't get rid of.
Will a bath mat not stick to the floor because of the previous adhesive? If you have someone who's prone to dropping/knocking stuff over, you want the entire floor padded if at all possible. You can run it through the washing machine (I do mine with a load of kitchen/chore towels).
posted by Lyn Never at 1:16 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ours does need to be re-sucked to the shower wall every few weeks, and water deposits will crust around it that should be washed away periodically or you'll end up with a ring you can't get rid of.
Will a bath mat not stick to the floor because of the previous adhesive? If you have someone who's prone to dropping/knocking stuff over, you want the entire floor padded if at all possible. You can run it through the washing machine (I do mine with a load of kitchen/chore towels).
posted by Lyn Never at 1:16 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I use a textured vinyl shower mat with suction cups. I pull it up and wash it with my towels and let it air dry. It's lasted for years.
posted by padraigin at 1:22 PM on July 27, 2017
posted by padraigin at 1:22 PM on July 27, 2017
FYI for adhesives: I use these waterproof Command strips to hang the corner shelf that my shampoos sit on, and I bet they would hold a shower head clip just fine.
posted by aimedwander at 1:59 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by aimedwander at 1:59 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I think a shower mat for sure. Would your son sit in the shower? Not sure if that would make it too hard to reach the shower head. I had a "sit in the shower" rule when my kids were getting used to it, and then relaxed it as they got older and used to a shower routine.
posted by areaperson at 2:01 PM on July 27, 2017
posted by areaperson at 2:01 PM on July 27, 2017
Up to a certain age, you have to make sure the temperature is right, and stable before letting a little one shower alone. You might have to turn it off for him too, if it is a two handle turn off.
posted by Oyéah at 2:06 PM on July 27, 2017
posted by Oyéah at 2:06 PM on July 27, 2017
Do you not want it to dangle? I have a thing like this in my shower that holds everything, can't see why you couldn't place the handheld dingus there.
I also replaced our showerhead with one that is just a mounted handheld so there's no switching between the water sources.
The vinyl shower mats probably might get moldy eventually but so what? They cost $10. I like the wood ones even more.
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:18 PM on July 27, 2017
I also replaced our showerhead with one that is just a mounted handheld so there's no switching between the water sources.
The vinyl shower mats probably might get moldy eventually but so what? They cost $10. I like the wood ones even more.
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:18 PM on July 27, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks, guys. I had no idea the suction cup mounts existed - that looks perfect. Also, good points on wanting floor padding in case of falls, and the sit-down rule. I had no idea that you can put many of the rubber shower mats in the washer - that increases our chances of keeping it in decent shape.
Don't want the showerhead to dangle because that increases risk of surprise water-in-face -> panic -> slip and fall. (Also increases chances of flooding bathroom...) Fortunately we have a one-handle faucet, so turning off is covered.
Other ideas are still welcome! And if anybody has specific rubber mats they love or hate, do tell.
posted by telepanda at 2:53 PM on July 27, 2017
Don't want the showerhead to dangle because that increases risk of surprise water-in-face -> panic -> slip and fall. (Also increases chances of flooding bathroom...) Fortunately we have a one-handle faucet, so turning off is covered.
Other ideas are still welcome! And if anybody has specific rubber mats they love or hate, do tell.
posted by telepanda at 2:53 PM on July 27, 2017
The mat I DON'T recommend is this one because it wasn't textured enough to be non-slip for a kid, since they don't have a lot of bodyweight. The next thing I was going to try are those stickers that add texture to the floor, but my kid got the hang of not slipping. We have a suction bracket for the shower-head too, and switched to a waterproof curtain because sometimes the he turns and gets some water pointing at the curtain.
posted by xo at 3:28 PM on July 27, 2017
posted by xo at 3:28 PM on July 27, 2017
if you have a shower curtain, rather than a door, add magnets to keep it anchored to the inside of the bathtub. there may already be a couple of magnets near the edges, which is sufficient for those who are already inclined to see that the water/mess is contained, but most kids won't even notice they're there.
posted by she's not there at 5:12 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by she's not there at 5:12 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is the exact tub mat I have. The "pebbles" are smooth but the mat is just nubbly enough that it feels very secure. I don't know if it would trigger your son's sensory issues but maybe he could feel it at the store and see if he likes the way it feels.
I've had mine for like, seven years and it's just starting to break apart around the edges, and I probably throw it in the washer on hot about twice a month (I hang it on a Command hook after most showers, through one of the holes near the edges).
posted by padraigin at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've had mine for like, seven years and it's just starting to break apart around the edges, and I probably throw it in the washer on hot about twice a month (I hang it on a Command hook after most showers, through one of the holes near the edges).
posted by padraigin at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just made the kid wear crocs or water shoes instead of dealing with shower and bath mats.
posted by cocoagirl at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by cocoagirl at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
« Older Stop calling, stop calling / I don't want to talk... | Modern cross stitch, best practices/gear? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
It's been working great for our kids. Usually, when we start the shower for our daughter, we turn it to face the back wall. She can get in, feel the water, and then turn it back to face her when she's ready.
Oh, and the adhesive lasts for maybe a year. Then it falls off cleanly and we buy a new one.
posted by hammurderer at 1:07 PM on July 27, 2017 [3 favorites]