Boys in the Girls Bathroom?

[mrsltg]

I don't see a big deal with bringing him into the girls room. I do think, though, that he should perhaps remain where the sinks are as opposed to in the stall area so as not to make young girls uncomfortable.

As far as the "Women and Children" restroom - great. As soon as we get a "Men and Children" restroom. My husband is just as involved raising our daughters as I am. I'm sure no one meant it to sound this way, but the idea that fathers are simply there to provide genetic material and then get out of the way annoys me to no end. I love family restrooms. Many malls are putting them in and the whole family can use it with no problem. Often there is a baby changing station, a sink or two, a stall or two, and chairs. It makes situations like this that much easier.

 

[welovedis]

Why not use the companion bathrooms? Isn't this what they are for? I mean, I know they are for persons with disabilities who need assistance, but don't you think that most people with diabilities wouldn't mind their use for this purpose?

Here are some recent threads on the subject, they will help you see why companion restrooms should be a last resort unless they are necessary:
Should I take my 10 yr old son in the ladies restroom?
Boys in womens restrooms
Companion restrooms
Companion bathrooms questions?

Here's a direct quote from a post on 12-21-05 by SueM in MN, moderator of the disABILITIES board here on the DIS:
"Thank you for asking.
Especially in MK and Epcot, it is very difficult for anyone who needs to bring a wheelchair or a companion to assist them in the bathroom. Almost none of the handicapped stalls in the bathrooms are large enough for that. And some older people who need someone of the opposite sex in the restroom can't use the men's or ladies' rooms.The only places available for some people to use are the Companion Restrooms. MK has 8 of them, which means (for example for my DD) that those are the only 8 toilets in the whole park that some people can use.

The only place that you will find them listed is in the Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities and all of them I have been in are marked with "Companion Restroom" and a wheelchair sign. If they were meant for general use by families, they would be on the park maps.

I usually say that anyone who is going to use them should keep in mind that for some people using them is a choice, but for other people they are a necessity. I personally would appreciate it if the people who have other possible choices would consider their other choices before deciding to use them.
And, again, thank you for asking."


I will be traveling at the end of this week with my 9 year old son who has a form of autism. On the days that we will be alone when my DH is attending a convention, it will require some planning ahead for bathroom issues. I usually try to use a less crowded location, like in a restaurant, for example if he really insists on going alone. However, sometimes with his tendencies, he cannot be trusted to use the bathroom to do his business and I have to take him in with me. If that offends some people, then so be it, I'm not there to make anyone else happy, but to take care of my son's needs. If it was to the point where he was pitching a fit or something, then we would be headed to the Baby Care Center before using a Companion Restroom.

HTH!

 

[my4kids]

Remember that MANY bathrooms in Disney (and other places) have 2 entrances and exits. Your son could go in what looks like the only entrance to a bathroom, and you think you are guarding the door, but on the other side of the bathroom is an entance coming from a restaurant or other area of the park. Take him with you, don't take a chance. Just a couple of months ago in a nearby town, a boy (I think he was 7 (I'm not sure) was molested in an Applebees restaurant restroom while his Dad waited for him at their table. The father had not sent him in alone, the boy was with siblings, but when they were done they left and went back to the table leaving him in the bathroom and that is when he was attacked. The Dad had no clue anything was wrong until his son returned to the table crying. I personally could care less what others think, my 10 yr. old is going in with me, we are as curtious to others as possible, if there is a line, I wait in it, while he stands by the door, when a stall opens up, I call to him and he slips in real quick. When he's done, we are outta there. He doesn't want to use the womens roon, but he is still small and could be overpowered easily, and I tell him that I love him too much to let there even be a chance something could happen to him.

Warning - threads on this topic almost always get heated and locked , so I'm not staying around to watch this.

 

[momimouse27]

Please, please take him in with you! I have a 12 and 9 yr old girls and I have seen other do it and it is fine. The world is a very scary place nowadays. We live in a very low crime area, and about 1 year ago someone followed a little girl into a park bathroom(she was 7) and attacked her. It is not worth the risk-take him in.

 

[melomouse]

Hi - As a single mom, I think my DS was 10 when I started letting him use restrooms at WDW by himself, but I am always near the door outside and if he takes too long -(as he is known to do!) - I ask some friendly looking Dad on his way in to yell for DS!

It is also important - and I hope we have ALL done this wayyy before age 10 - to role play with our kids different scenarios - What do they do if someone approaches them in a restroom? What if they just feel "weird" around someone in there? What do they do if there's no paper -?

Sometimes our "mom anxiety" is worse than the reality out there, and I always try to make sure I'm not transferring that onto my kids. They need another irrational fear about that big, bad world out there like a hole in the head!!! Caution and awareness are key skills we need to reinforce all the time!

 

[Hannathy]

I think 9 is the upper age for taking him in with you. after 9 he can wait just outside the door. The statistics for stranger abductions is extremely low. You aren't in an isolated open to any type of person area-if you find a time you are alone in Disney let me know so I can go.I think adolescent girls would be very uncomfortable with boys older than 9 in THEIR bathroom. If you take a 9 yr old boy in with you please have him stand in the exit hallway.

 

[Luv'sTink]

Pain and simple this country needs more "family" bathrooms. There are just way to many sick people.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

No problem, I bring my 7 yo with me too.

 

[Luv'sTink]

It happens and a lot of time kids don't say anything until much later.

A 10 year old boy was molested in the library bathroom while his father waited RIGHT OUTSIDE the door. He didn't say anything until later.

Shasta and Dylan Brodie....The guy killed 3 people to get to them, then killed Dylan and then took her back to her own home town and she didn't say anything to anyone until a waitress recognized her and called police.

Try talking to a child counselor for the state, they could make you sick with stories of what people do to children.

 

[MBeds]

My son will be 7 next week - He always goes in the girls bathroom with me - I will not let him in the men's bathroom alone...No way!
Only a couple of times did i get a "not so happy about him in the girls room" look but ya know what? Too bad...

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

I would just like to second what SueM said. The Companion restrooms (NOT family restrooms) should only be used if you have no other options. Due to health problems, my sister and I cannot wait for an extended time for a restroom. We use electric wheelchairs and I have other equipment (trach, ventilator, suction machine, feeding tube). Also please do not use the handicap stall. It is way more embarrassing for my Dad to have to stand in line inside the women's restroom, waiting for a handicap stall, then for a young boy to use a regular stall.

I think it's okay for a boy to accompany his mom if he has a disability (any age) or if he hasn't started puberty.


Good luck


Christamae

 

[Evil Queen]

I believe the bottom line for the OP is...what makes you feel comfortable.

You need to be relaxed and happy on vacation.

 

[MBeds]

I think 9 is the upper age for taking him in with you. after 9 he can wait just outside the door. The statistics for stranger abductions is extremely low. You aren't in an isolated open to any type of person area-if you find a time you are alone in Disney let me know so I can go.I think adolescent girls would be very uncomfortable with boys older than 9 in THEIR bathroom. If you take a 9 yr old boy in with you please have him stand in the exit hallway.

I have to disagree with this - My son's safety comes before them feeling uncomfortable...
As far as statistics, I don't care what they say, i'm not taking a chance on my son becoming a statistic, no matter how low you say it is...

 

[rigs32]

Sigh. I have a better idea. Why don't we get rid of urinals and have a parents with children restroom and an adults only restroom? Or just get rid of urinals so the default isn't always (unless it's a single parent, of course) that the kids go with mom to the restroom.

I just dislike the fact that as a woman, the default seems to be kidlets in my restroom because of the evil urinals.

 

[kkevcamsmom]

If the line was VERY short, right in, right out I might. But a longer line I would not. Yes things can happen in just a short time, I have heard and talked with kids that have gone through it. You have to make sure your child understands that a 'bad' person can look like anyone, they are not dirty, smell or look strange. They could look like Uncle Joe, Aunt Bee or Cousin Sam. Make it clear that he should NEVER go off with anyone when waiting outside for you. Have him sit somewhere and STAY. If he can't sit still I would make him come in with you.

I would not be offened to see an older (9, 10, 11 yr old) in the Women's restroom. I would assume he's waiting for his mom.

Lori

 

[Mouse House Mama]

A few years ago there was a man in the bathroom at a local mall who was doing his business (and I don't mean #1 or #2 ) in the stall with the door open for everyone to see. So even of that man wouldn't maybe attack my kids I certainly wouldn't want him seeing that. This was a busy place and well maintained so it's not like it was some far off dirty place. I say take your son in. I personally wouldn't mind.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My ds5 is starting to resist going into the women’s restroom with me now. I have started letting him go alone at church but no where else. If his dad isn’t around to take him, then he knows he’s going with me or not going at all. On the other hand, my dd2 goes into the men’s room with dh as often as ds comes with me. She sees dh and ds using the restroom at home and thinks nothing of the men/boys at the urinal – now I’m sure in a few more years this will have to stop only because her presence in the men’s room would probably make some men uncomfortable.

 

[mistaroo]

Take him in if that is what makes you most comfortable.

For me, it isn't whether the child is male or female, it is how the child behaves. In the ladies' room, I'll gladly take a 10 yr old boy standing in one place while keeping his eyes to himself over someone's 5 yr old girl peeking under my stall.

 

[jeepgirl30]

Take him in.

I'd much rather see a boy in the ladies room than on a milk container. I don't care how low the risk is, there is still a risk.

I take my DS with me all the time. He is 3 now but last year we were somewhere and as kids do, he peeked under the door. I didn't realize he was doing this until the lady next to me started yelling "he's looking, he's looking make him stop". I couldn't help it but burst out laughing and said 'yea but he doesn't know what he's looking at anyway lady". She was in her late 50s - 60s. Sorry but seriously at 2 he wouldn't get the difference between Pam Anderson or Oprah in the bathroom.

I do have a DD6 and would still rather see the boy in the ladies room. I may try and get a stall for her a bit further away but only to help minimize embarrassment from either one of them.

 

[penguin087]

I personaly don't care if a 30 year old man wants to use the ladies room with his mother as long as he is neat about it but my son started to refuse at about age 8. I forced him for about another year but 9.5 was about all I could get out of him. He is 12 now and I still worry when he goes into the mens room. I feel better at Disney because there are a lot of people in and out all the time. I still go through the whole spiel "don't talk to anyone, don't look at anyone, don't use the urinal if they have stalls, if anybody even looks at you twice start screaming at the top of your lungs and I'm in there. He just rolls his eyes at me now.