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Original poster

Do older children make a second shower and basin worthwhile?

76 replies

Monvelo · 03/07/2026 13:59

This isn't very interesting but I would welcome opinions from folks with slightly older kids! It's about morning bathroom time slots vs having an extra shower and basin.

We have a partial en suite off the main bedroom, with a basin and a shower. No loo, but the family bathroom is next door and there's a WC downstairs. We have never used this ensuite and instead it's become a cupboard of doom, making up for poor storage space.

The issue is now the kids are getting older we're starting to have clashes for the family bathroom in the morning. Dh shoots in there first and somehow spends about 30 mins, and everyone else waits their turn after. Increasingly DD is starting to knock and ask to get in there. She starts senior school in Sept and will need access to the bathroom a lot earlier. And then so will ds. I imagine it'll only get more chaotic from here on!

So, is a second shower and basin a huge help when everyone's trying to get out of the door? Should I try to free up the partial en suite in all it's glory? It would mean rehoming difficult items and about a wardrobes worth of clothes. An easier option might be to release just the basin and mirror.

On the other hand we only had one bathroom in my house growing up and no extra loo.... So is a family bathroom and an extra loo downstairs fine and people just need an acceptable time slot?

OP posts:
Fedupofthisgame · 03/07/2026 14:02

For us yes. We've just moved from a one bathroom (one toilet) to a 3 bathroom house and instantly the atmosphere in the morning is different. I have two girls 10&11 and it was hell.

ExquisitelyDressing · 03/07/2026 14:05

We've only got one bathroom for 4 adults (not even a second loo) and we manage ok, we just have to be quick and no one hangs about to do make-up or hair that's all in bedrooms. We check with each other if going for a bath and everyone has a regular time in the mornings. But if you have got a second it does seem silly not to use it. We do have a fair amount of "can you hurry up in there".

SilverPink · 03/07/2026 14:06

I couldn’t imagine only having one bathroom! Two here, and a downstairs toilet. As your kids get older they absolutely will want, and need, their own bathroom. There can be times when there’s 4 of us (all now adults) trying to get ready to go somewhere at the same time.

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Hover · 03/07/2026 14:08

Yes. We added a new one last year and it's handy. At the moment our morning start times are staggered so we could probably get by with one, but from next year we'll have three people wanting showers at around the same time when youngest starts secondary so I think we will definitely feel the benefit then.

ToniAndCalm · 03/07/2026 14:18

We just about manage with one shower but two toilets. Dc are young teens and we all need the bathroom at about the same time. We’re ok as we agree to prioritise quick showers upstairs, and do everything else downstairs bathroom - Teethbrushing etc.

NuffSaidSam · 03/07/2026 14:22

I also grew up in a one bathroom house and it was fine, it was all we knew.

But now having lived in a house with two bathrooms, it's so much better! Particularly, with teenagers. I would definitely free-up the ensuite, from what sound essentially like clutter, and make it useable. I'd also try and fit a loo in there if possible.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 03/07/2026 14:23

We have a few showers, 2 stand alone and 1 over a bath, each in a room with a toilet. Plus a downstairs loo. 5 of us, 3 teens. It's probably too many for us but that's the way it was when we got the house. Growing up we had one toilet with the shower in it so lots of waiting around and banging on doors. You'll manage without but it really does make life a lot easier to have one less stress in life. Personally I think its worth the money and disruption

Original poster
Monvelo · 03/07/2026 14:29

NuffSaidSam · 03/07/2026 14:22

I also grew up in a one bathroom house and it was fine, it was all we knew.

But now having lived in a house with two bathrooms, it's so much better! Particularly, with teenagers. I would definitely free-up the ensuite, from what sound essentially like clutter, and make it useable. I'd also try and fit a loo in there if possible.

It's not clutter really unfortunately, it's stuff of life! There is a wardrobe rail in there that's full, a free standing drawer set, then things like a dehumidifier, the clothes horse, ironing board, ladder... We don't have a garage.

OP posts:
Smokeshow · 03/07/2026 14:30

We probably would have killed each other with only one bathroom in the house once our kids were teenagers, based on when we have stayed in places with only one bathroom. I’d say have as many bathrooms as you can for peace and harmony!

RandomUsernameHere · 03/07/2026 15:47

It doesn’t make sense to me to be using the shower room for storage if people are queuing for the shower. Could you get a new shed or something to use for storage instead?

WhatAMarvelousTune · 03/07/2026 15:51

I would 100% start using the en suite!

Or tell your DH to stop being so selfish and stop spending 30 mins in there when there are other people who have to get up and be places!

Seagulldancing · 03/07/2026 15:54

The more bathrooms the better with a houseful of teenagers.

Kinsters · 03/07/2026 16:11

I'd talk to your DH about the 30 minutes in the bathroom. What's he doing in there?

My parents house has two bathrooms but we never used "their" bathroom and had four kids sharing. The only irritation was my brother who, like your DH, had a tendancy to go and sit in the bathroom for ages utterly oblivious to the fact that everyone else needs to use it too. He still does it now actually.

Original poster
Monvelo · 03/07/2026 16:44

RandomUsernameHere · 03/07/2026 15:47

It doesn’t make sense to me to be using the shower room for storage if people are queuing for the shower. Could you get a new shed or something to use for storage instead?

We do have a shed, it's full of bikes etc. The en suite is used for clothes overflow e.g. bulky items like work PPE, suits and dresses, and big electrical things eg dehumidifier. Which would get more use if we use the shower! The bedroom only has space for a double wardrobe which is tight. But going to have to do something, by consensus here! I think a bed with storage under might be part of the answer. Our ottoman broke.

OP posts:
Original poster
Monvelo · 03/07/2026 16:47

Kinsters · 03/07/2026 16:11

I'd talk to your DH about the 30 minutes in the bathroom. What's he doing in there?

My parents house has two bathrooms but we never used "their" bathroom and had four kids sharing. The only irritation was my brother who, like your DH, had a tendancy to go and sit in the bathroom for ages utterly oblivious to the fact that everyone else needs to use it too. He still does it now actually.

Some of it is medical and some of it is titivating his beard, or something 🤣 He has said himself he needs to speed up. This week he's been getting out sooner to let DD in, but then he needs to go back in later, which gets in my way!

OP posts:
postitnot · 03/07/2026 17:40

We have 2 bathrooms and 16 and 18yr old DDs.

'Their' bathroom has been out of action for 2 weeks and 'our' bathroom is full of their clutter which is very irritating. We timed it perfectly as they have both just finished exams so haven't rolled out of bed til lunch but I dread to think of the drama if we'd all been leaving the house at 8!

Iloveeverycat · 03/07/2026 17:44

At one time we had 1 bathroom with 6 adults. It was fine. Luckily we have a downstairs toilet too.

ExquisitelyDressing · 03/07/2026 19:44

Despite only having one we’ve never fallen out about it, we all know not to spend too long in there and give priority to whoever is going out first. If you want longer you have to get up early before everyone else wants in. No one gets offended if someone knocks and asks them to hurry up.

Jellycatspyjamas · 03/07/2026 19:50

Yes either your DH gets up earlier to titivate his beard and let everyone get on with their day or you open up the other shower. We have two full bathrooms, one en suite, and my DD has a toilet and sink en suite. It makes a huge difference now they’re both in high school and everyone is trying to get out at the same time.

Octavia64 · 03/07/2026 19:52

Thirty minutes!

one bathroom is possible but not really if someone takes 30 minutes.

Justploddingonandon · 03/07/2026 19:54

We have two and the downstairs one only really gets used for the toilet unless we have visitors ( our spare room is downstairs), as using both showers at once means neither has any water pressure. It mostly works as teen DS showers in the evening (his choice), and as the toothbrushes etc are upstairs I’ve trained anyone who just needs the loo to use downstairs especially if they need to spend 20 minutes having a shit.

JustGiveMeReason · 03/07/2026 20:38

I agree with most.
You are just at the start. Once the dc are teens, you would be fools to not have the two showers useable, as they are already installed.

Yes, of course people 'manage', but why 'manage' when things could be so much easier for you all.

For now, your dh needs to get himself up 30mins earlier if he is taking that long in the bathroom.

EmmaB1309 · 03/07/2026 21:10

Yes, and no way I’d be using a partial en-suite as storage!
Our only shower is in the en-suite off our bedroom. The family bathroom only has a bath. My dd is 11 and mainly has baths and sometimes a shower in the evening. But when she gets a bit older I can see her preferring morning showers like us and i think a second shower would be useful. We might install one in the main bathroom.

PeriPeriMayo · 03/07/2026 21:15

We have 3 bathrooms and our kids aren't even teens 😳.

It seems absolutely bonkers to be fighting for the shower in the morning when you have another one that is perfectly usable!

Flampert · 03/07/2026 21:21

One bathroom is absolutely fine if everyone is prepared to stick to a schedule and/or some of you shower at night. My eldest has just had her second year at uni in a house share of 4 with one bathroom, really normal situation, they've been fine. Having 2 is a lot easier though and reduces friction.

It comes down to attitude really. If you really need the storage space more then you probably won't be that irritated by sharing - you'll value the extra space more. It's like some people feel that having to recharge electric cars more often would be v annoying, but for people who are really keen to embrace electric, it's a minor issue easily outweighed by the positives.