What Mommy Loves #1: The Aqueduck

For the very first entry in the What Mommy Loves series, I want to tell you about something I’ve been meaning to share for quite some while.

It’s this: Aqueducks are the BOMB.

Anyone with kids in potty training/more than one kid/short kids/I’m sure I’m forgetting a reason needs one right away!

What are Aqueducks, exactly?  

They’re kid-friendly faucet extenders.  Made of plastic and silicone (I think it’s silicone), they attach easily to your bathroom faucet to make the water flow closer to the front edge of the sink rather than straight down toward the drain.

To better illustrate, I found a short clip from the Rachael Ray show where Kathy Griffin (who doesn’t have kids) tries to explain what they are.  So funny!

What’s the big deal? 

The Aqueduck has been a lifesaver in our household.  My 2-year-old, who’s currently potty-training, is obsessed with washing her hands.  She can easily get up to the sink level with our tall step stool; however, in order to reach the sink she has to balance on her belly (she’s short, like me!), and reach as far as possible just to get her hands under the running water.

I’m always worried about her falling off the stool and hitting her head on the tile floor because of this maneuver.

The Aqueduck faucet extender is a simple solution.  It directs the water toward her so she no longer has to balance and reach.  And my 4-year-old thinks it’s super cool, too.  :)

Best Time to Buy One: When Your Child is 2-Years-Old

I found out about these things a couple of years ago, but didn’t buy one until recently.  Boy, do I wish I hadn’t waited to so long!  These things are the best thing since sliced bread.  I could have used it when my oldest was two and she was obsessed with hand-washing (notice a theme here?).  That would have saved me a LOT of effort.

Now, instead of following my daughter into the bathroom to assist her handwashing, I can just watch her go in there, listen for all the right sounds (that she’s using the sink and not dipping toys in the toilet!), and rest easy that she can safely wash her hands by herself.

This came in especially handy when I was in my last months of my third pregnancy and 1) didn’t have the energy to help her every time and 2) wasn’t supposed to lift her anyway.

Other People Who Use the Aqueduck

Don’t just take my word for it.  Go ask Danielle of 2LittleSuperHeroes. She was the one who turned me onto these glorious faucet attachments at a playdate years ago.  Back then, I was blown away by the fact that her then 2-year-old could wash his hands with no help at all.  Now I know why!  Tell everyone you know.

Any other Aqueduck users out there?  Reveal yourself!  ;=)