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Original poster

Only having a shower for children

44 replies

Kiffy92 · 17/07/2022 18:53

Hi,

Me and my partner are currently buying a new house and we will renovate the bathroom.
My partner wants to remove the bath and replace it with a shower. I am concerned that if we have children we will regret not having a bath. Please could you advise if it is possible/ recommended to only have a shower?

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 17/07/2022 18:54

It's possible of course, but I wouldn't purposefully remove an existing bath if you plan to have children. It's easier and better to have a bath with small children.

SubParbanMum · 17/07/2022 18:55

Hi, you will regret not having a bath. Fine when they’re tiny and you can bathe them in the sink or a baby bath but not when they’re older. Baths are great entertainment too, not just functional.

NC12345665 · 17/07/2022 18:57

Why have you put your name?

JennyForeigner · 17/07/2022 18:59

I've got three young children and you can buy pop up baths from Amazon which would be fine once a baby bath is a squeeze. What I would recommend if you're redoing a bathroom and planning kids is a tap under your sink for filling a mop bucket. It's something I've always had abroad and make life so much easier.

Penfelyn · 17/07/2022 19:11

I guess it's a matter or what the kids are used to, my nephew is used to taking a shower in his baby bath (they don't have a tub). Mine are scared of the shower though, especially as they hate hate hate water in their face. I'd keep the bath tub, you can always change it later. And presumably the bath includes a shower, what is the advantage of removing the bath tub in the first place ?

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 17/07/2022 19:19

im not a parent but a nanny, I worked in London for many years where baths are obviously v common and moved to Scandinavia 2y ago where they are not.

it’s perfectly doable, people manage here all the time (and Stokke do a fold up bath that will fit a 2/3yo in) but ime it is a fuckton easier to have a proper bath plus they’re fun! I really miss doing bathtime at work, it was a great time to chat, play, read books and a great way to calm a frazzled child!

Cornishmumofone · 17/07/2022 19:24

I moved into a house without a bath and then got pregnant. Until DD was 18 months old, I bathed her in a storage tub. We then had our en suite refurbished (main bathroom had already been done) and put in a bath. At nearly 6, DD still prefers a bath.

FleasAndKeef · 17/07/2022 19:24

We only have a shower and have done since my baby was small. He is now 3 and we have put in a low (suction) shower bracket (from IKEA) and he will happily play with his toys and wash himself under the water. I sometimes use a flexible laundry tub to give him somewhere to sit and play with bath toys like boats etc. When he was younger we just used the flexible laundry tub in the shower tray without the shower on, or with the water running against the wall. The benefit is he is happy to shower in a holiday home with no bath, at the pool etc and has never been concerned with water splashing in his face/washing hair. So for me, no bath at home isn't a deal breaker at all!

GraceandMolly · 17/07/2022 19:27

I have a 4 year old in a Stokke pop up bath. It’s not a problem. When they outgrow the little bath, they can use the shower.

I would like to have a bath, but not having one isn’t an issue.

RandomMess · 17/07/2022 19:29

We had a large baby bath DC still fitted in at 7 and they were tall!

AgathaMystery · 17/07/2022 19:36

We’ve never had a bath in our houses and haven’t missed it. Our DC have been showered since they were very tiny (weeks old). We also used the kitchen sink - large Belfast one that they fit into aged 3/4.

if you don’t want a bath don’t have one. I wouldn’t plan a bathroom around a mythical baby. You bathe babies in the sink so you don’t hurt your back!

GCHeretic · 17/07/2022 19:39

Our children’s bathroom only has a shower. We have a little folding bath that we put in there when the little one still has a bath.

We sometimes put them together in the bath in our bathroom, but only rarely,

stuntbubbles · 17/07/2022 19:40

We’ve spent most of today in the bath when the garden got too hot, even in shade!

It’s fine when babies are very small and don’t need a bath that often and you can do it in the kitchen sink, but 4yo DD loves the bath for: “swimming”, hearing the bath running is a Pavlovian “it’s bedtime” signal, hair washes infinitely easier when she can be bribed with splashy play and toys, we sit and have a good chat while she plays before bed, etc.

Plus I revive all my houseplants in it. Get the bath!

Lemonsandlimez · 17/07/2022 20:05

We have a 2 &4 yr old and got rid of the super small bath for a lovely walk in shower a few months ago, the kids love it they take a toy/cup in with them etc and sit under the shower head and would play for ages given the chance! I miss a bath for me though!

Arthursmom · 17/07/2022 20:07

You need a bath with a small child. Many toddlers are scared of showers.

Danikm151 · 17/07/2022 20:20

keep the bath. They are great for playtime. (Bath crayons/toys/splashing)

they are also great when you need a good soak at the end of a day of chasing your child around

easyday · 17/07/2022 20:23

Keep a bath. Kids generally love playing in them, and my daughter (17) still prefers them. My mother always had baths (and washed her hair in the sink).
My friend took the bath out of the family bathroom and 15 years later (kids now 17, 19 and 21) are putting it back in as they all want one (their en suite has a bath for when kids were little).

FloodTheBathroom · 17/07/2022 20:25

It's not necessary but baths are a handy activity in hot weather or just because. Play baths saved my life in lockdown as they can while away a good 40 mins with toys and a bath bomb and you can have a breather.

MNHQ
ImaniMumsnet · 17/07/2022 20:58

Hi OP,

Just a quick note to say we have moved this now for you to Property/DIY as we thought it would be a better fit.

Best wishes,
Imani MNHQ

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 17/07/2022 21:02

I always showered my child because baths are just one massive faff. It can be very fiddly when they are small though, you definitely need a baby bath in there.

Sparksinthelectrics · 17/07/2022 21:06

I use a small inflatable paddling pool for my 4 year old on the bottom of the shower. They have boats, bath bombs etc
Most of the time they just shower though and play in the bottom of the tray with bowls and tubs of water

Alliolly · 17/07/2022 21:16

I've never understood the obsession with baths. I don't like taking a bath and I hate having to climb in and out of one every time I take a shower. I grew up without one and maybe I'm not used to it, but I've slipped and fallen getting out of the bath several times.

With DS we used the baby bath until around 1.5yo and switched to showers after. He went through a period he didn't like his face being wet, but he got used to it very quickly. We also have bath toys like a small bucket, a sieve cup kind of thing that he likes trying to fill up and different foam bits to stick on the shower glass, so he's definitely not bored. The only issue I can see is water usage if you let them stay in the shower for ages

LouLou198 · 17/07/2022 21:28

We have a small bathroom, due to a mobility issue I was struggling to climb in and out of the bath to have a shower. We ripped the bath out, redesigned the whole bathroom and put in a large walk in shower. When dc came a few years later we got a decent sized baby bath that fit in the the shower tray and filled with the shower hose. When they were too big for that they just got in the shower with us, and from about 7 they showed themselves. No regrets at all. Also handy to get dc use to showers for when we go swimming or stay in a hotel, as many hotels no longer have baths.

Dic · 17/07/2022 21:32

There was a thread on this recently and loads of people said they wouldn't buy a house with no bath

LittleRedYoshi · 17/07/2022 22:21

Dic · 17/07/2022 21:32

There was a thread on this recently and loads of people said they wouldn't buy a house with no bath

This. It's not just about what works for you - if you're planning to sell the house before you'd get round to re-doing the bathroom again, it's also about what works for your future buyers. I'm one such person who would rule out a house if it didn't have a bath.

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