I can't believe I saw this.....

[Sugardimples]

And I saw it twice!

While at WDW this week, twice I saw moms take a stroller in the ladies room, go into the stall and shut the door, AND LEAVE THE BABY IN THE STROLLER outside the stall. Saw it once in the MK and once in EPCOT.

Both times I just stayed in the ladies room until the mom opened the door. But this really worried me!

 

[SweetMissy]

Maybe they're from a different country? I recently read an article about differences in parenting styles in different countries and compared to other countries...we're helicopter parents, lol. If this is true, parents in some countries leave their babies in the stroller on the sidewalk while they eat stop in a cafe. Don't know...this is all probably far fetched....but it's funny because I just read this article not that long ago, and now I read what you saw. I would never ever do such a thing. About how old was the baby?

 

[Sugardimples]

Both babies were young babies, maybe six months old.

 

[Maleficent53]

I think many people do things at Disney that they probably wouldn't think of doing elsewhere....

People on vacation will walk alone down dark streets, stroll beaches at midnight, leave babies unattended while they use the toilet...

What can possibly happen?

 

[wilkeliza]

They probably think it is safe thing to do at Disney and in a ladies room and didn't want to tie up the handicap accessible stall. They also don't want to show everyone their everything so they shut the door.

I can't decide what is worse leaving they baby in the buggy outside the door or what I see here in NYC leaving the door open because the buggy won't fit and leaving it where everyone can see their everything.

 

[teacup princess]

When I had my first child I was taking my stroller into the stall and a random older lady came up to me and asked if I wanted her to hold my baby while I went to the bathroom. I looked at her like she was completely nuts. I came home and told my mil about this crazy old lady who tried to steal my baby in the bathroom and she told me that in her generation that's what they did so the lady probably didn't know better. So 1). possibly this was a grandma with her grandchild who wasn't up to speed with the paranoia of today's parents or 2). This was a parent who disagrees with the paranoia of today's parents.

I never would have done that with my first, but by my forth I will admit that I've gone in the restroom if it won't fit and pulled the wheels under the door where I can see them and feel the vibration if someone were to touch the stroller. So no, I don't think its that outlandish unless the baby was just sitting in a corner.

 

[happymommy]

I always used to take BOTH kids into the stall with me (and it made for a crowd even using the larger ones). And embarrassing during that "time of the month"!

Still, it is true that they probably were from another culture where that is normal. I wouldn't do it, but am glad that they were all okay.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think it's okay for a quick pee. Position the stroller accordingly and you can can see your baby/stroller out the crack of your door.

 

[Dawnlight]

I've been in this situation before, and as a mom of twins (and 4 others), I don't judge other parents at all for leaving a stroller outside a restroom stall- whether it's a single child or more.

Really, we've become a nation that thrives on fear. When was the last time you heard of something happening to a child left in a stroller outside a restroom door, at Disney or anywhere else? We are worst-case thinking instead of rational thinking.

Yes, it could happen, but the likelihood is very small.

 

[msmama]

I guess I'm not sure what her other option should have been? Let the baby crawl on the floor while does her business?

If you were that concerned you could have offered to watch the stroller in the corner. I've done that before.

If you gotta go, you gotta go!

 

[Sugardimples]

What other options did she have? Odds are that there was another adult in her party. Not many moms with small babies are on solo trips. Leave the baby with that other person. Wait for the handicapped stall to open and use that so you can roll the stroller in. Find a companion restroom and roll the stroller in. Go to the Baby Care Center.

I don't think you ask a random stranger to watch your baby. And I was concerned enough to stand to the side and watch the baby. Both times.

There are threads about not letting a 10 year old boy, who can speak or even scream if necessary, go into a restroom alone. But it's OK to leave a defenseless baby alone? Wow!

 

[supertinyluckycat]

I'm a single mom and my daughter goes everywhere with me- as a baby I would just hold her if I had to use a public bathroom. Tricky but doable. I can understand how they would feel safe though somewhere like disney-anyone takes the baby your screaming would alert so many people. I'd be more worried about people touching my baby with their gross bathroom hands haha. I see how few people actually wash their hands

 

[wilkeliza]

What other options did she have? Odds are that there was another adult in her party. Not many moms with small babies are on solo trips. Leave the baby with that other person. Wait for the handicapped stall to open and use that so you can roll the stroller in. Find a companion restroom and roll the stroller in. Go to the Baby Care Center. I don't think you ask a random stranger to watch your baby. And I was concerned enough to stand to the side and watch the baby. Both times. There are threads about not letting a 10 year old boy, who can speak or even scream if necessary, go into a restroom alone. But it's OK to leave a defenseless baby alone? Wow!

A lot of us agree the 10 year old in the bathroom is helicopter parenting in most cases (of course not factoring in children with disabilities or other medical needs to be there.) Some parents just don't believe they need to have eyes on the kid 100% of the time. This is Disney not some random mall or public bathroom. There has never been a kidnapping case at Disney no matter what the internet says.

 

[supertinyluckycat]

Maybe no kidnappings but there are creeps everywhere. A local man was just arrested for taking pictures of children in the bathroom under the stalls. In places like movie theaters, local amusement parks and in disney world.

 

[wilkeliza]

delete double post

 

[wilkeliza]

Maybe no kidnappings but there are creeps everywhere. A local man was just arrested for taking pictures of children in the bathroom under the stalls. In places like movie theaters, local amusement parks and in disney world.

There are creeps everywhere but don't you think the other moms in the bathroom would notice someone being creepy and at least report them?

 

[Dawnlight]

Maybe no kidnappings but there are creeps everywhere. A local man was just arrested for taking pictures of children in the bathroom under the stalls. In places like movie theaters, local amusement parks and in disney world.

But this isn't what this post is about. The child was not undressed in a stall, but clothed and in a stroller right outside the stall door.

Yes, there are creeps, but there are far, far more non-creeps in this world.

I wish parents would not be so quick to judge and instead extend grace and understanding.

 

[livndisney]

Maybe no kidnappings but there are creeps everywhere. A local man was just arrested for taking pictures of children in the bathroom under the stalls. In places like movie theaters, local amusement parks and in disney world.

Not sure what this has to do with Op post?

 

[Disneylover99]

Odds are that there was another adult in her party. Not many moms with small babies are on solo trips. Leave the baby with that other person. Wait for the handicapped stall to open and use that so you can roll the stroller in. Find a companion restroom and roll the stroller in. Go to the Baby Care Center.

Lots of families split up on trips at times. Maybe dad was at an attraction with an older child. Sometimes, when you've got to go. You've got to go!

 

[wilkeliza]

Lots of families split up on trips at times. Maybe dad was at an attraction with an older child. Sometimes, when you've got to go. You've got to go!

Of the fact there are single mothers in the world! My bf sister has decided to go the single mother route since she is getting older and has not found a partner to settle with. It will be just her and her son come January. That isn't going to stop her from going out to public places and using the bathroom. I'm sure she may leave him alone for a split 2 seconds or less if she thinks she is in a safe place. Case in point here would be the Barnes and Noble family bathrooms. The three big B&N here in NYC have bathrooms in the kids section that only families with children can use. the police is pretty well so I imagine mothers would feel safe here leaving their baby in the stroller for under a minute while they did their business. Like I pointed out this mom probably thought there are X number of other moms in this bathroom if anyone is going to do something one of them will step in to help me.