Bathroom renovations can be done in a planned and thoughtful manner. But he must take into account the characteristics of all family members in order to provide maximum comfort for taking the necessary hygiene procedures. This is especially true for families with small children and elderly people. Unfortunately, the older we get, the more accessories we need to live a normal life. The bath is no exception. And today we’ll talk about how to make the bathroom as comfortable as possible for older people.
Purpose of seats for water procedures
A bathtub seat for elderly people and people who have lost the ability to move freely on their own or who simply want to ensure safety when taking water procedures creates comfortable conditions for taking water procedures. Such devices are convenient for baths and when bathing children; they will not interfere with pregnant women either.
Designers and technologists of enterprises producing children's household goods have created many types of seats and slides that can diversify and protect the process of children taking a bath at home and in sanatoriums. A properly selected bath seat can provide enjoyment for babies, making the work of parents much easier.
Wooden bath seat
Bath seat with backrest
Many manufacturers almost always equip such seats with special accessories. For example, it would be a good idea to put a mat in the bathtub so that it is not slippery; it may also come with special removable or folding handles for ease of entry. This all needs to be taken into account when purchasing.
The backrest deserves special attention, since only the backrest allows you to relax by leaning back on it. However, sometimes it can get in the way, so it is better if the backrest is removable or foldable. There are also some swivel models of bath seats with a backrest, but they are mostly made of plastic and are designed for babies.
Elderly people require care and attention, although they rarely talk about it. Therefore, our task is to make their life as comfortable, carefree and safe as possible.
Purpose and materials
The choice in favor of a specific type of bath equipment should be taken into account the category of users for whom they will be intended:
- adults with special physical needs;
- children.
Each type has significant differences, in accordance with the purpose and quality of manufacturing materials.
Bath seats for the disabled and elderly, especially those suffering from diseases that limit freedom of movement, are usually purely functional, without frills or decoration. For ease of use, such devices are equipped with handrails that you can hold on to when using the bathroom, as well as reliable fastenings with anti-slip devices.
Seat for people with disabilities
Seats for children differ significantly from ordinary ones and are divided into special categories.
The materials for making seats are:
- tree;
- plastic;
- metal and alloys in the form of tubular structures that enhance the strength of products (mainly for adults).
Features of a bathroom for the elderly
Bathtub and sink, toilet and shower, these are the plumbing fixtures that everyone uses every day. But over time, each of the elements of the bathroom must be adapted to our capabilities. For example, a shower stall may have a chair that is securely fixed and made of good durable material, mirrors with the ability to adjust the tilt, a bath seat with a back or with wooden slats, in short, you need to take into account all the nuances and complications that may arise when using the most ordinary objects by older people.
The shower cabin has long become a profitable and economical alternative to the bathroom. You can quickly take a shower and run about your business without wasting time. Only in old age everything does not happen so quickly and such a trifle as a high threshold of a shower stall can become a serious obstacle for an elderly person.
Therefore, if we still choose a cabin rather than a bath, we need to take into account several nuances:
- low threshold;
- convenient opening door;
- It is necessary to have several handrails for confidence;
- anti-slip coating on the floor;
- and the best option would be a cabin without a tray at all, with a gutter and an anti-slip coating.
Wooden seats
This type of product is highly durable and is most preferable for adults with disabilities. The wooden bathtub seat has familiar, comfortable ergonomic parameters. To strengthen the structure, a metal base is used, to which wooden planks are attached, equipped with plastic elements for ease of use.
Wooden seat for the elderly
Can I do it myself?
If it is not possible to purchase a seat in a store, you can make it yourself at home.
For this purpose you need to stock up on tools:
- hacksaw;
- drill;
- screwdriver;
- file;
- sandpaper;
- antiseptic;
- self-tapping screws;
- slats of the required size.
Plastic seats
Cast products made from special plastic materials can withstand light weight, so they are intended for young children. A plastic bath seat, made from special high-strength types of plastic, is much more durable and can also be used for adults, but the price is significantly higher than its wooden counterparts.
Plastic products in the bathroom have a long service life - they are resistant to corrosion, high humidity and temperature fluctuations. Companies producing products for children, such as Flipper Evolution, Happy baby or Baby Care, also took care of the original design with numerous additional accessories that attract the attention of children. Bright colors, all kinds of play compositions, swivel seats will undoubtedly appeal to kids.
Which bath seat to choose?
Tips for choosing
Manufacturers offer a huge selection of bath seat models, which gives you the opportunity to choose.
In order not to make a mistake when purchasing a particular model, you need to familiarize yourself with the selection rules and take into account some nuances.
- Dimensions of the seat and bath that must match. Before purchasing a seat, you need to take measurements and the condition of the bathroom. After all, if the bathtub has roughness and unevenness, the suction cups will not be secured securely, which will lead to the seat breaking off during water procedures. For a narrow bathtub, a sliding seat model is suitable, which is adjustable to the width of the bathtub.
- The material used to make the seat. Wooden structures lose their color over time. Plastic and metal products are resistant to UV rays and mechanical damage.
- Quality and reliability of fastening mechanisms. All items must be in good condition without defects. The further use and service life of the material will depend on the quality of the design.
- Product model. The main condition when choosing a material is ease of use.
Types of child seats
Children's bathtubs and seats for them are characterized by a high degree of comfort - their shape fully corresponds to the size and anatomical configuration of the body. A children's bathtub with a seat built into a plastic structure is also available, making it easier to use. At the same time, children's slides and devices placed in large bathtubs, where children can play in the bathing seat, are widely used.
Bath seat for small children
Children's bath seats have become common in bathrooms:
- The universal children's bath chair is equipped with suction cups for attaching it to the walls, and, additionally, with legs on which it can stand stably, resting on the bottom of the bath. After finishing bathing, you can reinstall it and start drying your baby. The seat folds easily and can be folded and hidden on a shelf in a wall cabinet.
- Standard. Bathing chair, installed and secured using four powerful suction cups on the sides of the bathtub, equipped with a special safety belt to protect the child from falling. In combination with toys, decorated with drawings, the child will definitely like the chair and will make the bathing process easier for parents.
- The rotating bathtub seat comes with suction cups that can support the baby's weight. When bathing, parents can rotate the chair 360°, making the process easier and providing the child with additional entertainment. If necessary, the rotating device can be fixed in a certain position.
- A hanging seat with a high back is not firmly attached to the sides of the bathtub, there is a possibility of the supports slipping, so this type of seat is not recommended for children who are too mobile.
How to choose a bath seat
Now that we have no longer doubts about the advisability of purchasing a bath seat, let's try to see what the global industry for the production of bath seats offers us. First of all, it is necessary that the seat is securely fixed, or at least stands firmly or rests on a rigid base. So that it is not shaky and durable. This is perhaps one of the most important points. This way we will be calm that our loved ones will not be injured in a fall, at least due to the fault of the seat.
Considering the fact that a bathtub seat is not one of the fashion accessories, at least for now, you can afford to choose a product of very good quality. It is desirable that the manufacturer has a certificate for the manufacture of items for children and rehabilitation. This is the best guarantee of quality. There are, by the way, special tests of such products, in which manufacturers of rehabilitation products receive a certain rating from the public.
Bath slides
A special type of children's seats are bath slides, which significantly diversify children's water procedures, creating the opportunity to play in the water for some time allocated for this by parents.
Bath seat for small children
There are four options for bath slides on the bathroom accessories market:
- A frame slide is an inexpensive metal frame-base on which dense fabric is stretched. This slide design does not fully ensure the safe placement of the child due to the lack of attachment to the bathtub.
- A plastic anatomical slide is a comfortable seat for a small child, with supports for the legs and under the arms. It has a convenient attachment to the walls of the bathtub using suction cups.
- A hammock slide, stretched in the bathtub and secured with hooks to the sides of the bathtub, is well suited for bathing the smallest - newborn babies.
- The support mattress is suitable for bathing small children under 1 year of age, weighing 3-8 kg. The shape of the mattress is convenient for water procedures, preventing the baby from slipping off the surface.
A bath slide is a convenient device for bathing small children, greatly facilitating the procedure, ensuring safety and a pleasant time in the water for small bathers. Ergonomic shape, pleasant design with bright colors, easy storage - unlike ordinary and familiar baby baths.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of choosing a wooden seat come down to:
- Wood is exceptionally environmentally friendly and this can be prevented by incorrectly selected impregnations, paints and varnishes.
- Due to the properties of wood species, the slip coefficient is absolutely minimal.
- Proper care of a wooden product will extend its durability.
- The strength and reliability of the wooden seat are obvious.
- Possibility to make and restore the seat yourself.
- The beautiful, noble appearance of wood pleases the human eye and relieves stress.
There are significantly fewer disadvantages to a wooden bath seat. These include:
- An aesthetic appearance that depends on careful care of the wooden seat . Over time, wood fades due to constant changes in temperature and humidity in the bathroom.
- Poor quality seat material. When purchasing an accessory, there is a high probability of purchasing a seat made of low-quality wood. With each use it will gradually delaminate, swell and may cause irritation or sores on the skin.
If you look at online stores that sell this kind of product, not a single product description will indicate the type of tree.
All responsibility for the strength, quality and reliability of the seat always falls on the shoulders of the buyer in everyday life.
Making gratings yourself
You can make a wooden grate for the bathroom with your own hands from a simple lath with a thickness of at least 25 mm using simple carpentry tools.
Project preparation
Preparation of a drawing of the future product begins with taking the dimensions of the bathtub - the internal and external width of the sides. The board will look like slats fastened together with transverse boards.
Their length should be equal to or slightly exceed the width of the outer sides of the bath. The stop is attached along the inner bend line of the sides.
Preparation of materials
Before you begin the manufacturing process, you need to take carpentry tools and materials.
To begin with, the bars are cut to the required size. You need 4-5 long ones for the base and 2 short transverse ones. Then they are carefully polished, paying special attention to the ribs and ends.
The next step is impregnation of the wood with water-repellent agents and varnishing. It will protect the slats, but will not create a film on its surface, since you can slip on it if you use the grate as a ladder.
Assembly
To assemble the structure, first transverse bars are laid on a flat surface, and then a lattice of long slats is placed on top, maintaining uniform distances between them.
Immediately after preliminary assembly, it will become clear what the finished product will look like. It is necessary to avoid the protrusion of the crossbars from under the main parts to prevent impacts and injuries.
Each plank is screwed on both sides with 4 screws - 2 on each side. If you add cross bars on the reverse side, you will get a very comfortable reversible chair.
You can put even more effort and add a backrest to the seat by securing the same slats at the desired angle using wooden adapters. For ease of use, some users sew a cover from medical oilcloth, softening it with dense foam rubber and equipping it with straps for secure fastening.
conclusions
The days when the bathroom was just a place for hygiene procedures are gone. Now this is a place where a person relaxes, washes away the negative consequences of a working day, and prepares for a sound and restful sleep. All this is facilitated by all kinds of bathroom accessories, the design of which is more reminiscent of a work of art than simple fixtures.
For the same reason, a bath seat, wooden or plastic, is purchased after careful thought about how it should look, what functional responsibilities will be assigned to it, whether it will be cleaned after each shower or whether it will be additionally used as a shelf.
