Potty Humor
How I styled a little loo, including my favorite kids' towels, bathroom essentials, and other unmentionable necessities
After the poopoo reveal I managed to work into last week’s dating content and the reference to potty training and our Manhattan mini-sized tub weeks before, I cannot hide the amount of mindshare I spend on my kids’ bath and hygiene needs. Tonight I’ll share my littles’ loo design scheme, a run down of playful towels on the market, and my less-glamorous toddler bathroom essentials.
Poop jokes aren’t my favorite jokes, but they’re a solid number 2.
The Water Closet
My children’s shared bathroom was the biggest afterthought of our home renovation — newly redone by the previous owners, and not the priority for our budget. We did not touch the newly-installed marble and tile, nor the chrome fixtures (despite the fact that we used unlacquered brass nearly everywhere else). In our primary bathroom and the powder room, I replaced the towel bar and toilet paper holder with brass pieces — I didn’t even do that here. Here’s what we did do:
We painted — the walls (eggshell) and trim (satin) in this color, and ceiling (flat) in that color. We replaced the sconces and added shades from one of my favorite fabric houses. I repurposed a vintage mirror from my childhood home, hung above the sink. We also hung a painting of sardines by Thomas’ family friend — a nod to our little fish. We switched out the cabinet knobs with oversized bone pieces in a beehive shape, also employed in the primarily bathroom. We used Forbes & Lomax for the unlacquered brass light switches and outlet covers throughout the home. On the back of the door, I hung two antique brass hooks with his (blue stripes) and hers (blue floral) personalized toddler robes. As a side note, hooks are a great place to add quirk, from horses to monkeys, from bows to rabbits.
In terms of accessories, they are minimal here. The sink contains only a cup for toothbrushes [originally a ceramic and metal piece I brought back from Morocco, shattered on the ground by my toddler and replaced by a Native American clay piece my husband found in Taos… how about this less breakable option?] and hand soap. While I wrote an entire post about fabulous waste bins and would like to upgrade eventually, we have this one in the kid’s bath, and it’s very functional and indestructible for this period of life. My old “Christina is a big girl now!” c. 1984 painted step stool is a key component (I recently highlighted another one I like). We have a storage caddy to hold bath toys and a marbled paper tissue holder on the back of the throne (similar here). Following the 2:30 AM #poopoogate, we decided to add a night light.
As a pattern-lover, I was stretched to layer print here. Beyond the lampshades and tissue paper holder, there is not much opportunity and, thus, I searched high and low for chic patterned towels. In the future, perhaps I will bring in pattern through stone or tile, such as the antique Delft pieces I highlighted here.
How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it.
The Skinny on Towels
When it comes to the hunt for playful towels with color and pattern that lend themselves to a child’s bath, I’m sharing the pieces that stood out to me. At the risk of being gender normative, I’ve organized them on a spectrum from feminine to masculine, with a nod to some of my favorite hooded towels at the end.
All hail the uber-luxury ruler of iconic bed and bath pattern, if you know, you know. I love their hooded towels as well.
The above speaks to you, but is too pricey? No problem — this is giving the look for less.
Equally femme in color and shape (though no pattern) is this collaboration. This is a similar look in different colors from another brand.
For just a hint of pattern in the piping (and for my Liberty print lovers), look here. Their big kid hooded bunny towel is also worth noting.
Similarly, for a hint of color — perhaps a different color for each child — this whipstitch option is a folk twist on an otherwise classic, lush choice. Same concept with a preppy bent here.
I would place our checkerboard towels in the gender-neutral-leaning-masculine camp along with this smart option from the same brand.
For pure boy with an Americana vibe, I love this.
Hooded towel honorable mention: this cutie that feels thematically coordinated with my son’s bedroom wallpaper.
You might not like my towel joke — it’s very dry.
Toys, Toiletries, and Teaching Tools
Before I close tonight out, I want to touch on some of my stocked necessities, mainly for the benefit of new and expectant parents.
Bath Toys: Raise your hand if your kid fights you about getting in and out of the bath. Maybe it’s just me, but toys go a long way in luring my children into the bubbly waters. Those with real staying power include a sea plane, boats, a fishing net and fish, foam letters and numbers, a tea set, a watering can, and cups in general. If you’re really brave (we are), consider squirt sticks.
Lotions: Trying to avoid a 12-step child beauty routine, I stick to a single body wash-shampoo combo, body lotion, coconut oil for face moisturizer, Aquaphor when things call for more, and Desitin for diaper rash. In terms of cleansing gel and lotion, I’ll break it down into three tiers: there’s the prettiest bottle French brand, there’s the cute branding, reasonably clean, and well-priced option (I use this and love the Vanilla + Ylang Ylang scent), and there’s what I opt for when I need to pick something up at the grocery store. Sunscreen is the obvious omission here. I use it, but keep in the stroller.
Potions: I remember reading a long list of items I ‘needed’ for my home first aid kit. With experience, I think you can keep it simple: baby and toddler thermometers, something for boogers when they’re too young to blow, and for infant gas, Infants’ Tylenol and Motrin, Children’s Tylenol (and chewable) and Motrin (and chewable), cute bandaids (warning: this can become a weird kid obsession), and antibacterial ointment. That should cover you 99% of the time— just add Pedialyte Pops in the freezer.
Potty Training: I’m mentally preparing myself to potty train my daughter this summer. Like most of you, I followed this very helpful [though dare I say condescending?] cult book’s method. In terms of gear, this training potty, this travel seat (i.e. put it on your toilet and then fold it up and bring in it your tote), this on-the go potty and liners (i.e. leave it in the stroller and be ready to use on the sidewalks of NYC — yay!), this pee cup for boys, and these pee pads, plus wet wipes, Clorox wipes, and many, many changes of clothes (and shoes) are all the equipment you need.
Never would I ever have thought my comfort level with another creature’s bodily fluids would reach these heights. HBU? Goodnight and good luck!
What do you say to a photo-bombing toilet? Urinal the photos.
Solid potty jokes. 10/10.