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Taking a shower can be scary for small children. The water comes from way up high and is often uncomfortable for their delicate skin. If you’re ready to introduce your child to the showering experience, you need to look for a shower head that will make it fun.
What makes the best kids’ shower head? Let’s look at the most important criteria and compare a few models to see which one is the clear winner.
How To Select the Best Kids Shower Head
What makes a shower head friendly to children?
One of the scarier aspects of showering for a small child is the water pressure. The water comes out at a pressure that’s comfortable for adult skin. But, it can be too much for the more delicate skin of children. Plus, hard drops of water showering down from far above can be somewhat scary.
When selecting a child’s shower head, look for one that lowers the water pressure or offers the ability to adjust it. A gentle spray of water can be both relaxing and fun for small children.
Material
Kids can be rough. You need a kid’s shower head that can withstand normal wear and tear from children. Many models are made from cheap plastic. Some of these crack quite easily even with gentle use.
The better option is to go with shower heads made from stronger materials. Some are made from stronger plastics or a combination of materials for maximum durability.
Kid Appeal
Showering time can be just as fun as bath time, if you choose the right shower head. Many manufacturers offer shower heads made in fun animal shapes. These are visually appealing to small children. Taking a shower with a frog or an elephant just makes things better.
Accommodates All Ages
Many families don’t have a single bath dedicated to just the children. It’s often a bathroom shared by older family members and guests. When selecting a shower head for the bathroom, it’s important to keep everyone in mind.
An ideal kid’s shower head should accommodate all ages. There’s a few options to consider:
- It could be an addition to the existing shower system used only for the small children.
- It can adjust to accommodate different heights and water pressure needs.
- It can be easy to install when needed and remove between uses.
Mounting Options
The way the shower head mounts is an important consideration. Most mount directly to the shower head arm. These models either replace the current shower head entirely or use a diverter that switches water from the main shower head to the child’s when needed.
If the system has a handheld unit, how is that used? Some hang on a bracket attached to the wall by suction cups. Other models are meant for handheld use only.
Ease of Use
When your child is very young, you will be present when your kid is showering. You can make any adjustments needed. However, at some point, your child is going to want to be more independent.
That’s why it’s important to consider how easy the shower head is to use from the perspective of a small child. Some models are very child friendly, while others are not.
Warranty
Always look for products with a good warranty behind them. Longer warranties usually mean better quality materials. However, carefully read the warranty before purchase. Some only cover certain working parts of the shower head. That fragile plastic animal head that cracked may not be covered.
Price
When considering a child’s shower head, look at the price. You need to find a unit that’s budget friendly, but isn’t likely to break after a couple of uses.
If you have more than one child that’s going to be using the unit, opt for one of higher quality, even if it has a higher price. You need the durability to maximize its useful life.
Are Kids Shower Heads a Necessity
Let’s be honest. Many of today’s adults grew up using standard shower heads, just like our parents. So, are kids shower heads really a necessity?
No, they are not. However, they bring a ton of benefits that you should consider:
- They make showering just as fun as bathing
- They offer lower water pressures that are more comfortable for small children
- They bring the shower down to the kid’s level
- They encourage independence, while being child friendly
The choice to install and use a shower head for children is entirely up to you, of course. But, it’s important to consider the benefits they bring to your children.
The Best Kids Shower Heads Compared
We’ve found five shower heads that children can easily use. Let’s compare them and see which one is the winner.
Yookidoo Baby Bath Shower Head
The Yookidoo Baby Bath Shower Head brings the fun of a playful elephant to the bath for infants and toddlers. This battery powered unit offers the ability to control the handheld unit with one hand while steadying your baby with the other.
The pump unit is a colorful elephant with trunk held high. It submerges below the water, drawing it up and out of the attached hose. The small shower head on the other end of the hose sprays a gentle stream of water, comfortable for any child. The user can turn the water flow off and on with a simple knob on the handheld shower head.
It has a soft design, ideal for small children. After the child grows a bit, it can be used as a bath toy. The easy grip is great for small hands. The hose is long enough for showering, but not too long for play.
The manufacturer offers a three-month warranty from the original purchase date.
Pros
- Gentle flow of water perfect for infants and small children
- Fun elephant design that will appeal to children
- Easy on-off switch to pause water flow when soaping and shampooing
- Easy one-hand use when bathing young infants by hand
Cons
- Three-month warranty
- Not useful as shower head for older children
- Battery compartment can fill with water
- Water does not drain completely which promotes mold growth
Waterpik KSH-306T Safari Spray Elephant Flexible Kids Shower Head
The Waterpik KSH-306T Safari Spray Elephant Flexible Kids Shower Head attaches directly to the shower arm. The flexible trunk adjusts to accommodate all heights.
A friendly elephant gazes down from above, making it fun to take a bath on safari. Its 18-inch flexible hose “nose” can arch down to accommodate toddlers and can arch up to handle the needs of a showering adult. Once set at a particular height, the hose stays in place until moved again.
This shower head offers three spray patterns: Rain Forest Rain Fall, Tropical Mist, and Rain Forest Rain Fall/Tropical Mist Combo. It’s easy to move between patterns using the knob on the side of the head.
The manufacturer backs this product with a limited lifetime warranty. It’s easy to install on any standard shower arm.
Pros
- Cute design makes showering fun for everyone
- Flexible trunk accommodates children and adults
- Three spray patterns
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Easy to install
Cons
- No handheld option to accommodate small children
- Highest priced unit in our comparison
GINSEY INDUSTRIES 4210 My Own Child Shower Head
The GINSEY INDUSTRIES 4210 My Own Child Shower Head sprays water at a gentle pressure for children of different heights. The colorful fish brings a bit of fun to the showering experience.
This child’s shower head attaches to the main shower arm using a diverter. When the unit is disconnected, the water goes through the main shower head. When the unit is attached, the water is diverted to the child’s shower head. The water goes down a three-foot hose to the fish shower head.
The fish head attaches to the wall using suction cups. They are easy to move to accommodate kids of different heights. The gentle spray of water is great for smaller children learning how to shower for the first time.
The manufacturer’s warranty information is not easily found.
Pros
- Colorful fish head makes showering fun for small children
- Durable materials
- Gentle spray of water that won’t frighten most children
- Easy to install diverter
- Shower head detaches easily for handheld use
Cons
- Provided suction cups are not strong enough
- Hose is not long enough to support much handheld use
- Must be detached to allow for main shower head use
KAIYING Handheld Shower Head for Kids
The KAIYING Handheld Shower Head for Kids provides a fun way to experience showering. Its fanciful spotted cow design will bring a smile to your child’s face as well as a gentle spray of water.
Made from ABS food safe plastic, this shower head is designed to keep your child safe and clean. It has a smooth handle for safe play and use. Toddlers will love to learn how to shower with the help of this colorful child’s shower head.
It comes with a three-way diverter that allows you to use the main shower head, the child’s shower head, or both at the same time. It comes with a 59″ stainless steel hose that makes it easy to use as a handheld unit or as a fixed shower head. The shower head sets in a bracket on the wall, secured by a large suction cup.
It’s easy to install and comes with a limited lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
Pros
- Fun design that appeals to children of all ages
- Toddler friendly design to encourage independence
- Can be used as handheld or fixed unit or both
- Flexible stainless steel hose
- Made from ABS food safe plastic
- Suction cup adheres to several surface types
Cons
- Hose could be longer for easier handheld use
Hotel Spa 11″ Solid Brass Adjustable Shower Extension Arm
The Hotel Spa 11″ Solid Brass Adjustable Shower Extension Arm brings adjustable showering height to any shower head or handheld unit you want. It is a double-jointed extension arm that attaches to your existing shower arm.
The arm can move two-feet up and down to adjust the spray height. Each joint tightens down to keep the arm at the desired height. It installs quickly and does not require any tools to do the job. The arm fits any showerhead or hand shower unit.
The manufacturer offers a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Great for bathrooms that are used by people of varying heights
- Solid brass construction
- Easy to adjust and lock in place
- Lowest price in our comparison
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Does not have kid appeal nor a fun design
- Installation can be difficult because it cannot be tightened down without turning the entire arm
- Joints can start leaking a few months of use
The Best Kids Shower Head Is..
The clear winner in our comparison is the KAIYING Handheld Shower Head for Kids. Its quality build and fanciful design make it a great way to introduce kids to showering.
It’s made from food safe ABS plastic to keep a child’s bath a safe place. This material is better than the cheap plastic used on the My Own Child Shower Head by Ginsey. It’s made to last with normal wear and tear.
The flexible stainless steel hose offers durability and usability. Its 59″ length lets it move around to most parts of the bathtub with ease. The stiff plastic hose included with the Ginsey shower head wasn’t long enough to reach any further than the holding bracket.
This shower head can be used as both a handheld unit and a fixed shower head. This offers the flexibility to accommodate children’s needs as they grow up. In comparison, the Yookidoo Baby Bath Shower Head is only useful as a handheld unit for small children. Also, the Waterpik Safari Shower Head only works as a fixed shower head.
The handheld unit hangs from a bracket, held to the wall with a large suction cup. The bracket can easily be moved up or down for children of different heights. Its strong suction keeps it in place. The weak suction cups of the Ginsey My Own Child Shower Head made it almost impossible to use.
A major reason why the KAIYING Handheld Shower Head for Kids is our clear winner is its fanciful child-friendley design. This model offers a spotted cow to share your children’s shower time. The manufacturer offers other models in different animal shapes. The utilitarian design of the Hotel Spa Extension Arm stands in stark contrast to this playful shower head.