Children with Parents in bathroom

[katie111]

What do people do with their young kids if they don't bring them in the bathroom with them? I was just there alone with my 3 kids ages 3.5, 7, and 8. The 8 yr old was a girl so that was no problem but I was not going to leave my DS's alone outside while we went into the women's room. If there was a family bathroom nearby we would use that, but they are not always convenient. The same thing when we are at home. I don't allow my DS's to stay alone at a restaurant table or movie theatre while DD & I go into the restroom. My Dh works a lot so I am often out alone with my kids. For my DS7 I will sometimes let him go into the men's room alone if I can see the door, but if we all have to go, we all go together. I may be at an advantage though as my DS7 is very small & looks like he is about 4.

My other concern is always hygiene. Often times the bathrooms at Disney are pretty gross. I want to be able to look in the stall & wipe off the seat or make a "nest" if necessary if my DS's need to sit down. Also they can't usually reach the sinks or the soap so I need to help them with that as well. I so often see kids alone in the bathroom & they just walk out without even washing their hands...and everyone wonders why the stomach bug is spreading like crazy at Disney...it's gross! I think parents think their kids wash their hands but so often I am out with my kids friends & I notice that they either don't wash or don't use any soap unless I remind them.

 

[mjkacmom]

What do people do with their young kids if they don't bring them in the bathroom with them?

I think parents think their kids wash their hands but so often I am out with my kids friends & I notice that they either don't wash or don't use any soap unless I remind them.

Ds8 has been going alone since at least the age of 6, more often than not he doesn't wash his hands, and is sent back in (I check to see if they are damp). He knows to wait outside, as did his older brother at that age. My girls - they scrub up for surgery. Seriously, I have to tell them to speed up the process when we're out (it's fine at home).

 

[princessmom29]

What do people do with their young kids if they don't bring them in the bathroom with them? I was just there alone with my 3 kids ages 3.5, 7, and 8. The 8 yr old was a girl so that was no problem but I was not going to leave my DS's alone outside while we went into the women's room. If there was a family bathroom nearby we would use that, but they are not always convenient. The same thing when we are at home. I don't allow my DS's to stay alone at a restaurant table or movie theatre while DD & I go into the restroom. My Dh works a lot so I am often out alone with my kids. For my DS7 I will sometimes let him go into the men's room alone if I can see the door, but if we all have to go, we all go together. I may be at an advantage though as my DS7 is very small & looks like he is about 4.

My other concern is always hygiene. Often times the bathrooms at Disney are pretty gross. I want to be able to look in the stall & wipe off the seat or make a "nest" if necessary if my DS's need to sit down. Also they can't usually reach the sinks or the soap so I need to help them with that as well. I so often see kids alone in the bathroom & they just walk out without even washing their hands...and everyone wonders why the stomach bug is spreading like crazy at Disney...it's gross! I think parents think their kids wash their hands but so often I am out with my kids friends & I notice that they either don't wash or don't use any soap unless I remind them.

At 3.5, no i would not leave a child outside. The 7 year old, I could see by himself, but not in charge of the 3.5 year old. I don't think you have a choice there but to take them all in unti lthe little one can be trusted to stand and wait.

The whole catching something from a toilet seat thing is a total myth. There are ctually fewer pathogens there than on the door knobs, hand railings ect, and unless you have an open sore on your posterior, there is not an open coduit for pathogens. Covering the seat to sit is definitely not necessary. You are not going to catch anything from sitting on the seat, and you are exposing your hands to way more grems than necessary by coating that seat in paper. You are better off just sitting and washing your hands after.

 

[jpeka65844]

The whole catching something from a toilet seat thing is a total myth. There are ctually fewer pathogens there than on the door knobs, hand railings ect, and unless you have an open sore on your posterior, there is not an open coduit for pathogens. Covering the seat to sit is definitely not necessary. You are not going to catch anything from sitting on the seat, and you are exposing your hands to way more grems than necessary by coating that seat in paper. You are better off just sitting and washing your hands after.

Mythbusters proved this! They tested a toilet seat, a kitchen sponge, and a light switch. The light switch was the germiest of the three!

 

[katie111]

The whole catching something from a toilet seat thing is a total myth. There are ctually fewer pathogens there than on the door knobs, hand railings ect, and unless you have an open sore on your posterior, there is not an open coduit for pathogens. Covering the seat to sit is definitely not necessary. You are not going to catch anything from sitting on the seat, and you are exposing your hands to way more grems than necessary by coating that seat in paper. You are better off just sitting and washing your hands after.

To me its not a germ thing, its just gross! I don't want to sit down on someone else's used toilet paper or urine (or worse). Nor do I want my kids sitting on that either. I don't think they're going to catch anything from the seat, once again I just think its disgusting, especially with that many people using a toilet in one day. I think the germs are being spread by people not washing their hands.

 

[sparklynails23]

Okay, so now "Women" are the only victims of sex abuse?? Geez, I guess now we should tell all those little girls who have been victimized to suck it up because they don't matter. Very sad that their feelings are not taken into consideration. and another thing, boys of any age can be sexual predators/abusers just ask the kindergartener who was sexually molested by the other kindergartener in my youngest daughter's class. He was a victim and even though he had been in counseling, he victimized at least one other child (he was caught by a teacher and they found out it had happened several times).

As for my being uncomfortable, I am not but I know my daughters would be and they have that right. They are taught from a young age especially at school that the boys do not belong in the girl's bathroom.

Do you really believe that a 5 year old boy has the ability to form the intent to molest another child and that intent would be driven by a sexual need?

Kids that age may mimic actions they've seen or been forced to experience, but if you think someone that age has sexual desires which cause them to molest, you need to study a little human sexuality. A five year old is not a sexual predator. There is zero chance that a five year old is going to be looking under your door in a restroom thinking, "I gotta get me some of that."

 

[GinnyEmma]

Just wondering if that matters if it is yoir kid assaulted? I've known a few young perps and they broke my heart and I tried to help. No way in hell I'd ever have them near my kids.

 

[Leajess99]

Do you really believe that a 5 year old boy has the ability to form the intent to molest another child and that intent would be driven by a sexual need?

Kids that age may mimic actions they've seen or been forced to experience, but if you think someone that age has sexual desires which cause them to molest, you need to study a little human sexuality. A five year old is not a sexual predator. There is zero chance that a five year old is going to be looking under your door in a restroom thinking, "I gotta get me some of that."

I'm sorry but whether the child has the "ability to form the intent to molest another child.." or not, it happened and the victim's mother had to contact outside officials as the school would not properly handle the issue. Imagine being told that your child's abuser is going to be kept in the same class as your child who was victimized. I doubt you would care about intent and whatnot. By the way, I already stated that the abuser was also a victim and in counseling but regardless, he victimized another child.

I also never said anything about keeping 5 year olds out of the bathroom. My opinion is that 8 years old is too old to be in the women's bathroom (barring any special needs/disabilities) and if a mother has to bring one in for his safety than she needs to take the child in the stall with her for his own safety.

 

[Leajess99]

Just wondering if that matters if it is yoir kid assaulted? I've known a few young peeps and they broke my heart and I tried to help. No way in hell I'd ever have them near my kids.

I so agree here. This was a very sad case and what was sadder is that the principal felt the abuser was fine in the same class with the victim. The victim did not want to return to school and it wasn't until the mom notified the proper authorities that the abuser was removed from the school and the classroom.

 

[kayrosek]

i know this may be a dumb question but I'm curious when everyone started to let there child go into the bathroom alone. I just returned from Disney and when I was in the women's bathroom a boy that appeared around 12 came out of a stall with his mother. By appearance and language skills he appeared to have no disability. I know that not all disablities are noticeable. There was a campanion bathroom at this site. Anyway, I felt very uncomfortable with this. I asked my husband what he thought and he said if it would have been a girl in a men's bathroom it would have been even more uncomfortable. Have many of you seen older children in the bathroom of the oppisite sex parent, more so in the mens bathroom. Just some thoughts on this.

My son is one of those who's disability is most often not apparent to people. Still it is not really safe to let him go into a bathroom on his own. He has been known to lock a stall, curl up on the floor and bang his head on the tile. We try to use companion bathrooms when they are available but if he has to go, he has to go so there are times when he goes in with me. I am aware that it might make some uncomfortable but my first priority is my sons saftey. Occasionally we go to a local pool where boys over the age of five are not allowed in the womens locker room (I can understand thier reasons for that), but they don't have a family locker room available so if my husband is not with us I have to bring him to the pool ready and have a male lifeguard accompany him through the locker room and out to the pool. My daughters twelve and fourteen have been going to into the restroom on thier own (with each other) for awhile now.

 

[mamaLori05]

What do people do with their young kids if they don't bring them in the bathroom with them? I was just there alone with my 3 kids ages 3.5, 7, and 8. The 8 yr old was a girl so that was no problem but I was not going to leave my DS's alone outside while we went into the women's room. If there was a family bathroom nearby we would use that, but they are not always convenient. The same thing when we are at home. I don't allow my DS's to stay alone at a restaurant table or movie theatre while DD & I go into the restroom. My Dh works a lot so I am often out alone with my kids. For my DS7 I will sometimes let him go into the men's room alone if I can see the door, but if we all have to go, we all go together. I may be at an advantage though as my DS7 is very small & looks like he is about 4.

My other concern is always hygiene. Often times the bathrooms at Disney are pretty gross. I want to be able to look in the stall & wipe off the seat or make a "nest" if necessary if my DS's need to sit down. Also they can't usually reach the sinks or the soap so I need to help them with that as well. I so often see kids alone in the bathroom & they just walk out without even washing their hands...and everyone wonders why the stomach bug is spreading like crazy at Disney...it's gross! I think parents think their kids wash their hands but so often I am out with my kids friends & I notice that they either don't wash or don't use any soap unless I remind them.

I don't think anyone on here had a problem with a 3.5 yr old going into the women's bathroom with their mom. Even the 7 year old I think is okay. Once they get to be 11 however, it is time to cut the cord.

 

[Disneyadore]

Last May an adult man and his son around ten came out of ONE stall in the ladies room at the restrooms in the Grand Floridian.
Now that was weird.

 

[tttessa]

My problem was when there were 2 boys with their mum (about 8 and 10 I would say) in the loos near the river rapids exit at AK - NOW - those boys were very obviously looking at the ladies changing and trying to dry their tops. I turned round and walked out since I felt uncomfortable.

 

[robinb]

How did I miss one of my favorite thread topics for so long !?! I voted for 7-8, but I really think it's closer to 6-7, especially at WDW. My DD was using public bathrooms alone since about 6 in controlled situations like WDW and in restaurants.

 

[Ava]

How did I miss one of my favorite thread topics for so long !?!

Seriously, it's almost comical how the same topics come up on here over & over. I think it's just about time for another thread on red shirting.

 

[mrsr2ro]

Seriously, it's almost comical how the same topics come up on here over & over. I think it's just about time for another thread on red shirting.

What surprised me is the thread made it this long without someone having a heart attack about people suggesting the companion restroom as an option for families (who do not have any disability).

 

[Reddy]

My peeve with the companion restroom is when I see a mom with girls or a man by himself come out of them - with me & my austic son waiting to go in it

sad when you wait 10 minutes for a single guy when the men's room had no one in it (husband came looking to see what was taking so long - the guy walked out then - hubby took son into men's room then - I went to ladies - we let the next family go)

 

[Ava]

My peeve with the companion restroom is when I see a mom with girls or a man by himself come out of them - with me & my austic son waiting to go in it

sad when you wait 10 minutes for a single guy when the men's room had no one in it (husband came looking to see what was taking so long - the guy walked out then - hubby took son into men's room then - I went to ladies - we let the next family go)

Why didn't your husband just take your son into the men's room in the first place? That would've been the most logical thing to do, imo.

 

[Hannathy]

Why didn't your husband just take your son into the men's room in the first place? That would've been the most logical thing to do, imo.

Exactly what I was thinking. I know when I had my DS I was saying yeah now it's my DH's turn to go to the bathroom with a child!

And the men's room is always quicker.

 

[Reddy]

He was dealing if our other son & trying to buy something that he needed.
I had to go too & the companion one was just right around the corner