Is it alright to have 6 y/o boy share the toilet with mom?

[lclark0621]

no male is above visual stimuli!

Visual stimuli? In a bathroom? What are you doing in the bathroom? I go in & close the stall door. No one is seeing anything.

I think you are lumping "all men" here into a pretty ugly catagory. I know a lot of women who are not above visual stimuli to. But that is not the point.

I know, I would have NO problem with a father bringing a baby into the women's room to be changed, or his DD to go to the bathroom. In fact I would applaud the father doing it.

A little warning call is a good idea to make sure no one is embarrassed. But other then that, I say, go for it,

In all seriousness, what is the difference between a strange man or a strange woman in the bathroom? No one is seeing anything. And an unknown person, is an unknown person, whether they are men or women.

My DH never took DS in a men's room to change his diaper. He told me the men's rooms are pretty much always nasty & he would not want DS in there anyway. He would use family restrooms or take DS to the care to change him (if it was resonable). I personally prefered the car since public bathrooms on a whole gross me out. The less time my child, or I am in there, the better.

I know, if I had a DD, I would not want her in the mens room unless she had to be there. So I think it is great if a Dad (like I said, gives some warning first) & then takes his little girl into the womens room to use the bathroom.

The father is not going in there for a peep show. He is going in to change a dirty diaper or let his DD use the bathroom. I would not worry about it at all.

I wont see him again, just like I wont see any of the other women in a bathroom again.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

Ds was about 9 the first time I let him go alone at WDW. His going in alone was not as hard as the fact that I had to go too and that would leave him either in the man's with out me right outside OR him waiting outside the women's while I went. Before he went in I asked a "dad" comming out if there was any other way in or out,( some WDW bathrooms can really turn you aroud". It turned out there was another mom with the exact same problem so we sent the boys together while we went really fast. I was out before her and waited with her son till she came out.
I have had dad's ask me to keep an eye or check on their girls in the women's. I have also had a man walk in a women's with a small child. I admit it did startle me but he was a grandpa and said he just did not know what to do. I agree with stalls there really is not a problem.
My thoughts on companion bathrooms are like mine on handicapped stalls that was addressed on an ealier thread, It is whomever needs them the most that should have access to them first. When DS was a toddler, we had my sister's two babies with us. I had three under two and I could have not gone to the bathroom ANYWHERE without taking them all into the handicapped stall. I NEEDED that stall. I of course went quickly and would have let anyone that was in more urgent need go first. It is called respect.

To OP...Do not even give taking him in a second thought. It is the only safe option.

Jordan's mom

 

[Talking Hands]

Um, *what* visual stimuli? As long as the stall doors are in working order, the most one might [normally] accidentally glimpse in a WDW ladies' room is someone straightening a bra strap or correcting a wedgie. A warning shout-out should take care of that; the voice is immediately noticeable in a room full of women.

Please remember that not every person visiting the parks is hearing. As a hard of hearing person whether or not I would hear someone is very dependent on how far I am from the sound and which way I am oriented. If it is from the back you have to be practically on top of me for me to hear you unless it is dead quiet. Many of my friends would not hear someone at all.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

Unfortunately, there is no way to cover every combination of scenarios covering parents w/children, physically or mentally-challenged users, etc., when it comes to communal restrooms. Unfortunately, up until the last couple of posts, nobody mentioned the fact about anybody announcing they were coming in with an older child of the opposite sex. Guess when I was "growing up" that was just common courtesy. The man that just walked into a women's restroom with his daughter without announcing it just seems awkward, if not disrespectful. Notably, the state women are in outside the stalls in a restroom is nothing compared to the state men are in...

Until we get rid of the communal bathroom arrangement, Disney is going to have to start accomodating more and more single parents coming with children of both sexes, and install more family bathrooms or partition off sections of the current bathrooms for parents coming in with children, or even limit access to a single entryway/exit.

I guess the reason I'm interested in the thoughts here is because I might be bringing my DD2.5 w/ me without DW and was surprised to hear that parents are bringing children of the opposite sex up to the age of 9 into the communal bathrooms with them. But I admit from a safety standpoint it makes sense, just a reality check for me.

-R

 

[SueM in MN]

As Talking Hands and NotUrsual mentioned, the Companion Restrooms at WDW are labeled "Companion Restrooms".
The only places that their location is listed are in the Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities. If they were really meant as Family Restrooms, they would be listed where families would see them.

There are changing tables in some of them, but not in all of them. One of the reasons is that some people need the space (and privacy) to change older children with disabilities (it's not really appropriate to be changing an 8 year old in an open bathroom, for example).
None of the Companion Restrooms at WDW have small, child size toilets (there are some of those in the Baby Care Centers, though).

There are also not enough of them to function as Family Restrooms.
At MK, for example, I believe there are 6 or 8 of them. (including one in First Aid which is a bit small to bring a wheelchair in. Also, I prefer not to use that, as it is the only restroom available to someone who is ill in First Aid.) There are less than that listed in the website version of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities - the print version lists a few more.
Although the handicapped stalls in the restrooms may look large, they are often not large enough to bring a wheelchair into the stall and close the door or for an adult to assist another adult or large child, especially in MK and Epcot.
Almost none of the handicapped stalls in the MK bathrooms are large enough for that. And some older people (like adults or older children) who need someone of the opposite sex in the restroom with them can't use the men's or ladies' rooms. The only places available that some people can use are the Companion Restrooms.
My DD, for example needs to have me in the restroom to assist her and, because she can't walk, the wheelchair has to be in the stall with her. Since her wheelchair won't fit in the regular handicapped stalls, our only choioce is the Companion Restrooms. (And she doesn't have a large wheelchair, she has a small adult wheelchair).
For people like my DD, since MK has only 6-8 Companion Restrooms, that means there are only 6-8 toilets in the whole park that she can use. Not 6 - 8 restrooms with multiple toilets in each one; 8 or less toilets. Total. In all of MK.

To some people, it may be just another restroom out of many (or another stall out of many in a restroom) that they can choose to use. To many of us, we have no choice, that restroom (or that handicapped stall in the restroom) is the only one we can use.

I usually say that anyone who is going to use them should keep in mind that for some people using them is a choice, but for other people they are a necessity. I personally would appreciate it if the people who have other possible choices would consider their other choices before deciding to use them and leave them free (as much as possible) for people who don't have any choices.

 

[denisekayt]

My DS is 7, and just in the last 6 months or so is when I started allowing him to go into the men's restroom alone....like the other mother's I'm nervous the entire time until he's back out!

That said, if DS is the only one that needs to go, I allow him to go in the men's room, if I am the one that needs to go he still comes in the women's restroom with me...I'm not ready (nor is he) to leave him waiting for me outside the women's restroom, so he still has to go in when I'm the one in need of the potty.

Lucky for him, I usually can go quite a long time between potty trips and it's pretty rare these days that he has to join me in the women's room!

 

[NotUrsula]

Please remember that not every person visiting the parks is hearing.

I do remember that, actually, as I'm HOH myself. However, I didn't think that the embarassment factor was significant enough to warrant coming up with an alternative warning system for the deaf; not like the fire/tornado alarm issue, for example. Honestly, if I had to take off my blouse in the restroom to wash off a nasty spill or something, I'm sure I'd embarass a lot of women, too.
Desperate times and all that.

Personally, I think that signage to the effect that, "due to child safety concerns, persons of the opposite sex may occasionally be encountered in this restroom" ought to do it, along with a notice to the same effect in the guides for the disabled.

 

[Vijoge]

Ok~I agree with you about having your DS come in with you. I would do it when my DS is older. But now I am going to flip it. My DH takes DD almost 6 out for "dates". He takes her in the mens RR. I am begining to feel uncomfortable with this. But I don't want her going in the women's byherself either yet. Is she OK to go into the men's or should we let her go alone into the women's. SHe is a very independent little girl.

My DH, aka Gampa, takes the girls in the mens room with him. He checks first to make sure there's no one using the urinal and always calls out that there are little girls comin' through. He's never had a problem.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

Well, I for one would be very uncomfortable with an adult man in the woman's restroom. A son accompanied by his mother is fine by me and understandable in these times. Once, I was in a restaurant that was refurbishing it's men room and we all had to share one of the public restrooms. With two daughters, I was in that restroom at least two different times. Some knocked first, some didn't. I didn't like being in the same room with strange men in such a compromising position. NotUrsula's story reminded me of my aunt, who some 40 years ago had an accident in a public restroom and wound up having to stand by the sink, nude from the waist down, washing her pants. She was mortified just having woman see her, she said she never looked up. She just washed everything and put it back on without making eye contact with anyone. It a funny story to laugh about now, years later. But having to worry about a MAN wanting to come in!!!

I would perfer if men with daughters going to the companion restrooms.

NotUrsula and SueM...I can understand your point of view on this but I'm glad that the companion restroom are not restricted to anyone who feels they can benefit from using one. When my youngest was in diapers, companion restrooms were wonderful when I could have my 3yr old on the potty while I was changing the baby. And I could go and have everyone there in the room. I still use them now that they are older, without guilt. Now I wouldn't use it if there was a line of disable people waiting for it, but if it's empty and we need it...we use it.

 

[frayedend]

Well, I for one would be very uncomfortable with an adult man in the woman's restroom. A son accompanied by his mother is fine by me and understandable in these times. Once, I was in a restaurant that was refurbishing it's men room and we all had to share one of the public restrooms. With two daughters, I was in that restroom at least two different times. Some knocked first, some didn't. I didn't like being in the same room with strange men in such a compromising position. NotUrsula's story reminded me of my aunt, who some 40 years ago had an accident in a public restroom and wound up having to stand by the sink, nude from the waist down, washing her pants. She was mortified just having woman see her, she said she never looked up. She just washed everything and put it back on without making eye contact with anyone. It a funny story to laugh about now, years later. But having to worry about a MAN wanting to come in!!!

I would perfer if men with daughters going to the companion restrooms.

NotUrsula and SueM...I can understand your point of view on this but I'm glad that the companion restroom are not restricted to anyone who feels they can benefit from using one. When my youngest was in diapers, companion restrooms were wonderful when I could have my 3yr old on the potty while I was changing the baby. And I could go and have everyone there in the room. I still use them now that they are older, without guilt. Now I wouldn't use it if there was a line of disable people waiting for it, but if it's empty and we need it...we use it.

How would you feel about an adult man bringing in a baby to change in the case that there was no changing table in the mens room, as I described in a previous post? I have been in this situation a few times and did not know what to do. If my son did #1 I just tried to hurry home, but I wasn't about to let my son sit in poop. I'm just curious how we should deal with that situation. Since most places have family restrooms now, it isn't that big a problem, but it does happen.

 

[4greatboys]

I would not have a problem at all with a man bringing a baby into the womens room to change a diaper or even to bring in his little daughter. The womens room just has more privacy (no urinals).

 

[MissMichelle]

Most women who object to a man with a child coming into a ladies' room do it out of being startled;

I agree...I don't understand why someone would complain! It is ridiculous. If a man ever brought his baby for a changing or his daughter in to potty I would be more then happy to tell them to come on in. I feel they may be embarrassed more then *I*, in which case I would offer to be of help and let the father wait by the door if he would agree to it.

I think that no matter what man, or woman there are creeps out there,but hopefully having a child with them minimzes that some. It saddens me that there are MUCH bigger things to worry about then having a father allow his daughter to use to correct facilities safely.

To the OP, bring your son as long as you feel the need. I can understand 10, 11, 12 years old then there may be an issue where he would feel better using a men's room, but until then it is your child's safety and I don't mess with that.

 

[Kimmielee]

How would you feel about an adult man bringing in a baby to change in the case that there was no changing table in the mens room, as I described in a previous post? I have been in this situation a few times and did not know what to do. If my son did #1 I just tried to hurry home, but I wasn't about to let my son sit in poop. I'm just curious how we should deal with that situation. Since most places have family restrooms now, it isn't that big a problem, but it does happen.

I think you handled it perfectly. You announced yourself and your intent. The woman's bathroom is completely private and I would NEVER have a problem with this. I'm impressed!!

For me, single Mom.... DS (6) he NEVER goes into the men's room unless it's a single bathroom (some small restaurants have single ones). I hate it that we live in a society that we have to worry about such things, but we do.

What will be the appropriate age? Who knows... I don't see society changing and pedofiles do not have it written across their foreheads or on their backs... so, until my son is old enough to understand and for me to be able to explain it.... he's with me. NO MATTER WHAT!!!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

*REMINDER RE: COMPANION RESTROOMS*

Just remember that the "family restrooms" are actually companion restrooms meant for the disabled, ...

Then why is there a picture of a family on the door outside, a baby changing station & a small, todler sized potty inside like they have in nursery schools if it is ONLY meant for disabled usage.

 

[Downrivermama]

I think it is fine to bring your ds in the ladies room. In this day and age I would be leary of leaving a child alone while I use the ladies or send him in the mens room. I was in a ladies room a while back and a woman brought in her ds 10. He was upset that she made him go in and she told him she didn't care, they were in a big city and she wasn't going to send him in the mens room alone! As long as the stalls have doors, I don't care who comes in!

 

[NotUrsula]

Then why is there a picture of a family on the door outside, a baby changing station & a small, todler sized potty inside like they have in nursery schools if it is ONLY meant for disabled usage.

There isn't, not at WDW, anyway (except in the baby care centers, as I've said already.)

The single-toilet restrooms throughout the parks that were originally referred to in this thread were referred to as "family restroms" in error. The signage at WDW does not look like that or say that. I posted a link to a photo of the signage, and TalkingHands described it: it is a picture of a man, a woman, and a wheelchair. The sink is low with lever handles, and the toilet is tall with grab bars. These restrooms were designed and built with disabled people in mind, not families. That they are useful for certain awkward family-type situations is a nice side-benefit of their existence, but that is not why they are there. They are there because it is federal law that a park this size must have a certain number of accessible sanitary facilities for adults who use wheelchairs.

 

[agnes!]

I think it's fine to bring your DD with you if a man & having to use the men's bathroom and vice versa. Ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do! I also like the idea of scoping out where the Baby Care Centers are in the various parks. Those bathrooms are small, don't have multiple entrances and are geared to families.

agnes!

 

[SueM in MN]

Then why is there a picture of a family on the door outside, a baby changing station & a small, todler sized potty inside like they have in nursery schools if it is ONLY meant for disabled usage.

There are some restrooms in some places that are signed like you describe. There are some at the malls near us that have that signage - those are Family Restrooms, but they are not that way in WDW.
The ones in WDW have a male and female and a wheelchair symbol on the door. The sign says Companion Restroom.

Most of the Companion Restrooms at WDW do not have a baby changing station. They all have the high toilets with grab bars. Some also have a urinal in addition to the toilet.
NONE of the Companion Restrooms at WDW have a toddler sized potty. The only places at WDW where you will find those are in the Baby Care Center.

AS I have already mentioned, a wheelchair doesn't fit inside the handicapped stalls in the regular restrooms at MK and most of the restrooms at Epcot. That means for some people (not limited to people with wheelchairs), the only 6 - 8 toilets in the whole park they can use are the ones in the Companion Restrooms.

 

[Vijoge]

.
AS I have already mentioned, a wheelchair doesn't fit inside the handicapped stalls in the regular restrooms at MK and most of the restrooms at Epcot.

Makes you wonder what they were thinking when they designed them, doesn't it?

I work in, of all places, a nursing home. Each room has a bathroom. However, these bathrooms are way too small to accommodate a wheelchair, patient, and caregiver. They are just wide enough to pull the w/c up to the toilet and reach the grab bars, while the caregiver has to remain outside the bathroom and reach over the back of the w/c to assist with transfers. It's a PITA, unsafe, and stupid.

 

[SueM in MN]

Makes you wonder what they were thinking when they designed them, doesn't it?

I work in, of all places, a nursing home. Each room has a bathroom. However, these bathrooms are way too small to accommodate a wheelchair, patient, and caregiver. They are just wide enough to pull the w/c up to the toilet and reach the grabbars, while the caregiver has to remein outside the bathroom and reach over the back of the w/c to assist with transfers. It's a PITA, unsafe, and stupid.

it's because the people who are designing those things aren't the ones using them. I work in a hospital and some of our patient bathrooms were renovated about 10 years ago to be wheelchair accessible. The toilets are OK, but the sinks were set so far back in the countertop (to avoid people hitting their knees on the pipes), that you can't use the sinks from a wheelchair.
When the ones in MK and Epcot were built a long time ago and they are best suited for someone who can get out of their wheelchair and leave it outside of the stall. Even if my DD did not need my help, in many of the handicapped stalls, her wheelchair needs to be pulled up so that the front of the wheelchair touches the toilet. Then, you can sometimes get the door shut. When she was little (and her wheelchair was tiny), we could sometimes use those stalls, but it's too dangerous now since the wheelchair takes up most of the space. Besides, if the door won't close, she won't use the toilet (don't blame her there - I would not want to use it either).

My other pet peeve is the wheelchair accessible water fountains. To enable a wheelchair to pull up underneath them, most of them have a very shallow place for the water to pool and the fountain part is set close to the front. Which means that getting a drink often involves getting wet.