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

[asianmom]

My 6 y/o son doesn't dare to go to the public toilet alone owing to a bad accident he had when using the loo in his kindergarten a year ago. We've been working on him since but he's still nervous about using the toilet alone in places that's unfamilir to him.We'll be doing our first trip to the World very soon, and as it's going to be just me with dd5 and ds6, I'm beginning to worry about the toilet issue. Would I get dark looks or even be told off if I were to bring my son to the ladies with me?

 

[Tink0374]

I absolutely thing this will be fine. In some cases it is necessary. I went w/o my DH in 2004 with my DS4 and DS8. I insisted that they go into the stall with me. I of course made them turn around while I used the facilities and I showed them the same respect. For safety reasons however I felt this was necessary as I did not want to get seperated. Expecially since quite a few of the restrooms have more than one entrance/exit and it is easy for a child to get turned around. I'm sure there are alot of other parents that feel the same way.

 

[bugbugmom]

It's absolutely okay for your son to accompany you and DD to restroom. My DS5 will never go into a public restroom at this time. Don't worry..have a wonderful trip!

 

[pweyl36]

My oldest son was about 71/2 before I let him go into the mens room by himself. I would tell him to just go in to the stall shut the door,and do not talk to anybody. I was scared,but i stood out side the door.I all so told him to yell if anybody bothers him.If your son doesnt want to go into the mens room thats alright.and who cares what kind of looks you get.he's 6,not 21.what could he see any way he is in a stall.heck,last summer my 3yr old
had to go the bathroom at the beach and they were cleaning the ladies bathroom.so I just walked in to the mens room(very quickly) eyes down straight to the stalls and shut the door.I also apoligizesed to the guys and left. A 3yr old just cant hold it.

 

[asianmom]

thanks for the encouraging words ,TINK0374. Takes a load off my mind.
Also thanks to bugbugmom and pwey136.Wow, you guys are so kind.By the way, I was actually feeling quite small having to ask the question but you know something, pwey136 ? You sure had me feel much much better. Gee, do I like ya.

 

[mrsmiller]

I still take my boys with me to the Women's Bathroom (7 and 8Yrs)
because I do not feel comfortable sending them alone, besides an incident at Target I never had any problems...
Linnette :

 

[ntengwall]

I have 3 boys ages 3 1/2, 7 and 9 and they ALWAYS come in the bathroom with me!! I have heard too many horror stories to put them in a "boys" bathroom by themselves! It's not like they see anything when they come in with me since everything is behind closed doors. If anyone has had a problem with it, they have never said anything and I wouldn't care one bit if they did. The safety of my children ALWAYS comes first!!!

 

[lclark0621]

Granted my DS is only 2.5, BUT...There is no way I would let him go into a public bathroom alone at 6! He will go with DH, or with me at that age.

 

[ntburns22]

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.

 

[frayedend]

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.

The only problem with taking a girl into the mens room is that she is more apt to see "stuff" because of the urinals in the mens room. Since the ladies room has all stalls, the little boys won't see anything and start asking questions (assuming your not ready for these kinds of questions). Other than that, there shouldn't be any reason a dad can't take a daughter to the mens room. What other choice does he have? None really. I would think 6 is still too young to let go into the public bathroom alone, specifically in a crowded place like Disney.

Speaking of bringing kids in the mens room, why is it that most public Mens rooms have no changing tables??? I often tried to take my son to change him, so my wife wouldn't have to do it all the time but at least 90% of the time there was no table. I can't do it with him standing up, my wife is much more talented at that. Anyhow, does Disney have changing tables in the Mens room? I won't need them at this point since he is training, but I am curious.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

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.

I have been in the ladies room on several occaisons where a dad takes a young daughter into the ladies room. I personally don't have a problem with that. When my boys were young I took them into the ladies room with me.

 

[pedro2112]

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.

As other posters have said, there are multiple entrances and exits at Disney Bathrooms.. consequently, I would not let my daughters (ages 7&6) go into the women's bathrooms at Disney alone. I make sure my DW will be with them. If for some reason I am alone with them, I'd take them into the men's room with me as a last resort.

However, I have no problem letting them go by themselves into a bathroom at a restaurant or movie theater here in my hometown.

 

[4greatboys]

There is no way I would let a child his age go into a bathroom alone out in public.
I see lots of kids going in with moms, dont worry about it.

 

[beattyfamily]

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.

This is a tough one for my DH and my DDs. He always used to take them but now they are 6 and 9 and they, and myself and DH all think they're too old, especially the 9 year old.

In an emergency, he would still probably take the 6 year old but I think he just has to send them in the ladies room and wait right outside. Luckily, it hasn't happened in a long time that he's had to take them.

There's just too much they could see and my DH tells me Mens rooms are lots of times pretty GROSS.

Regarding OP, don't worry, moms take boys into the ladies room all the time. Have a great trip.

 

[bellfield349]

My eldest son was 8 before I would let him go in to the toilets by himself and even then I had a bad exp. He was desperate to use toilet at a shopping mall so I allowed him to go in on his own as I had the buggy. He was in there what seemed hours and I asked a gentleman if he could go and check if my son was still in there he said he couldn't see him, I was petrified at the same time a security patrol was walking past and I asked him to go in for me, he brough my son out who was bright red and said mum what was all the worry about I ws having a poo, we had quite a crowd stood round us by this point and everyone just laughed and I felt embarrassed but boy ws I relieved

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

I like the idea of a dad taking a daughter into a women's restroom. My dd is 5 and I do not like for her to go alone. She still goes with dh if it's just the two of them. Not sure how long I'll be comfortable with that b/c of what she may see. Not sure if dh would agree to take her into a women's restroom though.

As for taking sons into a women's rest room, I think it is appropriate. In my mind, safety always trumps nasty looks.

 

[PaulaSue]

OP not from me. IMO it is fine to bring young boys in the ladies room.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Mom to 2 boys - now 11 & 8. Have only just started letting 8 yr old go by himself - usually at least send brother along - but I am like a hawk.

FYI - there are some "Family Restrooms" througout the parks. One giant single bathroom w/baby changing station & an extra "squatty potty" for the little ones. I know there is one at EPCOT in FW at the bathrooms closest to TT & M:S. Not sure about other parks but is probably on guidemaps or you can ask a cm.

 

[frayedend]

I have been in the ladies room on several occaisons where a dad takes a young daughter into the ladies room. I personally don't have a problem with that. When my boys were young I took them into the ladies room with me.

I was at Six Flags New England with my wife and 2 sons. I took my son to the bathroom to change him but there was no changing table. My wife was in another area of the park. I ask an employee if there was a changing table in a mens room and was told no, only the ladies room.

I had no choice so I poked my head in the ladies room and said loudly, "There is a man coming in to change a diaper, is that okay?" Well I got 2 yells back that it was okay, and another that said "honestly go find a mens room" in a very rude voice. I proceeded in and told the woman that she should not complain to me, but to the idiots who design parks and think that only women change their kids diaper. She just shook her head and left. Oh well, what else could I do. Imagine the looks if I changed him on a park bench.

 

[kimmikayb]

I thought there was family restrooms all over the place last time I was there. That would be the best solution.