Question for moms of boys

[lori123]

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.

I make DS show me his feet/foot under the stall while I am going.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Just yesterday I had DS6 and DS3 in the Target womens bathroom with me. told the boys to stand quietly on the outside of my stall and wait there. Don't see it as an issue, I'm not leaving my kids outside by themselves just in case someone might be offended. ANd if they are offended........I'm sure they'd get over it.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

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.

PRIVACY??? What's that???? My son follows me everywhere. Dh sometimes isn't too far behind.

I don't have problems with DS who's almost 4 seeing things or asking questions about our bodies. I don't want my kids to be ashamed of their bodies. Dh & I still will throw DS into the shower with us in the mornings. For us it's all about convenience and so this morning after DH went to work, DS and I took our shower. My parents did the same thing with us when we were that age. It won't last too long as the shower is getting too small for an adult and kiddo. I'm sure some of you think we're gross. It's just the way Europeans do things where my family is from. I still have family in Eastern Europe that don't have bathrooms with showers and bathtubs but instead of saunas and the whole family goes out to the sauna once a week to wash.

So to get back to the point, I'd take him in the bathroom with me in a heartbeat. But if you are uncomfortable then I like the idea of him standing facing the door from the outside of the stall to where you can see his feet. My DS however wouldn't sit still enough to follow those directions.

 

[Ms.Grumpy]

DS4 goes with me into the bathroom. While I am in the stall I sing songs with him to know he is still there.

 

[wannago2disney]

my DS is 4...will be 5 end of next Feb.

all I gotta say is .... my baby stays with me....doesn't matter if I get a funny look, or nasty glance...there are too many unfortunately nasty people out there and yes they even could be at WDW...better to be safe than sorry.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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.

I agree. My DS9 is very big too, only about 3 inches shorter than me. It is very rare that I'll get a look. But, when & if it does happen I just look the person up & down and then settle on her shoes and crinkle my nose a bit. It always makes other women uneasy so off they go... probably to inspect their shoes

Can you tell I went to an all girls HS

 

[bellebud]

are you ok w/ him being in a family restroom w/ you, facing the wall to give you privacy?

 

[KteaRN]

I agree w/ the PP, and have one thing to add. Besides worrying about DS in the bathroom, at DIsney there are bathrooms with more than one exit! Its sometimes hard for adults to remember which way they came in, never mind a kid who's not paying attention, just running in to pee, and then hurry to get back out to the rides & the action!

I have two toddlers, so they obviously come with me, and my 14.5yo DS goes by himself, but I know for a long time I had him come in with me.

 

[luvthattink]

I have 3 sons and my oldest will be 8 in November and my other is 6. When I am by myself with them they always come with me. There are way too many creeps out there for me to take any chances b/c someone things my kids too old. They go in there own stalls and go and we too meet at the sink when I'm finished.

 

[weldon1]

My son just turned 11 in July, he is very small for his age. I still take him with me if there is no one to stay outside the restroom with him.

We were just at disney last week and I posted this question before we left. We did use the family restroom once but I personally prefer taking him into the women's restroom for more privacy.

Luckily my children are older I also have 10 & 11 year old daughters so we were able to rotate who stayed outside the restroom with my son. That being said, I would never send him into a men's restroom by himself or leave him outside the women's restroom alone.

When my children were younger I always used the feet under the door to make sure I knew exactly where they were.

 

[Hannathy]

My son just turned 11 in July, he is very small for his age. I still take him with me if there is no one to stay outside the restroom with him.

You have got to be kidding me An 11 yr old boy in the ladies room! Yeah that's just what I want my 9 yr old girl who is where she belongs to have to deal with. That is a problem waiting to happen, 11 and 12 yr old kids have been arrested for molesting little ones you know. An 11 yr old does not belong in the opposite sex's bathroom. I don't want my small children dealing with almost teens-talk about problems. He is in middle school and he can't go to the bathroom by himself! They have had sex ed by then they know what is going on, they have hormones, they are starting to like girls and girls that age are dealing with periods and they really want a boy their age in there watching them. I think it is time you let him grow up. My son would have refused to go in and rightly so.

I would definitely say something to you in fact I would probably call a CM that there was an inappropriate male in the womens room and I want him out.

Yes LITTLE boys belong with a parent. Pre-teens belong in the bathroom for their sex.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Ok. Lets be nice. EVery 11 year old is differnt as well as every family situation.

OP-Absolutly take your little boy into the ladies room with you. If you are comfortable, i see no reason not to take him into the stall but if your are not comfortable I agree with the toes under the stall or have him using the stall next to use with the rule to wait for you & not come out till you call him. Companion bathroom may work but it is too much trouble to have to locate one. Also nice are the baby stations.


I let DS go alone for the first time at WDW at 9. He was very mature and I felt ok with it. Other places it was a little later. My sisiter and i were traveling with our boys when they were about 12 and had to stop at a not so secure rest stop. We checked the womens room to see that it was clear and then sent them in and waited at the door and explained to the two women that came in what we were doing. They were mom's and totaly understood.
Of course that would not work at WDW but just a example of doing what is best for your child!!

HAVE A GREAT TRIP.

 

[weldon1]

To the very rude poster: Grow up and next time read the entire post! I never said I took him into the women's restroom but yes I would if there was no one to stand outside with him. By the way, how do you feel about kidnappers and perverts? Personally my son's safety comes first!

 

[Hannathy]

To the very rude poster: Grow up and next time read the entire post! I never said I took him into the women's restroom but yes I would if there was no one to stand outside with him. By the way, how do you feel about kidnappers and perverts? Personally my son's safety comes first!

First I wasn't rude. I stated my opinion emphatically yes but not rudely. Second but you did say "I still take him in with me" so yes you did say you take him in with you.

As far as your perverts and kidnappers comment perhaps I feel the same way about my daughter and since there have been many instances in the news lately about 11 and 12 yr olds kidnapping and hurting small children I think my concerns are as legit as yours. If he is so immature he can't go in alone then take him to the family bathrooms because as you say my child's safety comes first and my DD isn't safe in a bathroom alone with pre-teen boys.

 

[Suzanna1973]

Almost 5 is not too old to go into the restroom with Mom in a public restroom. With all the crazies out there, I took my son in with me until he was 7!

 

[flynnmnstr]

Last trip he was 4.5 and for anyone in the Tusker House bathroom on 4/28/06 around 10am- he was the one asking me (in a very LOUD voice) where my ***** was?!?!?!?

We are leaving in 11 DAYS!!!

DH will be at conference for 1st three days and I will be taking both the boys in the bathroom with me.

BTW- why does it seem lately that every post lately is getting ugly? I've been apart of these boards for about 7 years. I just do not understand why it always have to be bashing another's parenting decisions. I don't think I would let my 11 year old go in the bathroom by himself in a theme park, so if DH wasn't there then I would absolutely take him in with me. If another visitor called a CM, I would simply respond by saying unless you can 100% ensure my son's safety in going into a public restroom by himself then I will be taking him in the woman's room with me. Since I would be supervising him in the woman's room I would make sure he didn't kidnap or molest any young girls while he was in there.

 

[Mkrop]

First I wasn't rude. I stated my opinion emphatically yes but not rudely. Second but you did say "I still take him in with me" so yes you did say you take him in with you.

As far as your perverts and kidnappers comment perhaps I feel the same way about my daughter and since there have been many instances in the news lately about 11 and 12 yr olds kidnapping and hurting small children I think my concerns are as legit as yours. If he is so immature he can't go in alone then take him to the family bathrooms because as you say my child's safety comes first and my DD isn't safe in a bathroom alone with pre-teen boys.

If he is in there with his mom I dont think he will have an opportunity to be a risk to your DD.

Warning moms to boys put on your flame retardant suits, this thread had been nice....all of us who are "overprotective" will get bashed. Am I overprotective , NO, I am just the right amount protective!

 

[larklynn]

I have a 6 year old ds and a 13 year old ds with disabilities I truly look for a family bathroom but if not I take them with me ( NO flames please) the mens bathrooms are way more open and unless I know no one is in there I refuse to send them alone. Thank god for family bathrooms because although my older son has cerebral palsey you can't always tell until he talks or if he is sick and drewling more or shaking and you can get quite the looks.

 

[GEM]

If he is so immature he can't go in alone then take him to the family bathrooms because as you say my child's safety comes first and my DD isn't safe in a bathroom alone with pre-teen boys.

I think she's pretty safe if the hormone-driven monster in question is in there with his mom.

 

[CJ's Mommy]

I would just take him with me in the women's room. IMO, 5 is NOT too old to be in the ladies room. Anything that goes on in there that you may not want to explain, happens privately in the stalls, so what's the big deal? Just have him stand oustide your stall while you do your business and that's it. No biggie! He'll be fine, and have fun!!