Bathrooms – general#

Bathrooms do not need to be institutional. Aim to create a home-like setting. Ideas include using:

• warm colours
• attractively framed mirrors above the sink(s)
• framed children's artwork displayed sparingly (without 'overdoing' visual stimulation)
• posters and signs (used thoughtfully).

Privacy toilet#

When designing your bathroom area, talk to your local territorial authority and local National Public Health Service about requirements. 

For example: 

• the Building Code requires privacy in toilets 
• licensing criterion PF117 requires at least 1 toilet for use by children is designed to provide them with some sense of privacy. There are multiple ways that this can be achieved.

PF117 Toilets

Some communities prefer to have toilet doors, while others would rather not.

Things to consider:

• Balance children’s privacy with appropriate supervision and hygiene. Views on this will differ, so consider your community’s values, the children’s ages, and safety needs.
• If you choose not to install full toilet doors, it’s a good idea to make sure at least 1 toilet has a full door that can be latched back during sessions.
• Partitions can provide children with a sense of privacy, if toilets are positioned side-on rather than facing the entrance.
• Half height doors or walls offer privacy while still allowing visibility.
• Be mindful that half doors at bathroom entrances can cause problems if they are too tall. 

Toilets#

You must have at least 1 toilet for every 15 people. This is calculated on: 

• the maximum number of children aged 2 and older that the service is licensed for, and 
• the number of adults needed to meet the minimum adult-to-child ratio requirements. 

Toilets and handwashing facilities need to be designed and located to let children capable of independent toileting to access them safely without adult help.

Child-sized toilets are preferable, but adult toilets are acceptable if a step is provided. You will need to consider if using steps will become a hazard to children.

Wall hung toilets can make cleaning the floor underneath much easier because there is no join between the toilet and the floor surface.

Adequate supervision is important. Depending on the layout of the service, an adult-high viewing window into the bathroom area will allow for privacy and discreet supervision.

A 1.2 metre wall divider between children's toilets gives some privacy, as does positioning the toilets' side on to the main door.

See the toilets licensing criterion.

PF117 Toilets

Hand basins#

There must be at least 1 tap for every 15 people. This is calculated on:

• the number of children attending the service, and 
• the adults needed to meet the minimum adult-to-child ratio requirements. 

Handwashing and drying used with toilets need to be:

• separated from play and food preparation areas
• easily accessible (without adult help) to children who use the toilet independently.

See the relevant regulation and licensing criterion.

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, regulation 46 – New Zealand Legislation

PF118 Handwashing and drying facilities

Sink size and height#

Long stainless-steel troughs that have 3 or 4 warm water taps can be easier for 3 or 4 children to use, easier to clean and easier to manage than 3 or 4 individual sinks.

Hand basins or troughs should be at a height easily reached by the children who will be using them:

• Older children – between 550mm and 600mm high.
• Younger children – 450mm to 500mm high.

If hand basins are not child-sized, you may need to provide steps so children can reach the basin safely – although steps can create clutter and become a hazard.

Taps#

There are taps available that turn themselves off, with a lever that is easy for children to operate. They prevent water from being left on and are available from most plumbing outlets.

If you prefer to have taps that turn, it's a good idea to ask the plumber to limit the amount of turn to 180 degrees. This helps children to avoid turning a tap the wrong way when trying to turn it off – and eventually giving up.

Water temperature#

Water that children access must not be hotter than 40 degrees Celsius. 

If water is stored in a hot water cylinder, the cylinder's thermostat must be set to at least 60°C. This prevents legionella bacteria from growing in the pipes. 

An anti-scald, or tempering, valve can be used to manage the temperature of water at taps accessible to children unless an infinity gas system is available. An anti-scald valve is a device controlled with a thermostat. It keeps water at the required temperature, regardless of incoming water temperatures. Once it has been adjusted to a warm temperature, it can be locked to prevent accidental or unauthorised re-adjustment.

Soap#

Liquid soap reduces the spread of infection. Make sure it is easy for children to reach when washing their hands.

Extra handwashing facilities#

Although not required by the regulations, it can be very helpful to have extra handwash facilities in main play areas. If children can easily wash hands after messy play or before mealtimes, supervision is easier and congestion in the bathroom reduced. Whether this is a good idea will depend on the service's overall layout, arrangement of groups and children's age ranges.

Hand drying#

Use hand drying options that help minimise the spread of infection. Consider options like:

• paper hand towels, because they are single use and disposable – you can buy child-sized paper hand towels to limit waste
• individual cloth flannels – these should only be used once before washing
• air or fan dryers – these may be noisy and not suitable for some children. 

Ask your local National Public Health Service for information about recent research and new products. Products in this area are always changing and evolving.

See the handwashing and drying facilities licensing criterion.

PF118 Handwashing and drying facilities

Dispensers#

Some companies provide the paper hand towel and liquid soap dispensers free of charge if you use their products.

Toilets and handwashing for adults#

Your service must have separate toilets for adults.

They must have walls that provide complete privacy and be accessible for all adults to use. 

Handwashing and drying facilities used with toilets must be clearly separated from play and food preparation areas.

A disabled person's toilet may 'double' as the adult toilet. Disabled access toilets must meet size and facilities specifications. For example, seat height, grab rails and lever-style controls.

PF119 Adult toilet, handwashing and drying facilities

Nappy changing area#

You must have a designated nappy changing area that is near to handwashing facilities and are adequately separated from areas of the service used for play or food preparation. The design and construction of the facilities should be: 

• safe
• easy to clean
• suitable for the number, age and weight of the children using it. 

You will need to position the nappy change facility to support privacy for the child, in an area that has some visibility from another area of the centre. This should help keep children safe and support adults where needed. A viewing window or open doorway can provide visibility without compromising children’s privacy.

Changing mats and surfaces#

The nappy changing facilities must have smooth, waterproof, easy-to-clean and sanitise surfaces. There must be disposable change mats, or non-porous change mats that can be cleaned between each use.

You may wish to buy a unit that has steps, a non-porous, soft surface on top, and storage below. Steps allow children to climb up to the table independently and help to prevent adult back injuries.

A solid unit can be made soft on top by using a small mattress or nappy change pad that is covered in a non-porous material.

Nappy changing tables designed for domestic use can be unstable and not suitable for use in early childhood service environments.

Nappy disposal#

Some commercially available nappy disposal systems contain the smell of used nappies very effectively. Alternatively, have a small 'door' (for example, 0.5 x 0.5 metres) with a chute to an outside rubbish bin by the changing table. The rubbish bin must be in an area not used by children. 

Storage#

Shelving should give staff easy access to children's nappies and other supplies. Any cleaning products such as bleach solutions) must be inaccessible to children.

See the relevant licensing criterion.

PF120 Nappy change facilities

HS103 Nappy changing procedure - Ministry of Education

Body wash facilities#

You must have facilities where soiled children can be washed safely and effectively. We recommend having a body washing facility near your nappy changing facility.

Consider having something like a small tub (such as a shower tub, also called a shub), large sink or bath with a handheld shower hose that is easy to access and suitable for washing a very soiled child. 

A bath may not be as safe for very young children because adults cannot hold infants securely unless they get in with them. Trying to hold babies in baths can also create back problems for adults.

For infants and toddlers#

If your service only caters for infants or toddlers, a shub at bench height (approximately 800mm from the floor) could be a good idea.

Incorporating the shub into a large nappy changing bench allows for safe and easy movement between the bench and shub.

A pull-out spray sink mixer, with an extendable hose, makes it easy to clean around a sink or shub, or to wash a baby. 

This facility can double as the areas for adults to wash their hands in after nappy changing.

For older children#

Washing facilities at floor level can work well for older children. For example, a floor-level shub with a handheld shower hose, or a sloping, textured floor with a drain like disabled shower areas.

Fixed showers make it difficult to help wash children without getting wet yourself.

Safety#

See the hand basins section on this page for information about safe water temperatures. 

Designing the space so it can be seen from other areas of the service helps keep children safe.

See the relevant regulations and licensing criterion.

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, Regulation 45  – New Zealand Legislation

PF121 Body wash facilities