How old is to old??

[mjkacmom]

that is who the companion rooms are for
not the mom who has to take her stroller into the room with her - thanks for taking that room since there is only one in each spot - your stroller in the room for hanicap is "very helpful" for those who really need it

Are you serious? Those stalls are handicap accessible, not limited to those who have disabilities. The companion rooms (not even listed on regular park maps - only for those with disabilities) are for those with disabilities, who need help.

I had a double stroller with me for YEARS, and had to use those stalls. What the heck was I supposed to do with a two year old, and 6 months old twins? I took all of my kids out by myself all of the time - the big stall was the only one I could use. I really did need it!

And if there is a line, that stall does get used by anyone. Being disabled does not mean you don't have to wait like the rest of us women.

 

[Sparkly]

Oh no, not another bathroom thread. I know just how this will turn out. And I see handicapped restrooms have been mentioned.

 

[mjkacmom]

This thread got me to thinking... what about the other way around? What if you are out in public and it's just you and your opposite gender kid. Even if they are old enough to use the bathroom by themselves while you stand right by the restroom entrance (this is what I started doing this year for DS7), what about when YOU have to go? I would not feel comfortable allowing my son to wait outside the restroom while I'm inside using it. Anything could happen; you hear about abductions all the time that happen practically right in front of the parents (it can happen so fast). I probably would never forgive myself for not taking him in with me if that ever happened.

Thankfully I haven't had that situation arise all that frequently because most of the time we're out as a family and DH and I will just take turns watching the kids. When I'm alone though I definitely take them in with me. I haven't figured out what age I will stop; for now I don't think 7 years old is a big deal to be worried about offending others if I really need to use the bathroom so I'll revisit the subject once he gets a little older.

My kids walked to school without me at 7. The chance of a stranger abducting my child is like getting hit with lightning 19 times. I'm okay with them waiting for me. The reason the media gloms onto child abductions is because it is so rare.

 

[ManyMinnie]

that is who the companion rooms are for
not the mom who has to take her stroller into the room with her - thanks for taking that room since there is only one in each spot - your stroller in the room for hanicap is "very helpful" for those who really need it

The larger stalls are handicap accessible, not handicap exclusive.

 

[mamacatnv]

Thank you! It seems that the moms afraid to send boys to the bathroom alone don't ever consider that there are dads who go anywhere with their daughters!

My dh is a very hands on dad. We have 3 girls, and he takes them all kinds of places w/o mommy. Guess what happens at bathroom breaks? He goes in the mens room, girls go in the ladies room. No worries. No sweat! He even did Disney for a day without me and they survived a trip to the potty alone!

So I dont get why moms with boys can't let them go to their own bathrooms. Dads with girls do!

Exactly - My DH and my DS would be shocked to find a young girl in the men's room. It's interesting how its only the boys we seem to need to protect from the alleged creepers when it comes to public restrooms. Maybe its because Moms tend to be more protective. I wonder how many Dads agree with Moms taking their boys into the ladies room? MY DH would not have stood for that.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I am pretty sure that if my 13 year old son was in the ladies restroom, there would be plenty of comments made. He's 6' 2". However, he has been using the men's restroom by himself for years.

If we were somewhere that I was concerned sending him in, I would wait right outside the door and call in if I thought he was taking too long.

My husband did the same thing when he took our daughter out when she was younger.

I must say that as a mom with little kids, I did appreciate the "family" restroom. It really is a shame that Disney doesn't find a way to add some around the parks. However, there comes a time when kids need to go to the gender appropriate bathroom. If you're not comfortable sending your kid in alone, why do your feelings trump everyone elses?

 

[Liberty Belle]

...which is exactly the point. Most likely, if a young girl is in the men's room, she is with her dad, and not unsupervised like your brother was.

This was mainly in rebuttal to those saying there isn't much of a chance of a boy being assaulted in a public bathroom. I'm confused by your response (then again, I'm confused today in general, it seems).

 

[ICF]

This was mainly in rebuttal to those saying there isn't much of a chance of a boy being assaulted in a public bathroom.

There isn't much of a chance....

could it happen, sure I suppose there is probably a .001% chance of a boy being molested in a public bathroom -- especially at such a public and over crowded place like Disney World.

 

[Planogirl]

There isn't much of a chance....

could it happen, sure I suppose there is probably a .001% chance of a boy being molested in a public bathroom -- especially at such a public and over crowded place like Disney World.

I would think that it would be less likely at a crowded place. There would be too many potential witnesses.

I would be more concerned about out of the way bathrooms.

 

[violetrose]

How often do you hear of a woman sexually assaulting a young child? You hear of women "assaulting" teenage boys who willingly go along and it doesn't happen in a restroom.

Yes, this. I have never actually heard of any girl being abducted or assaulted by another woman in a restroom. Wish I could say the same about boys and men in the men's bathroom. For that reason we had a different age for our daughter to go alone than we did our sons. I never cared one way or another about it and only knew it was a "thing" until people on the DIS said it was. We're talking about 7/8 year old boys, I'm not sure what the threat was. I was't sending my 16 year old son in by himself to terrorize the ladies in the bathroom, just two young boys that I brought in the stall with me.

As I said though I do get irritated when people let their little kids (of either gender) peep under the stalls. That seems to happen more and more frequently, and a lot more frequently than I see children of the opposite gender over age 10 in the bathroom.

 

[violetrose]

I must say that as a mom with little kids, I did appreciate the "family" restroom. It really is a shame that Disney doesn't find a way to add some around the parks. However, there comes a time when kids need to go to the gender appropriate bathroom. If you're not comfortable sending your kid in alone, why do your feelings trump everyone elses?

I am curious as to what you find uncomfortable about a 10 year old boy in the restroom? I guess that is what I am trying to understand (sorry I haven't been around for the other discussions here on the matter!)

I could see if you weren't behind a closed door. I could also see if it was an older boy and he was in there alone. But a boy with his mother? Not a big deal. A 10 year old boy I would automatically think there was a disability and a need for the mother to be with her son and go in the stall, do my business and come out. How would this boy in there with his mother be a threat to you or make you uncomfortable? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I am just trying to understand.

 

[Liberty Belle]

There isn't much of a chance....

could it happen, sure I suppose there is probably a .001% chance of a boy being molested in a public bathroom -- especially at such a public and over crowded place like Disney World.

Probably not much of a chance, but since it happened to my brother and I've heard of it happening to other children, and I was in a sort of similar situation (thought not in a bathroom) when I was younger, it makes me feel that there is enough of a chance not to send my younger boys in by themselves.

It would be interesting to see the actual statistics and not just ones imagined from a person's experience or pulled from their hat.

 

[fairestoneofall]

unless there is a physical/mental limitation that requires parental help, those ages are way too old.

my middle DS is 8. he stands outside the restroom and waits for me. if his sister isn't using the restroom, they wait outside together. he doesn't WANT to go into the restroom with me!

 

[Liberty Belle]

Was trying to find out what experts say, so googled "safety experts views on children and public restrooms". The first "official" looking document I found was from the San Diego County District Attorney's office and it said:

Take your children into public restrooms with you.
A public restroom is no place for unaccompanied children. No matter
what gender your children are, take them into the stall with you.
Unfortunately, even older children have been abducted, assaulted, and
murdered in public restrooms. So, don’t put your children in harm’s
way for the sake of modesty. Take them with you.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

was trying to find out what experts say, so googled "safety experts views on children and public restrooms". The first "official" looking document i found was from the san diego county district attorney's office and it said:

Take your children into public restrooms with you.
A public restroom is no place for unaccompanied children. No matter
what gender your children are, take them into the stall with you.
Unfortunately, even older children have been abducted, assaulted, and
murdered in public restrooms. So, don’t put your children in harm’s
way for the sake of modesty. Take them with you.

+100

 

[NHdisneylover]

My kids were allowed to use the restroom on their own in places that we knew well and where I could watch the door starting at 3-4 (the library, etc) and nearly anywhere by 5 (I figured if they were in school they needed to be able to handle their bathroom needs and also to know how to call for help if someone tried to hurt them or was inappropriate with them--which could happen at school too).

I think anything past 6 or 7 is too old in normal circumstances (a deserted roadside toilet, etc being the exception).

I am curious as to what you find uncomfortable about a 10 year old boy in the restroom? I guess that is what I am trying to understand (sorry I haven't been around for the other discussions here on the matter!)

I could see if you weren't behind a closed door. I could also see if it was an older boy and he was in there alone. But a boy with his mother? Not a big deal. A 10 year old boy I would automatically think there was a disability and a need for the mother to be with her son and go in the stall, do my business and come out. How would this boy in there with his mother be a threat to you or make you uncomfortable? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I am just trying to understand.

Two reasons people might not like it:

1. In most restrooms it is very easy to see into the stall from the gap between the door and the side--without standing right up next to it, etc.

2. The lines for the women's room are always long anyway--if older boys are using that space too--the line gets even longer and slower.

 

[crashbb]

Was trying to find out what experts say, so googled "safety experts views on children and public restrooms". The first "official" looking document I found was from the San Diego County District Attorney's office and it said:

Take your children into public restrooms with you.
A public restroom is no place for unaccompanied children. No matter
what gender your children are, take them into the stall with you.
Unfortunately, even older children have been abducted, assaulted, and
murdered in public restrooms. So, don’t put your children in harm’s
way for the sake of modesty. Take them with you.

But that is suggesting what many of the people in this thread (who bring sons into the womens washroom) say that they don't do - bring your son into the stall with you.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Old enough that you can go by yourself.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Was trying to find out what experts say, so googled "safety experts views on children and public restrooms". The first "official" looking document I found was from the San Diego County District Attorney's office and it said:

Take your children into public restrooms with you.
A public restroom is no place for unaccompanied children. No matter
what gender your children are, take them into the stall with you.
Unfortunately, even older children have been abducted, assaulted, and
murdered in public restrooms. So, don’t put your children in harm’s
way for the sake of modesty. Take them with you.

No child has ever been assaulting, abducted, or murdered at a bathroom is Disney.

In fact, most issues I hear involving children getting assaulting occurs in the water parks, in the wave pools.

 

[Liberty Belle]

But that is suggesting what many of the people in this thread (who bring sons into the womens washroom) say that they don't do - bring your son into the stall with you.

Just posting it. I am not saying anyone is right or wrong. I always took my son into the stall with me, but we're pretty open around my house.