Question for moms of boys

[Kerri10]

I have a son (almost 5) and we're going to Disney in October. My husband may need to take a day trip to New Orleans during our vacation (work related...he owns his own business so it can't be passed off.) I'll have DS for a full day on my own. My question is, and it seems kind of dumb, if I have to go to the bathroom what do I do with him? he's too old to bring in with me (too many questions) and too young to leave him without me. I don't know what to do.

 

[powellrj]

I have a son (almost 5) and we're going to Disney in October. My husband may need to take a day trip to New Orleans during our vacation (work related...he owns his own business so it can't be passed off.) I'll have DS for a full day on my own. My question is, and it seems kind of dumb, if I have to go to the bathroom what do I do with him? he's too old to bring in with me (too many questions) and too young to leave him without me. I don't know what to do.

There have been threads before about people that take boys as old as 12 into the womens restroom at WDW. Unless it bothers you, nobody would think anything about having a 5 yr old in with you.

 

[bzzymom]

I took DS into woman's restroom at WDW. I didn't even think twice about it.

 

[Stephres]

You can have him stand outside the stall while you go. That way you can see his feet but he can't see you. HTH!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

My DS just turned 5 and if DH is not with me he comes in the bathroom with me. He is very well mannered and doesn't oogle anyone or lay in the floor (blech!) or even peek through the doors. (Some people complain about kids doing that) I wouldn't worry about it. Take him with you and don't give it a second thought.

BTW- My 5 year old looks about 7 years old.

 

[Mkrop]

At 5 he would come in with me. I consider that too young to go by themselves but others think differently but I do what I think is best for my boys. I teach them to be very well behaved. At WDW there are many companion/family restrooms, that I believe you can spot on a map. I know I used them near Buzz Lightyear in MK, and near TT in Epcot. I am sure there are others but DH was with us most of the time, I only had to use these when DH and DS9 were on the rides and DS4 and I were waiting. DS4 also looks older than 4 but he is coming in with me if there is not a family restroom. What do you do when you are at the mall?

 

[Poohbear77]

There are "family" bathrooms in the parks with only one stall. I would just take him in there with you. Most places had these right next to the regular bathrooms.

 

[LilGMom]

My oldest ds just turned six and when I am out with him and his younger brother (2) without dh my ds goes into the restroom with me. He gets his own stall and I stand outside while he uses it and then when it is my turn he stands outside facing the door with his feet under the door so I can see him. When we are in WDW we will use the companion (aka family) restrooms and ds will face the door while I use the restroom. Most women/girls that are in the bathroom will think nothing of seeing a boy that young in the restroom with his mom.

 

[twinspluscade]

I have a son (almost 5) and we're going to Disney in October. My husband may need to take a day trip to New Orleans during our vacation (work related...he owns his own business so it can't be passed off.) I'll have DS for a full day on my own. My question is, and it seems kind of dumb, if I have to go to the bathroom what do I do with him? he's too old to bring in with me (too many questions) and too young to leave him without me. I don't know what to do.

I wouldn't even consider sending my 5 year old in the bathroom alone at our local Target store, let alone Disney. Bring him in with you--no one with think a thing of it for a kid that age. Now, if he was 10/11/12, you might get some funny looks.

If it bothers you to have him in the actual stall with you, then have him stand just outside your stall so you can see his feet. Or, if he has to go, have him go in the stall next to yours, and tell him to stay there until you are done.

 

[GEM]

I have a 4 year old boy, too. He comes in with me. No question!

 

[tweedlemom]

I bring my DS4 and DS5 in with me.

 

[Kerri10]

Thanks everyone. I have no problem bringing him into the ladies room, I just didn't want to bring him into the stall with me while I go to the bathroom and didn't know what to do with him if i'm in there.

 

[momxx5]

My new thing that I recently started because I cannot fit all 3 of us....DD8, DD5 and myself into a stall.

#1 check to see if there is a companion or family bathroom. Almost everywhere I went had them.

#2 take him in with you

#3 - this is my new thing.... While I am in the stall, I have both girls stand in front of the stall with at least one if not both feet tucked under the door so I can "see" them. I also have them sing, usually ABCs, or I talk to them the whole time, asking them tons of questions, that way I "hear" them also.

It works. They are happy and know I'm right there and I know where they are.

Personally I do not think a 5 yr old is too old to be in a bathroom. I think safety first.
Also, as my boys got older I let them use the men's room (in pairs) and talked to them through the doorway.

 

[brymolmom]

Man - you must get WAY more privacy at home than I do.

We have mostly an open-door policy here at home. My 5 year old ds and 3 year old dd frequently come into the bathroom while I'm in there for questions or comments or help or just to talk.

I'm TRYING to get out of it, but I figure he's seen it since birth - so it's not that weird to him now. Not a big deal.

I usually wait outside the stall while ds goes and then he waits outside the stall (depending how crowded it is and how comfortable I am with him even being outside the door) while I go when we're in public.

 

[pednurse]

When my DS was younger I did one of 2 things....he would either come into the stall with me and face the door (away from me) or he would stand outside the door close enough that I could always see his feet under the door. Always worked for us. Have a fun trip!

 

[crisi]

Thanks everyone. I have no problem bringing him into the ladies room, I just didn't want to bring him into the stall with me while I go to the bathroom and didn't know what to do with him if i'm in there.

When my kids got to "that age" I'd have them stand where I could see their shoes under the stall. Then we'd switch (because they wanted their PRIVACY too) so they could see Mommy's shoes. Granted, if you are very very risk adverse, you aren't doing much with your shorts around your ankles and the door closed if those shoes disappear.

 

[LuvOrlando]

One time at WDW I witnessed a Mom put each of her 2 kids into their own stalls. Then she took the third available. The kids were told not to leave the stall until she knocked or called for them. The 2 kids stood in their own stalls safely until Mom called for them to meet her at the sink when she was done. I thought it was pure genius... I didn't tell her but if she's on the DIS here is a huge thanks to you

Once my DS was too old to take in with me I started doing the same thing and it works just fine for us. Every once in a while I come across a place with only 1 stall and we all come in with everyone who isn't going facing a corner so as to give the other person privacy.

 

[TinkerValkyrie]

I take my 4.5 year old(who looks like he's 5 or 6) into the bathroom with me all the time. We've never gotten any weird looks. He usually takes his own stall unless there's a line.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

One time at WDW I witnessed a Mom put each of her 2 kids into their own stalls. Then she took the third available. The kids were told not to leave the stall until she knocked or called for them. The 2 kids stood in their own stalls safely until Mom called for them to meet her at the sink when she was done. I thought it was pure genius... I didn't tell her but if she's on the DIS here is a huge thanks to you

Once my DS was too old to take in with me I started doing the same thing and it works just fine for us. Every once in a while I come across a place with only 1 stall and we all come in with everyone who isn't going facing a corner so as to give the other person privacy.

I do this as well. We can't all fit in one stall.

 

[hebbynan]

My oldest DS is 7 and looks to be about 11. He is very big for his age. Nowadays you just can't be too sure about safety. As far as his going to the bathroom, I stand outside the mens room while he goes in. Once he comes out, I take him in with me and DS3. DS7 usually stands facing the corner near the papertowels or hand dryers. He waits there for me until DS3 and I are done. I do get "the look" some times from people, but it's usually older woman and I look at it this way......I'd rather be safe than sorry! You just never know.