Baby Proofing

Save yourself the stress and buy one that does fit in the cabinet!

Hi N.,

I just hid mine in a corner behind the laundry hamper. She always wanted to play with it while I was taking a shower! But now she hasn't realized that I hid it.

Maybe you could set it out in the garage.

We just keep our bathroom door shut, even though she can open it now. But when she started exploring the house and was in the bath with us we would very firmly say no anytime she would get near the toilet or the brush. So far so good and she is 26 months now. I have caught her with my hair brush trying to brush her teeth so sure would hate to have her try that with the toilet brush! Ewwwww!

One thing I seen that you did not mention, maybe because you do not have them. Please make sure that you have all your cords to your blinds on a child proof thingamajiggy... not sure what it is called. All it takes is a split second for the unimaginable to happen! I got mine from Home Depot for $1.50 and for in her bedroom I just got the roll up shades so I do not have to ever worry about that one.

Good luck and blessings to you and yours!

Put it in a plastic bag and set it on a shelf. It may be in another room, but that is preferable to having baby play with it. I also kept the bathroom door closed when babies were at this stage, the toilet dunking and t.p. Baby will not be traumetized if unable to explore the bathroom. In fact, when learning to pull herself up, my oldest fell and knocked her teeth so badly on the toilet seat that they decayed, but that was decades ago. keep the door closed.

Close the door. I won't let me child in the bathroom unless I'm there to made sure he's not getting into anything.

Put it in another room. Get the kind that has the case around it. Tell/teach her no.

I recommend trashing your current brush & buying the disposable kind. There is the Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Brush Toilet Brush System that comes with 4 disposable biodegradable sponges and 1 brush with a 19" handle; or Clorox Toilet Wand system that comes with handle, 6 disposable refill heads and designer storage caddy; or the Scotch Brite system. If you go to the manufacturers web site you can get coupons.

I have a linen closet close to the bathroom where I keep the toilet brush and plunger. My little one was once crazy about the plunger and tried to put it in his mouth!

I kept mine in the linen closet with the plunger. And i put a saftey knob on the closet just for good measure

I never had to worry about the toilet brush! Maybe you can purchase one that is enclosed in a case??? When you say your daughter loves exploring the bathroom is it while you are in there with her? If so, redirect her away from the brush. If she simply likes to go in the bathroom with you not around, keep the door shut.

C. T.

Hi N. -

Our bathroom is a scary place being the mother of 3. My youngest, a daughter age 2, puts everything in her mouth. We would like to keep our bathroom clean. At 11 months she thought it was fun to play in the toilet water (yuck). With 2 older brothers I shuddered at the thought. At this point we just keep the door shut. Hopefully when she gets the dexterity to use the doorknob this phase will have passed.

Good Luck

HI N., As a self-proclimed cleaning freak I have to say that I got rid of my toilet brush a long time ago. I am such a fan of the disposable toilet brush from Scotch. See link below. Not only does it clean better than any other toilet brush or disposable brush I have tried ( and I have tried them all) but you never have to touch the cleaning pad even when tossing it out. Plus the handle alone hangs from a hook off of your toilet tank. Since both are usually white most people and kids don't realize it's there. So much more hygenic and I have a day care in my home so I know this is best!! Much luck!!

http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/scotchbrite/products/ha...

Put the brush in a cabinet with the other cleaning supplies and, also, get in the habit of closing the bathroom door. You may think you have done a good job of baby proofing until you discover that your little prodigy can undo your baby lock on the toilet. Good luck.

I don't use the traditional toilet brush. Target sells a small (10 " maybe) blue and white handled cleaning brush that has bristles on one side and almost wire looking bristle (like a grill brush has) on the opposite. I've had it 2 years and it fits under the cabinet...yea!!!!

Brush inside it's holder in the tub. But may I suggest...Close the door. Too many things to get into.
All it takes is one forgetful moment and you leave the curling iron out, the face toner, etc, and you can have issues.

I would just put a babygate up at the door and call it done. Unless you disinfect the bathroom everyother day, I can't imagine it being clean enough for little hands. Especially since little hands end up in their mouths so often.

Good morning! When they started selling those disposable toilet scrubbers, I just bought those. When I run out of those, I just use an old sponge that I've saved from the kitchen.

Keep the bathroom door closed and put a handle lock on the outside so she cannot get in it.

I never thought about it--I'm glad my sons didn't either! You could try the type that has a disposable cleaning element, and just store the handle somewhere between uses.

I lock the rooms I dont want my 2 yr old son to get into. It just makes life easier until he understands better. Little ones can get into alot of trouble in a bathroom no matter how safe you have it, they are smart little things!! I have the lever door handle that you can lock with a key, and it works well for me especially considering he is great at opening most doors now. Good luck!

Put it up on a high shelf so she can't get to it?

Hi N.,

I am a mom of 4 children between the ages of 2-7. What I've done is have them help me with cleaning the toilet and when we are done we put it in a plastic bag and tie it up, that way they won't get into it.

Hope that helps,
L.

My son is now 14 months and he has now learned to open the toilet lid and play in the water and he loves to play with toilet paper and pull it all off the roll. I have now just closed the door to all the bathrooms because I don't want him playing in a place that may have germs everywhere. No matter how often you clean it. Eventually, you might want to do the same. If you continue to let her explore, just take it out of the room until she is done. Or make a high shelf for it. Hope this helps.

Just my opinion, but I still don't let my kids (twin 2-year-olds) in the bathrooms without me. We just keep those doors shut. Even if you have toilet lid locks, they can still put their mouths & hands onto dirty parts of the toilet. Besides the toilet brush, there's the toilet paper to unravel, possible scalding hot water to turn on in the sink or tub, etc. So I don't know if I'm the only crazy one, but for us, bathrooms aren't for playing in.

My son did the same thing when he was a baby. I bought a new one that fit under my sink!

I keep mine (rests in a holder/stand) on the windowsill, which is not ideal, but it keeps it out-of-the-way.

Close the door. The baby really should not be able to get into the bathroom. There are too many dangers there. If she figures out to get in, which she eventually will, put a hook on the door up high. For he outlets, my kids knew how to remove the plugin things before the first month was up. We bouight covers instead. You have to silde the outlet down to plug in. The only bad thing is the outlet ends up thicker and some plugs come out easily. They only cost about $1.50 at Menards. Just in case you ever need them.

Put it in a closet or the laundry room