Children in opposite gender bathrooms

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While I personally think that it is fine in this case for a quick run into the mens room for hand-washing I also agree that many people take kids of opposite gender in WAY TOO OLD. And it is exactly because of the reason that society often disappoints me these days...because it is all about their own child.

Think of this from an 8, 9, 10, or 13 year old boy's perspective...At the urinal, doing your business and dad turns away for a second and the little girl either accidentally or due to curiosity turns and looks at the goods...That is major embarrassment for him. I know my 12 year old ds would be mortified.

So unless it is an emergency or you are a single parent- I would say to find another place to wash.

I can't imagine why an older kids would get upset about a 5 year old in the opposite gender bathroom. I can see a kid being upset about a kid of similar age in the bathroom but a five year old is still pretty little. I can't imagine a teenager concerned about a preschooler or kindergarten kid in the restroom.
 
Really???? How else can they use it??

Well, you see, you stand in front of the urinal, with your pants up and your zipper down, usually standing as close to the urinal as possible. Head most likely resting on the wall as you sign and wonder "how longer before you can get a daggum beer or at least sit down instead of having to get hit in the ankles by strollers and stand in line after line after line. Isn't this supposed to be a vacation? Why did I have to get up earlier than when I go to freaking work? Next year we are taking a tour of MLB stadiums!"

Err.... but I digress.

While all this is going on, the 5 year old girl behind you, will, at most, see you from the back.

Although it does still feel a little weird knowing there's a little girl behind you washing her hands.
 
Let's go with all unisex restrooms and no urinals (or a specific closed door room for urinals and extra sinks). That would solve the problem.
 
A few years ago in my local mall, a dad took his 7 year old daughter to the movies. This is a huge mall, very busy place. the 7 year old was sent alone into the ladies room and was followed in by a male in his 40's. The man went right behind her into a stall and molested her.

So, if my husband is out with our daughter, whether at Disney World or the local mall, he is bringing her into the men's room rather then send a small child into what could be a dangerous situation.

This. I live near this mall as well.

In addition, just last year a man was arrested for sliding his cell phone under a bathroom stall and taking pictures of a child going to the bathroom. Where did this happen? Animal Kingdom

My DS7 goes to the bathroom with me or my DH when we are out and about in WDW, local malls, restaurants, etc. I could not care less what other people think.
 

In addition, just last year a man was arrested for sliding his cell phone under a bathroom stall and taking pictures of a child going to the bathroom. Where did this happen? Animal Kingdom

That is absolutely horrifying.
 
This. I live near this mall as well.

In addition, just last year a man was arrested for sliding his cell phone under a bathroom stall and taking pictures of a child going to the bathroom. Where did this happen? Animal Kingdom

My DS7 goes to the bathroom with me or my DH when we are out and about in WDW, local malls, restaurants, etc. I could not care less what other people think.

You do realize that a child is a 1000x more likely to be molested by some you and he or she knows and trusts. I think the cm was wrong in this case not because it puts a kid at risk (which it doesn't) but because she inserted herself in a situation she had no business being a part of and made up rules that simply do not exist.
Although the mall story doesn't really make sense. When dh sends our dds in the bathroom by themselves he hangs out and watches the door and if the mall was so busy no one noticed a 40 year old man enter the women's room and there was no one else in there.
 
Well, you see, you stand in front of the urinal, with your pants up and your zipper down, usually standing as close to the urinal as possible. Head most likely resting on the wall as you sign and wonder "how longer before you can get a daggum beer or at least sit down instead of having to get hit in the ankles by strollers and stand in line after line after line. Isn't this supposed to be a vacation? Why did I have to get up earlier than when I go to freaking work? Next year we are taking a tour of MLB stadiums!"
.


Eeewwww!! You put your forehead on the bathroom wall!!?! :scared1: (DD29 got mersa from the gym on 309 in Quakertown a few years ago--I now touch NOTHING potentially icky without sanitizer!)
 
I can't imagine why an older kids would get upset about a 5 year old in the opposite gender bathroom. I can see a kid being upset about a kid of similar age in the bathroom but a five year old is still pretty little. I can't imagine a teenager concerned about a preschooler or kindergarten kid in the restroom.

I think it is more of a 'just reaching puberty and being very sensitive to new things going on with the body' being looked at by a female. Not so much the age.

I think a young girl of 13, newly having changes in that area, would be embarrassed by having a young boy look at her bathroom parts too.
 
A quick Google search pulled this up:
http://archive.lohud.com/article/20111207/NEWS03/112070329/

So obviously this is a true story. And the article indicates that the perpetrator had a hat pulled low and a collar pulled up. I think that would have made it difficult for anyone to notice that this was a man, especially in a crowded place. I will not put my child in danger for anyone else's comfort. This decision should be up to the parents and is not anyone else's business.
 
I think that 5 is still a young enough age and there are stalls if you need more privacy.

My DD takes swimming lessons at the local pool and there is a mother who has both her children shower completely naked after the lessons. The boy is about 7 and the girl is 5. The fact that the boy is completely naked makes my DD so uncomfortable that we started using the family change rooms.. in this case the other mother should have been in the family change rooms.

So I think that it depends on the child, the situation and whats available to you. Obviously you don't want to send your child into a bathroom alone if they aren't comfortable. It's really a hard call.
 
Has anyone been following the situation at boston Logan Airport where the naked man fell from the ceiling of the bathroom this weekend?

My 8 year old is tall (56 inches)has been able to use the restrooms alone for a year or so but this is a reason for us to reconsider that if we are able to go with him. He would not know how to handle that type of situation.
 
Has anyone been following the situation at boston Logan Airport where the naked man fell from the ceiling of the bathroom this weekend?

My 8 year old is tall (56 inches)has been able to use the restrooms alone for a year or so but this is a reason for us to reconsider that if we are able to go with him. He would not know how to handle that type of situation.

you do realize the chances of getting struck by lightning twice is greater than a naked man falling through the ceiling of a public restroom while your son is in it. I don't know many people who would know how to handle this type of situation, including adults. Well other than stare for a minute and then get help.
 
Eeewwww!! You put your forehead on the bathroom wall!!?! :scared1: (DD29 got mersa from the gym on 309 in Quakertown a few years ago--I now touch NOTHING potentially icky without sanitizer!)

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm251816.htm

Some hand sanitizers and antiseptic products come with claims that they can prevent MRSA infections.

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"Staphylococcus aureus itself is a very aggressive organism," says Edward Cox, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Office of Antimicrobial Products. "It's often associated with patients in hospitals who have weakened immune systems, but the bacterium can also cause significant skin infections and abscesses in a normal, healthy person. And it can get into the bloodstream and, less frequently, may involve the heart valve, which is very difficult to treat."

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FDA wants consumers to watch out for unproven product claims, too—whether they buy a product from a retail store or through the Internet.

Examples of unproven claims found on product labels are

kills over 99.9% of MRSA
helps prevent skin infections caused by MRSA and other germs
is effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including MRSA

One company claims that its hand sanitizing lotion prevents infection from the bacterium E. coli and the H1N1 flu virus. And another firm claims its "patented formulation of essential plant oils" kills the bacterium Salmonella. These claims are also unproven and, therefore, illegal.

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On April 20, 2011, FDA issued Warning Letters to four companies that make or distribute the following products that can be bought over-the-counter (without a prescription):

Staphaseptic First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Gel, by Tec Laboratories
Safe4Hours Hand Sanitizing Lotion and Safe4Hours First Aid Antiseptic Skin Protectant, by JD Nelson and Associates
Dr. Tichenor’s Antiseptic Gel, by Dr. G.H. Tichenor Antiseptic Co.
Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizer, Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes, and Clean Well All-Natural Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap, by Oh So Clean Inc., also known as CleanWell Company
If the companies do not correct the violations explained in the Warning Letters within 15 days, FDA may seize the products or take other legal action.


Advice for Consumers
Don't buy over-the-counter hand sanitizers or other products that claim to prevent infection from MRSA, E. coli, Salmonella, flu, or other bacteria or viruses.

Ask your pharmacist or other health care professional for help in distinguishing between reliable and questionable information on product labels and company websites.

In general, wash hands often, especially before handling food, to help avoid getting sick. Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. For children, this means the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.

If you find products on the Internet that you believe make false or unproven claims, tell FDA by following the instructions at Reporting Unlawful Sales on Internet5.

Report side effects that you think may be related to using hand sanitizers or other medical products to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program either online, by regular mail, by fax, or by phone.

Online6
Regular Mail: Use postage-paid, pre-addressed FDA form 35007
Fax: 800-FDA-0178
Phone: 800-332-1088
 
you do realize the chances of getting struck by lightning twice is greater than a naked man falling through the ceiling of a public restroom while your son is in it. I don't know many people who would know how to handle this type of situation, including adults. Well other than stare for a minute and then get help.

But this man then went on to attack the people he encountered. He would barely know what to do in the event of a school lock down situation in and they practice that drill every month. He also wouldnt be observant enough to notice of a sicko was standing somewhere taping or 'enjoying' him.

Im not saying he wont be going in alone all the time - but if we are out as a family, DH will go in with him.

I am far from a helicopter parent - in fact, I despise helicopter parenting. But a friend of mine growing up was struck by lightening twice - it can happen. We still need to be diligent - there are crazy people everywhere!
 
If this had happened to me, I would have politely asked if there was another ladies washroom my wife could take my daughter to in the restaurant. If the answer was no, I would have said "Thank you" and walked right past the CM to the washroom. When I returned to the table I would have asked to speak to the manager about the CM (if she was indeed over the top rude).
 
But this man then went on to attack the people he encountered. He would barely know what to do in the event of a school lock down situation in and they practice that drill every month. He also wouldnt be observant enough to notice of a sicko was standing somewhere taping or 'enjoying' him.

Im not saying he wont be going in alone all the time - but if we are out as a family, DH will go in with him.

I am far from a helicopter parent - in fact, I despise helicopter parenting. But a friend of mine growing up was struck by lightening twice - it can happen. We still need to be diligent - there are crazy people everywhere!

Right but you said you would change your behavior based on a news report. I've heard news reports about people trapped in cars by seatbelts or car seats but it doesn't mean I will change my behavior due to it. (we still use boosters and seat belts). Teaching kids how to handle situations - like the parents of the boy in animal kingdom who knew to leave and tell his parents - is the best defense we can give them.
 
Right but you said you would change your behavior based on a news report. I've heard news reports about people trapped in cars by seatbelts or car seats but it doesn't mean I will change my behavior due to it. (we still use boosters and seat belts). Teaching kids how to handle situations - like the parents of the boy in animal kingdom who knew to leave and tell his parents - is the best defense we can give them.

Yes. I do plan to change my behavior in some environments. My DH and I have decided that our previous behavior was based on innocent ignorance and we need to be more mindful of the potential issues out there. If a parent is available in those settings (we are not talking about following him to the bathroom at the photo studio) - like the professional football game or the big amusement park (especially the bathrooms outside of the gate before ticketing and bag search/metal detectors) we will not let him go alone if it can be avoided. We of course also have discussed the situation with both kids (4 and 8) but no need to put them into situations alone at this age if not necessary.
 
since the ladies room was closed it might have made sense for the CM to confirm the restroom was empty and then allowed your DH and DD a minute or two to watch their hands alone? some arrangements needed to be made with the ladies room closed....
 
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