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

[Luv Bunnies]

I was once at the zoo with DH and DS, who was about 15 months old at the time. I went to change DS and found that the changing table was between the two restroom doors. So I was standing there changing him and this man walks up, pushing a stroller and holding a baby. He said, "Excuse me, will you watch this for a minute?" He gestured toward the stroller. I said, "Sure," thinking he was asking me to watch his empty stroller while he took the baby with him. Nope! He plopped the baby into the stroller and walked into the men's room. I was shocked! Of course, I was going to watch the baby and make sure nothing happened to him. But this guy asked a total stranger to watch his baby while he went into the men's room! DH walked up and asked if I was ready to go. I said, "No, apparently I'm babysitting." The guy put the baby down and disappeared so quickly that I didn't have time to object if I'd wanted to. He came out pretty quickly, said, "Thank you," and hustled the stroller away. DH and I just stood there, stunned.

That said, I don't see a huge problem with leaving a baby in stroller right outside the bathroom stall. I used to either take the stroller into the handicapped stall or leave the kids with DH. If a mom had no other options, I think it would be find. You can see pretty well between the cracks in the stall doors. The baby would be a couple of feet away from you. You'd know if something was amiss.

 

[MandiC]

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.

Ditto! Do you know how many times I've walked into a bathroom with my double stroller to find the only handicap bathroom taken (usually by a 20-something with absolutely no disability other than lack of consideration)? There are so many mothers in our country who are just too fearful of anything and everything, I'll admit with my first I was...but with each child I thankfully relaxed a little. Worry when it is necessary, relax when it isn't. You do what you have to do, don't judge other moms for doing what they need to do. You don't know what another mother's situation is by one thing you see her doing.

 

[DisneyParkLover]

I'm sure they were watching the stroller through the crack or under the door. However, what would they do if someone grabbed the stroller and took off? By the time you were able to get up, unlock the door and open it, that person could be gone! Plus the time it takes to pull up your pants - which you would have to do or you wouldn't be able to run after the person. I know the chances are slim, but is it worth the risk to save that time? I would wait for the handicap stall - just not worth even a small risk to me.

 

[wilkeliza]

Ditto! Do you know how many times I've walked into a bathroom with my double stroller to find the only handicap bathroom taken (usually by a 20-something with absolutely no disability other than lack of consideration)? There are so many mothers in our country who are just too fearful of anything and everything, I'll admit with my first I was...but with each child I thankfully relaxed a little. Worry when it is necessary, relax when it isn't. You do what you have to do, don't judge other moms for doing what they need to do. You don't know what another mother's situation is by one thing you see her doing.

Remember those bathrooms are handicap accessible not handicap only so no need to call out that 20 something. You can either wait for that stall or do what you want no need to call out an entire age group.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm sure they were watching the stroller through the crack or under the door. However, what would they do if someone grabbed the stroller and took off? By the time you were able to get up, unlock the door and open it, that person could be gone! Plus the time it takes to pull up your pants - which you would have to do or you wouldn't be able to run after the person. I know the chances are slim, but is it worth the risk to save that time? I would wait for the handicap stall - just not worth even a small risk to me.

2 to 3 seconds tops. Plus that person would have to navigate through people, open the main washroom door with a stroller etc...it really isn't feasible, especially if you are watching through the crack of the door.

I would say there is probably a greater chance of a child being abducted at a store or quick service location when you have to take your eyes off your child to fish through your purse to look for money and then pay the clerk. Lots of people do this and nobody would blink an eye or question that. It would be a lot easier to walk away with a stroller unnoticed in this situation.

 

[supertinyluckycat]

It has to do with the origninal post because people are acting like disney is some safe haven where bad things couldn't happen.

 

[wilkeliza]

It has to do with the origninal post because people are acting like disney is some safe haven where bad things couldn't happen.

Of course bad things can and have happened there but our culture currently lives in so much fear. Yes Disney isn't 100% safe but this mother decided that her privacy in the bathroom and not using the handicap accessible stall was a short enough time that her child would be safe.

I think it is funny that one of us still escorts our 11 year old nephew to the bathroom and waits for him outside when 15 years ago my mom would have let us go alone no problem.

 

[stasijane]

I would have no problem parking a stroller where I can see it and using the restroom.

No way in heck would I mess with a content baby, then have to struggle to wipe my butt. Nope. Sorry. not going to happen.

 

[Hope Counts]

I'm sure they were watching the stroller through the crack or under the door. However, what would they do if someone grabbed the stroller and took off? By the time you were able to get up, unlock the door and open it, that person could be gone! Plus the time it takes to pull up your pants - which you would have to do or you wouldn't be able to run after the person. I know the chances are slim, but is it worth the risk to save that time? I would wait for the handicap stall - just not worth even a small risk to me.

I'm sure if she saw the stroller being moved and yelled out one of the numerous other women in the waiting area would have intervened while she was getting her pants up.
It isn't ideal but neither is life sometimes you have to do the best you can and keep on keeping on I'd be pretty shocked if by coincidence in the 2 minutes she was in there a kidnapper happened to also be in the bathroom.
Most kidnappings are done by close relatives and are custody related and stranger abductions are pretty uncommon and usually involve some level of planning.
kidnapping targets of convenience like in this scenario are uncommon since most kidnappers have a fairly specific victim profile and prefer to plan it to try to minimize the risk of getting caught.
Does it happen yes but in the hierarchy of risk this is pretty low.

 

[MandiC]

Remember those bathrooms are handicap accessible not handicap only so no need to call out that 20 something. You can either wait for that stall or do what you want no need to call out an entire age group.

Well I *am* a 20-something sorry you took offense to that, I have just noticed that I see many more younger women, with no children and no handicaps that would require the extra space (no walker/wheelchair) using those stalls (when many regular stalls are available) than any other age group.

 

[lvillotta1]

Speaking from a single mom of 2. I travelled to China to bring both of my babies home. I remember having to use the bathroom in the St Louis airport and asked a kind stranger to watch all of our belongings. When I got to the bathroom I had no idea what to do with my daughter. I did the only thing I knew to do and sat her on the floor and did my business. I had just been a mom for less than 2 weeks so I was slightly overwhelmed. Both of my kids came everywhere with me and I would always cross my fingers that the larger stall would open for us since they had to stay with me at all times. So no I would have not left my stroller outside the door. My girls are now 6&10 and now I let them use their own stall,but stand outside the door until they are done or we wait for a larger bathroom. I feel so many moms are so harsh on others for all of their actions and decisions. I surely have felt that way along the parenting path.

 

[Dawnlight]

A solution!

http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/household/miscellaneous/the-baby-hanger.asp

 

[maxiesmom]

Well I *am* a 20-something sorry you took offense to that, I have just noticed that I see many more younger women, with no children and no handicaps that would require the extra space (no walker/wheelchair) using those stalls (when many regular stalls are available) than any other age group.

Many people have disabilities that are not visible. Don't be so quick to judge.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with the scenario OP described. People are so weird sometimes.

 

[robndani]

I've done it. I try not to use the handicap stall and sometimes my double wouldn't fit in that one anyway. I pulled the stroller when I was inside so I could see there feet and QUICKLY went to the bathroom. I do think Disney is safer than other places for this particular situation.

I wouldn't do it all the time, but in a pinch I don't think it's awful.

 

[MommyMK]

I've done this as well, not at disney and with a toddler, but I've done it. I can see her through the crack in the door and could be up and out of the stall in seconds if someone tried to grab her, but random kidnapping in the women's room is not something I worry about.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I did that many, many times at Disney and elsewhere, in fact in travels all over the world. Well, in some countries there are no stall doors, so it's nice to have that stroller there to provide a little privacy.

Most of the time there's a large enough gap in the door to provide a view of the stroller. You most certainly could tell if someone was standing there unbuckling the baby and taking him or her out!

And I'm probably on the more helicopterish end of the parenting scale.

 

[Oakenshield]

Ditto! Do you know how many times I've walked into a bathroom with my double stroller to find the only handicap bathroom taken (usually by a 20-something with absolutely no disability other than lack of consideration)? There are so many mothers in our country who are just too fearful of anything and everything, I'll admit with my first I was...but with each child I thankfully relaxed a little. Worry when it is necessary, relax when it isn't. You do what you have to do, don't judge other moms for doing what they need to do. You don't know what another mother's situation is by one thing you see her doing.

Do you take your double stroller into the handicap stall? Strollers don't seem to be a disability either.

 

[MandiC]

Many people have disabilities that are not visible. Don't be so quick to judge.

I'm well aware believe me. However, the only thing different about a handicap stall is the size, not many disabilities require the extra room. Not that this is what this thread is about...and what are the chances that dozens of healthy looking young women have hidden disabilities that require them to use a bigger stall? Not looking to argue, it's just always been a huge pet peeve of mine. If I didn't have my kids with me I wouldn't use a handicap stall even if it were the only one open.

 

[jahber]

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!

Well, I've had several people on these boards suggest I leave my baby outside the stall because I would need to use the HA stall to fit me and my 5mo in. I guess some people think it's better to leave a baby unattended in a public place while I have my pants down than tie up a stall that is currently unused for 3 1/2 minutes. Whatever. Moms can't win either way.