Learn how you can stop toddler turning on the tap with these 5 brilliant hacks you wish you had known sooner.
If you have a toddler in the home, you might be familiar with their obsession with taps. They love turning the tap on and off. On and off.
A giggle here and there.
Then back to turning the tap on and off. And sometimes, leaving the tap on and not turning it off at all. It’s great fun for them.
But for a parent? We’re just scared they’re going to scald themselves and we would love it if they could just LEAVE THE TAP ALONE.
Stop toddler turning on the tap
The easiest way to get a toddler to stop turning on the tap is to use tap covers. These cover your faucet and will help hide the faucet from your toddler and prevent your child from getting scalded or water getting wasted.
Reduce hot water temperature in the taps
Despite being careful and trying out all the methods below, there is still a likelihood of your toddler fiddling around with the sink or bathtub faucets (we are talking about curious little toddlers after all!).
Thus its very important to reduce the hot water temperature in the taps so that even if your child is playing with the taps they dont get scalded.
You can use the temperature dial on the water heater to turn the hot water to a maximum of 120 F (any temperature greater than this can cause scalding).
5 Ways to Stop Toddler Turning On the Tap
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Make bath time fun
The reason toddlers like fiddling with the bath tap and turning it on and off is because it’s exciting for them; they are witnessing cause and effect. As they turn the tap on, water comes gushing out. They turn the tap off and the water immediately stops pouring out. How delightful, thinks your toddler.
So the key is to provide them with an alternative source of entertainment in the bath tub so that the tap is the last thing on their mind.
Making bath time fun isn’t hard at all. There are so many bath time activities and bath time toys that can keep your toddler busy in the bath and away from fiddling with the tap.
Related Posts:
Handling a Cranky Toddler Who Hates Bath Time
15 Best Bath Toys For Toddlers That Are Educational and Fun
Why the Heck do Toddlers Drink Bath Water?
2. Gently explain
Toddlers are smart and are able to understand a whole lot more than we think they can.
“Toddlers can clearly understand complex conversation long before most parents think they can.” explains Jean Berko Gleason, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Boston University and author of The Development of Language (Allyn & Bacon, 1996).
You can use simple language and actions to explain to them the danger of being scalded from hot water in the tap.
I use this strategy when trying to get my toddler to stop touching the cup of tea in my hand. I put my hand on the cup and exclaim “Ouch, so hot!” or “Oh no, my hand is burning”. This is usually sufficient in getting the message across to my little one that touching the cup of boiling tea will hurt.
Apart from the danger of getting scalded, playing with taps also results in water getting wasted. So again, use simple words to communicate to your little one that if we keep turning on the tap, there won’t be any water left for us to use.
5 Ways to Stop Toddler Turning On the Tap
3. Use consequences
If your toddler is older than two and a half, then you can use consequences to teach your toddler that turning on the tap is not acceptable.
Let them know that if they fiddle around with the tap, bath time is over. If they continue turning on the tap, carry through with what you said and take them out of the bath.
Yes there might be some screaming and kicking and tantrums but stick with your word. Your toddler will understand that there’s a consequence for their behavior and will think twice about doing it next time.
4. Use handle locks
Using handle locks is one of the easiest and quickest ways to stop your child from not only turning on the tap but also entering the bathroom on his own.
If you think of it, the bathroom is a place that’s full of dangers for an unsupervised toddler. Theres the wet slippery floor, cleaning equipment, the toilet seat, bottles of shampoo and bars of soap… It’s an accident waiting to happen.
Related Post:
The Ultimate Guide to Toddler Proofing Your Home – Safety Hacks That Work
Handle locks on the bathroom door will prevent all this from happening. There are a large variety of handle locks to choose from and they cater to all kinds of door handle designs.
5. Use tap covers
If you’re looking for a quick solution, using tap covers is one of the most convenient ways to stop toddler turning on the tap.
Bath spouts help cover taps and come in a variety of designs. They’re made to attach to the faucet and let water through them but they also help hide the faucet.
Another clever way to cover the tap is using door knob covers (if you have round faucets). Just make sure to get the size that correctly fits the tap handle.
Liked this post? Share it with another toddler parent who could benefit.
If you’re a toddler parent you might enjoy these posts too:
12 Easy Toddler Activities to Keep your Toddler Out of Trouble | No Prep Indoor Activities
9 Ways to Deal with a Toddler Destroying the House
9 Hilariously Easy Ways to Teach a Toddler to Brush Teeth Without Tantrums
[…] Stop Toddler Turning On the Tap – 5 Brilliant Strategies […]