At the risk of sounding like a b**** here, aren't you overthinking this grandparent thing? Did you worry about the faucet configuration when your kids were growing up? What about your parents and grandparents? Years ago cold came out of one faucet and hot the other-more potential for disaster yet the kids learned to deal with it. Use the faucets you love, the kid will figure it out!

To make it easiest for the little one, you can see what he uses at home. But I think it'll be fine either way. Just show him "turn these both like so!" It is so easy to teach a 3 year old new tricks compared to us old farts!

I've been through this recently (kids are almost 5 and 8 now) and to be honest, you're gonna have a mess whatever you get. He won't wait until the water warms up and you'll be lucky if he uses soap when nobody is watching. :)

He's only going to be 3 (and short) for a short time. Don't plumb special for him...even kindergarten classes don't use those little toilets and low sinks anymore....

Its amazing to see how a little one will make a standard bathroom work for them. Really, they do. You having a standard bathroom will actually help him learn to use facilities.

ML

I agree. I went through a similar thought process when we built our house for the buddy bath my on-the-way baby and 3 year old will share. But then I realized they'll be older for more time than they'll be very young, so there's no point doing anything too permanent to accommodate them while little. Instead, we'll make do with short term solutions when possible and wait until this stage passes - which it will all too quickly!

For my kids, we just put a step stool inside the cabinet of the powder room. My concern with a drawer built in is if there is no stop or the stop does not catch, the kid sliding and hitting their head.

On the faucet I say get whatever suits your fancy. If they get the water too hot, chances are they are not going to keep their hand sitting in the scalding water but will quickly pull it out and come to grandma for love and cookies.

We had the bottom drawer made with a cutting board like top on it that they pull out. We've used it for at least 4 years with 2 kids. It fits tight so it doesn't slide when they step on it. They've just outgrown it now, but I'm glad to have it there for when the neighbour kids are over. I don't think I would have changed my plumbing for the kids, though.

It's really sweet of you to think about accommodating the little guy's hand-washing needs, but at this age you'll probably be supervising him anyway when he's washing up. I wouldn't factor in the grandkid(s) in faucet selection.

Thanks so much to those of you who replied with helpful info! He washes his hands now over the side of the tub, which works great and no stool required. I'll not worry about it, I guess. He's a smart little guy and by the time he's unsupervised in there he'll know not to use the hot by itself. When I was little and the water came out of two taps, we put a plug in the sink, ran both taps for warm water and washed our hands there. This sink won't have a plug or an overflow.
Daisychain, do you have any pics of your draw stepstool you could post? My cabinet guy is very thorough, so I think he'll figure out how to do it without risk of it sliding.

Chispa, the tapmaster is tempting, I'll look into it more, Thanks.

Oh, and Jaysmom, you really are in no position to judge my grandparenting. And apparently there were enough scalded children in previous generations that things changed for the better.

http://www.kitchensource.com/step-stools/5-45.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Toe kick step stool

I hope this shows up. I put a lock on my photobucket account and can't remember the password, but it seemed to let me in.

I have 6 and 8 year old boys and all of our sink and bath faucets have two handles, and we've never had a problem. They used a step stool when they were toddlers, but we haven't needed it for a couple of years. They're only little for such a short time. I'd go with what you love and help them find ways to adapt to what you have. What about a folding stepstool that can be stored out of the way when not in use? I have a plastic one that folds flat that I keep in my closet to reach things on the high selves.

My youngest is 7 and we have always had separate hot and cold handles. I liked it because I taught my children to always turn on the cold tap first, then slowly turn on the hot. They turned off the hot water first, then the cold. We never had a problem. I think it is trickier to try to maneuver and estimate the single handle! It is probably six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Our children's preschool did have the tiny toilets and the children liked them very much. Our home at the time only had one bathroom. If I could have modified a bathroom for the children I would have done so in a heartbeat. Mine liked to be independent, and adapting some things to suit their stature and skill level helped them along.

It sounds like you are enjoying your grandson! WIth no more babies at home, I am starting to look forward to that stage of life!

clt3 thanks, that looks like an interesting option. If I don't do it in the bathroom, I'm saving it for a possible kitchen remodel. Funny, after I saw that, I think I searched and posted that for someone else a few years ago.

Daisychain, thanks for posting that. I was picturing an upside down drawer, but your configuration seems more practical, since you can still use the drawer for storage. I'll pass it on to my cabinet maker.

Porkandham, such a good point about the time needed. I think I'll still go with a pull out, but thanks.

Riosamba, that is exactly the hint I needed to stop worrying about it being too hot! He follows directions very well, so that will work with him. He goes to a preschool that also has tiny fixtures, but he uses a footstool at home. I just don't want to be moving one around or worry about him gouging the vanity pulling it in and out of a cupboard. I DO enjoy him beyond belief. People used to talk about being grandparents and I thought, "Oh, yeah, sure, yada yada yada." But now I understand what all the fuss is about. It's indescribably wonderful!

I love that stepstool that is still a drawer!! Very nice. I thought those things had to be a waste of space. I have now been educated. :)

A Tapmaster won't work with a built-in stool like that, but the little guy will manage just fine. Put the Tapmaster in your kitchen where you can enjoy it.

If you do decide to get a stool (if you're getting one of those tall toilets you might need one there), IKEA has great small ones. They don't slide and don't really mar things they mash against. They also don't hurt when you stub your toe or trip on them...

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60101063/

I have several of those IKEA stools - one in each bathroom. My kids never had a problem with hot water even though we have separate handles in a couple of bathrooms for the hot/cold.

I was cleaning our powder room the other day and realized we don't need the stools anymore as my youngest (just turned 8) is plenty tall enough for the sink. I was feeling a little melancholy as we've had those stools for probably 10 years at least and my last baby is now growing up too quickly! Then I realized that she often grabs it out of the bathroom to use at the counter when we are cooking or to get some thing out of our art closet, so I can keep it a little longer!

I keep a box of fresh wipes in the bathroom for hand cleaning for the grands when they go alone to potty.

We also have a step stool and they do get in the way, but we just walk around it. Time flies, so I wouldn't go to any extra expense unless it's something you want for yourself.

I love being a grandparent!

Fori, I love those ikea stools. I might get one like that for next to the toilet, so he can pull it over. I think there is enough room for it to be pushed out of the way. Thanks for posting those.

4k4us...glad you get to keep them a while longer. They just grow up too fast.

Oakley, I know a lot of people use those wipes and hand sanitizer, etc. but I just can't put those chemicals on that pure little guy. So we use soap and water. I remember seeing a pic of your beautiful grandkids somewhere; completely adorable. Yes, I love it, too!