Top 10 Considerations For Nursery Washrooms

Think about it, in a nursery, you have children from as young as 6 months, some younger still. At the other end of the scale, you have kids that, come September, will be starting school. Add to that the number of children under your care and you quickly begin to see how diverse your washroom facilities need to be. What follows are our top 10 considerations when redesigning your washroom in a nursery.

1. Hand dryer noise
The sharp burst of noise from a hand dryer can be, quite understandably, scary for some children. The most popular option here is paper hand towels – the dispenser hung at an appropriately low height so children can access them themselves. However, many nurseries choose low-noise hand dryers like the Biodrier Biobot - with its friendly face and engaging design, a lot of nurseries end up giving the hand dryer a name, encouraging children to use and get to know him. This approach can also help kids overcome their fear of hand dryers.

2. Sensor taps
Taps can be difficult to use for young children, especially when their dexterity is still developing. Sensor taps are an obvious choice because they’re easy to use, can’t accidentally be left on, and reduce the spread of bacteria as they never need to be physically touched.

3. Keep things fun
Engagement is key when children are learning. In nurseries, the goal is providing an environment where children want to learn, to develop good hygiene habits and begin gaining some independence. The Kindergarten Sensor Tap is a good example of how an element of fun can be introduced to keep children engaged, as is the Biobot mentioned above. Both features are brightly coloured and have a face, meaning you can give a personality and name to the items. Following this kind of theme you can theme your washrooms and include murals or decal stickers on the walls to bring more interest into the wash space.

4. Baby changing
If space allows, we recommend a stand-alone baby changing station. They’re used more in a nursery than in any other washroom environment. Get a good, sturdy, durable one. One that’s easy to clean and has as few grooves and crevices as possible. Our Solid Surface Baby Changing Station has a hatch at one end that's designed to sit above a waste bin, meaning clean-downs and nappy disposal is done in one fell swoop, with the added advantage of having the waste bin concealed beneath the unit.

5. Low height cubicles
Reduced height cubicles allow children to get a feel of more independence and privacy, but still leaves carers in a position to monitor or check on infants should they need any help. Check out our Playtime and Storytime washroom cubicle packages. However, if you're looking for something a little more bespoke, or you have a dimension hurdle to overcome, then get in touch to discuss our High Pressure Laminate (HPL) and Solid Grade Laminate (SGL) cubicle options as both of these materials can be made to custom specifications.

6. Water temperature
TMV3 valves regulate the temperature of water coming from taps. This is essential to prevent children from accidentally scalding themselves. Some sensor taps have this incorporated into them, but check in advance to make sure. TMV3 valves are vital.

7. Waste disposal
You are looking after a lot of kids, you’re going to get through a lot of nappies and they can take up some serious space. Changing the bin bag halfway through the day isn’t ideal, so choose a large waste bin that is more than adequate for your needs. You’ll also want to make sure it has a self-closing lid, to keep any whiffy smells from leaking into the room.

8. Wash troughs
Increasingly, wash troughs are becoming one of the most popular hand wash options across nursery and pre-school washrooms. There’s a certain sensory element that works here where children like to see the water flow all the way along the trough until it reaches the plug hole. The Franke Washino Wash & Play Trough has been designed specifically for nursery, pre-school and junior school washrooms.

9.  Storage
Nappies, nappy sacks, wet wipes, Sudocream, Calpol, the list goes on and on. The fact is, all of this stuff is essential and you go through it all by the bucket load. A lot of nurseries have a pigeon hole setup mounted on the wall to hold each individual child’s nappies, wipes, etc. However, you’re probably going to be carrying your own stash of those essentials too, not to mention loan pants and clothes for when those little accidents occur – only too frequently! Plan storage out ahead of any works as sometimes this can be incorporated to make the best use of space. Baby changing units can be mounted on top of a storage cupboard, as can wash basins. Wall mounting is particularly popular in nursery washrooms due to the reduced height of almost all the other facilities.

10. Space
Be generous with space because you’re going to need it. Whether it’s bending down to help a child undo their trousers, or steadying them on the toilet for the first few toilet attempts. You need enough space not only for the child to manoeuvre, but also the carer. So before you go cramming in extra toilet cubicles, or a big, purpose-built storage cabinet, think about the usable space in the washroom.

As always, our team are at the end of the telephone for all your queries and questions and have a wealth of knowledge they’re happy to share with you. So if you need some guidance, or would like to talk over your options, you can give them a call on 01202 650900.