5 Tips for Managing Your Family's Bathroom Time

"Stop banging on the door! I'll be out in a minute!" I can't believe that my oldest daughter is only eight years old and I've already heard these words uttered in my home. The kids have gotten pretty good about sharing their toys and books. We haven't, however, managed to share those bathrooms with quite as much ease. So, how do we manage our family bathroom time?

Spread out.

We're lucky enough to have two and a half bathrooms in our house, but that doesn't mean that we aren't juggling showers, teeth, hair, and time in front of the mirror, especially with a family of five (four of whom are girls). We've found that spreading out in the mornings helps us be more efficient. The kids brush their teeth and do their hair downstairs in the half bathroom. My husband gets ready for work in the master bath. I share with my husband or get ready in the kids' bathroom. This way everyone is able to get out the door on time and we aren't all on top of each other.

Take it out of the bathroom.

What has to be done in the bathroom and what can people do in their bedrooms? Unless it requires a toilet, a sink, or a shower, encourage your husband and your kids to get ready in their bedroom instead of the bathroom.Try a fun vanity set if you have young girls.

Mess it up? Clean it up!

One of the issues with managing our family bathrooms and bathroom time has to do with cleaning the bathrooms. While I do the bulk of the cleaning around the house since my husband works outside the home and the kids are still young, everyone is able to pitch in and do some cleaning, especially if they've made the mess. My kids are starting to be asked to wipe down the sinks and countertops in the bathroom, and everyone is required to put their own dirty clothes in the hamper. This frees up room in the bathroom and saves us all time that we'd have to spend on a major bathroom cleaning.

Doors closed, but unlocked.

Everyone deserves some privacy, especially if they're using the bathroom. In my family, I encourage everyone to shut the door, but discourage them from locking it. Now this is a practical measure-I don't have to worry about anyone getting shut and locked in a bathroom. As my children grow up I expect that this will serve another purpose. If you spend too much time in the bathroom and don't respond to an encouraging reminder knock, at least I'll know the door isn't locked (and you will, too).

Use your time wisely.

If you have five people that need showers in the morning, and only two showers, you may not have enough time for everyone. Instead, insist that some people take some showers in the evening and some in the morning, so that everyone isn't fighting over things in the morning. It requires a bit of planning, but in the long run, your mornings and your bathroom time will run much more smoothly.

How have you and your family learned to manage your bathroom time?

Content by Kelly Herdrich.