Moms Please Help

[mickeyfan82]

I'm taking my 9 year old DNeph2b to MNSSHP and the parks on Saturday. I'm not sure what to do about the restroom situation because I don't feel comfortable letting him go in the Men's restroom alone. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) At nine-years-old, let him go alone.
2) At Disney, it won't be a problem.
3) Nothing worse than going into the Ladies Room with an aunt or mom.
4) LITTLE BOYS HAVE EGOS AND PRIDE, TOO.

 

[AU Tigger]

Disney has Family or Companion restrooms in places, I think. Look on a map when you get there. Having raised 3 boys, I completely understand your concern. Little egos or not, safety is the primary thing! But check out the family restoom thing.

 

[Whosemom]

when you check back in a day, you'll be astounded at the heat generated by your question! I promise.

You do your best, and that's probably going to be the family restrooms, and it may tic someone off. Nine only looks old enough to go into a crowded public place alone if you don't have a 9 yr old. Especially if there is more than one door.

 

[ILVPOOH]

He should be fine at age 9. I have two 9 year old boys. They know not to talk with anyone in the bathroom.

 

[Wendi2000]

You might want to ask his parents what they would do first and take it from there.

Personally, I would take him into the ladies' room with me! I wouldn't have an issue at all seeing a 9-year-old boy in there, he's still young enough. I have issues with sending young ones into bathrooms alone, maybe I'm paranoid, but oh well.

 

[loriandmatt]

if you feel uncomforatable letting him go into the mens room alone (a topic which i will not get sucked into the debate upon).....take him to the companion/family bathrooms and let him go in alone while you stand outside the door. it will only be him in there and there is only one way in/out. he will be safe and secure and you won't have to go in with, him which he may be uncomfortable with.

 

[dreamergirl78]

Do whatever you are most comfortable with. Play each situation by ear and see what is going on. I agree, if there are two exit doors I would be concerned with that as well. My son is 8 1/2 and he hates going in with me. And most of the time I am ok with him going alone. HOWEVER if I did not feel comfortable I would make him go in with me. You do what works for you!

 

[PrincessPaczki]

They have companion restrooms. I can relate after having 2 boys of my own.

Interesting story: My DH went into a restroom in Epcot to witness a 6 year boy drop his gum on the restroom floor, look at it and put it back in his mouth. My husband noticed that there was No father with him so told his mom about the gum when he got outside. She immediately scooped it out of his mouth. 6 and alone in a restroom!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

if you feel uncomforatable letting him go into the mens room alone (a topic which i will not get sucked into the debate upon).....take him to the companion/family bathrooms and let him go in alone while you stand outside the door. it will only be him in there and there is only one way in/out. he will be safe and secure and you won't have to go in with, him which he may be uncomfortable with.

This is the very thing I would do. I don't really like going into the women's bathroom and seeing a boy of 9, but I understand why some feel they have to bring them in. Safety first.

I don't expect anything bad to happen at Disney, but I'm not dumb enough to believe it is Utopia either.

As far as the debate, this board sure does find the smallest thing to debate, doesn't it? Maybe we should bring back the debate board so all those who love to do that can get it out of their system over there.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

1) At nine-years-old, let him go alone.
2) At Disney, it won't be a problem.
3) Nothing worse than going into the Ladies Room with an aunt or mom.
4) LITTLE BOYS HAVE EGOS AND PRIDE, TOO.

Ask his mother what she does at home when they are out in public.

I have a DS9. I will now let him go alone & am totally comfortable with that choice.

Keep in mind that I would have no problem announcing myself & going in after him, or calling his name if I felt the need.

Also, be aware of the 2 entrances not only due to something sinister but kids can get turned around.

 

[hezreck]

I as a grown woman and mother would have no problem seeing a nine year old boy in the women's restroom, BUT my nine year old DD would have fit if she saw a boy in there. She would not use the restroom and we would have to bring her back later. She's at the age where she is starting to notice boys a little and would be horrified to have a boy in there. I'm sure the boy would be a little embarrassed too.

 

[TinaLala]

FAMILY RESTROOMS are definitely at Disney. My husband and I used them when our youngest was still in diapers. Instead of splitting up we would use the family rooms.

 

[mamacatnv]

You might want to ask his parents what they would do first and take it from there.

Personally, I would take him into the ladies' room with me! I wouldn't have an issue at all seeing a 9-year-old boy in there, he's still young enough.

An adult may not care, but my DD 8 would be having fits, there comes a point when the kids need to use their own facilities. Everyones point is different, but I can see the look of horror on her face if a boy came walking into the ladies room and he was her size or bigger ..........oh dear..........

If his parents let him go alone, think of the mortification of having to go to the bathroom in the ladies room with his Auntie.......

Park yourself outside the men's room door and talk to him if it makes you feel better.

 

[mickeyfan82]

Thank you all for your replies, I only have neices on my side of the family but my dneph2b and I are really close. I am going to talk to his mother and see what she says. I am not trying to start a debate so lets not let this turn into one. I definately will not take him in the ladies room as I don't want to make anyone's DD or anyone else uncomfortable or embarrass him, so more than likely the companion restrooms will be it.

 

[shyjade]

As the mother of an 8 year old girl, I vote for "let him go in the men's room alone" yet stand outside the exits. My DD would freak if a 9 year old boy was in the stall next to her.

And likewise, when my DD is visiting her dad and needs to use a public restroom, I would not expect (or want him to) take her into the men's room with him. He stands outside the women's bathroom and waits for her.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I experienced this this summer. I brought 2 boys and my daughter to church camp. On the way we stopped at a service station to use the bathroom. I let the 2 boys go in together and told them to stand in the hall and wait for us when they were done, and not to leave that spot under any circumstances. I was terrified someone was going to snatch them and I was going to have to tell their parents, I let their children get kidnapped. Thank goodness, they were both in the hall when we were done!

I think I would feel better at Disney letting him go by himself. Just make sure there is only one exit.

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

I have a son who is 9 and I let him make the decision at familiar places with one way in and out. At wdw he will go in with my husband mostly because it is an unfamiliar place. However, if my husband is not around, he will go in with me. There are stalls so I cant imagine anyone saying anything. If I saw a 9 year old boy in the restroom I would not think anything about it.

 

[hygienejean]

I am a mom of a 6 yr old boy. I wouldn't mind one bit if I saw a 9 yr old boy in the ladies room. I certainly understand and I think most people would understand too. Do what you are most comfortable with...

 

[Minnie's Mate]

1) At nine-years-old, let him go alone.
2) At Disney, it won't be a problem.
3) Nothing worse than going into the Ladies Room with an aunt or mom.
4) LITTLE BOYS HAVE EGOS AND PRIDE, TOO.

:Nine only looks old enough to go into a crowded public place alone if you don't have a 9 yr old. Especially if there is more than one door.

He should be fine at age 9. I have two 9 year old boys. They know not to talk with anyone in the bathroom.

I think I would feel better at Disney letting him go by himself. Just make sure there is only one exit.

Kidnapping is not the only issue in Men's room for little boys.
First off read my forum name carefully...I am Minnie's Mate as in Mickey!
Several years ago I took my then 4 year old son into the men's room between Adventure Land and Frontier Land. He was just old enough to reach the short urinals and he got there first and I was heading to the one next to him. There was a man at one of the urinals on the opposite wall and another man walking toward us from the far end of the line. The man walking down the row of urinals all but stuck his head into the urinal with them man that was taking a leak! Needless to say I didn't start using the restroom 'till he left the restroom and didn't leave my son's side. Was he gay, probably? Was he a pervert? In my mind, yes (Flame me if you will, but straight men are freaked out by such!). Was he a pedifile? Probably not, but he could have been. And that is the danger in public men's rooms for 9 year old boys.

We will let our now 9 year old son go to the rest room in restaurants in our home town without me? Yes. Not that it is necessarily safer than any other place, but we are always where we can keep an eye on who's coming and going while he's in there. Will we let him go to the rest room at Disney World by himself? NO! Does he go into the ladies' room with my wife at Disney World when I am not around? Much to his chagrin, yes.

A good friend of mine was propositioned several years ago in a men's room(adult man, father of two high school age children at the time). Anything can, and sometimes does, happen in there. A nine year old might be too frightened or embarassed to tell you if it did until it's too late to do anything about it. As advised, stick with the family restrooms.