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Original poster

Do kids need a bath or will a shower do?

51 replies

LadyLoz · 22/09/2014 07:10

Hi everyone. I'm new here.

DH and I are looking to buy our first family home but the one we've got our eyes on needs a lot of work, including ripping out and replacing the bathroom. We don't have children yet but I want to design the bathroom with them in mind.

What I would like to know is: do we need a bath at all? We never take baths, only showers, and we'd really prefer just to put in a shower cubicle instead of a shower over a bath. But would this make bathing babies and toddlers really difficult and how could be get round that?

OP posts:

WingsClipped · 23/09/2014 08:30

We skipped on one house immediately because there was only a shower and no place for a bath (didn't show this in the pictures). If you have space I would definitely put one in. Agree with PP about you can always have a shower in the bath but you can't have a bath if you only have a shower.

LizLemon · 23/09/2014 11:36

My DS (5) also hates showers - terrified, tbh, but we've gradually got him used to putting his head back into the water. (He also went through a month of being afraid of the bath - I swear we didn't do anything to prompt this odd dislike of water.) He could stay and play in the bath for ages, which is useful as we have to put oilatum in there for his eczema.

Like Ham I also would have died without the bath in the month after I had him.

I wouldn't buy a house without a bath.

IssyStark · 23/09/2014 11:54

I would defnitely think twice about buying a house without a bath (unless the bathrrom was so bad I would be immediately replacing it anyway).

We've had both boys go through periods of hating showers and they are used to showers as they swim every week but still scream in our's. So a bath is a definite must for us as a family.

WeeClype · 23/09/2014 12:03

There is times when I put my toddler and baby in a bath during the day as its always something that stops the tantrums/tiredness/not sharing etc

Showers are great for a quick wash but I much prefer the DC's to get washed in the bath.

addictedtosugar · 23/09/2014 19:32

DS1 has loved showers since he was about 15 months - he insisted on coming in with me.
DS2 cannot abide them.

We've been in this house 7 years. I've probably had half a dozen baths. DH none. Its only really the kids who use it.

If you put in a short bath, could you also get a shower cubicle in the bathroom?

loraflora · 26/09/2014 15:52

I bought a house with a shower only, but regretted it on cold winter days when I wanted a nice long relaxing soak, and when it came to sell we had at least one buyer who seemed very keen until they saw the lack of a bathtub. I would not buy another place without.

Tapchat · 02/08/2018 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

serbska · 02/08/2018 12:04

I had to live in an apartment with just a shower with baby DS for a few months - it was a big cubicle and actually I got a little paddling pool and filled that up with water from the shower and put it in the shower tray. He was a toddler at the time and loved it.

End of the bath time just tipped the water away and stood the baby blow up paddling pool on its side in the cubicle and it didn't get in my way.

QuinionsRainbow · 02/08/2018 12:45

It's difficult to lie back and have a nice long pampering bubbly perfumed soak in a shower.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/08/2018 17:01

Older babies and younger children usually love a bath, and it's v often a great routine before bedtime.

Having once had to do it with a toddler for months, I can tell you that trying to wash very little ones in a shower is a major PITA.

While I know big walk-in showers are very popular, if you don't have room for both there's nothing wrong with a shower over the bath - as long as the shower itself is good. We've had two such Aqualisas for 30 years. Thousands of showers and baths - for Gdcs too now - and never a complaint yet.

4yearsnosleep · 02/08/2018 20:16

My daughter wouldn't shower until she was about 4 1/2 so I'd advise on a bath (even though I love a bath so I'm completely biased

Chickencellar · 03/08/2018 07:36

I would guess the OP has made a decision in the 4 years since she asked ..

Judithviolin · 03/02/2021 11:03

Hi- we’re expecting our baby in April and worried about our bath. From the previous house owners we have a very grown up free standing deep bath with 1 main tap sticking out from the middle that gets very hot. Is this very unsuitable for a baby/ toddler and need changing or has anyone else for this type of bath and managed??! Thanks

mangocoveredlamb · 03/02/2021 11:46

I’m just going to add that sometimes when my two are driving me barmy and everything is mess sticking them in the bath keeps the contained and entertained!

Amrythings · 03/02/2021 12:41

@judithviolin
You can get a regulator put on the bathroom supply - you'll probably want a plumber to do it.

I'd get a baby bath that goes into the bath or is freestanding until they're a bit bigger, don't give up a fabulous bath for two or three years worth!

Mimitoo · 03/02/2021 12:48

As long as it was a decent shower, it wouldn't put me off buying a house with bo bath. A few people I know have taken their baths out for a decent walk in shower and our neighbour is a builder who said more people are starting to do this. My children are primary age and rarely have baths. I think we would have managed without one.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 03/02/2021 14:18

Babies and small children love a bath. They’ll play in it and it helps to tire them out before bed.
Some people do manage fine with a shower but I would never have wanted to be without a bath for mine when they were small, and neither would dd with her 3 little ones now.

A family home without a bath will put off certain buyers, too - worth bearing in mind for the future.
Why not have a shower over the bath if space is limited. We’ve had two for many years and they’re absolutely fine.

sonsmum · 03/02/2021 14:26

I personally think having a bath is a necessity for younger children.
Not having one will affect resale.
We bought a house pre kids with 2 shower rooms and no bath, but our plan was to install a bath.
At the baby bath stage you'll be fine with no bath. But I strongly doubt you'll have the will/energy to keep filling up tubs of water in the shower once they get bigger. They'll splash and be likely to make lots of mess? They're more likely to try to get out, could slip etc
Whatever method you clean your young kids in, never leave them alone! Its simple to perch on the end of the bath. Where will you sit while they're in the bath, on the toilet the whole time?
You can't deny a kid the pleasure of having a bath full of lovely warm water to splash around in pretending it is a swimming pool, and floating some ducks/boats etc can you?!

JaninaDuszejko · 03/02/2021 14:28

It is now 7 years since the OP first asked the question...

RealisticSketch · 03/02/2021 15:28

independence is a factor too, some DC take on their own cleaning pretty quickly others, like my dd who struggles to rinse her long hair well (but doesn't want to cut it) needs some help - when she is in the shower I can get pretty soaked sorting her out which I don't with the bath. Getting better as she gets older though. Also some children who clean themselves just have NO sense of urgency and can take foorreeeevvveeerrrrrrr which with a shower would mean gallons and gallons of water going down the plughole.

WombatChocolate · 03/02/2021 15:52

Life would be fine without a bath and of course you just use whatever you have.

In this country, bathing the baby and bath time before bed for small children is a a cultural thing. People like baths as they keep small children contained and sitting down which feels safe, plus lots of pleasure is had by small children in the bath.

Of course, you can keep clean without a bath and it’s possible to play in the shower too.

If you’re changing the bathroom and can have a bath with overhead shower (assuming no room for separate walk in shower) then I would. It’s not really extra work or expense if you’re changing the bathroom anyway.

If 10 years down the line you decide the bath phase has passed and ant to ge grid of it, then fair enough.

Hels20 · 03/02/2021 17:50

I agree with @Pobblewhohasnotoes - not having a bath would put me off too if I was buying a house. I think you need one bath and if you only have one bathroom that bathroom needs to have a bath.

riddles26 · 03/02/2021 20:59

A bath is lovely to have but not a necessity. As pp have said, consider the resale value if you are likely to move up the property ladder whilst children are young.

When buying our small house, the first thing we did was remove the bath and install a large shower because we wanted more space in the bathroom. We had children a few years later and happily lived with just one shower in the house until they were 1 and 3. At that point we extended and renovated and installed a bath. They still do not use it daily but certainly is lovely to have. We knew we would not be selling as we bought the house because of its potential for extending so taking out the bath was the right choice for us. Just consider that before removing it. You can definitely bring up children without one - if they don't have the bath option, there isn't an option to hate the shower as it is all they know

user1471538283 · 03/02/2021 21:57

We've always had a bath. It was a lifesaver after I gave birth so I could sit on salt for my stitches and baths are soothing. My DS hated the bath and would stand rigid unless he had a friend in there with him. Having a shower when he was 10 meant he has never had a bath again.

For resale I think you need a bath.

JanewaysBun · 04/02/2021 08:55

My 2yo and 1 yo are terrified of the shower

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