Restroom question for MOm and Son

[CindyZMomof3]

In late August I will be in WDW alone with my 8yoDS. I am concerned about the restroom issue. He is at the age where going into the Ladies room simply mortifies him, but there is no way I will send him in the men's room alone, or leave him alone while I go in. Are there family restrooms around the world?

Any other tips?

Thank you,
Cindy Z in CT

 

[Terry S]

There are now serveral familiy restrooms located in the parks. It is wonderful. Mind you it is one big room so your son will see you using the restroom and vice versa.

 

[WDSearcher]

Yes, there are family restrooms in many restroom locations. But your son should also realize that he won't be the only 8yo boy in the women's rest rooms! I see young boys in there all the time.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Family restrooms are great--

I wouldn't trust him alone yet in the men's room personally--but I just have dd's.

Family restrooms are 1 bathroom and he can lock the door to use it privately with you right outside.

You can ask at guest services which locations have the family rr's if it isn't clearly marked on the map.

Also--there are "companion restrooms" which are the same thing. Just check your guide map or with guest services.

 

[CindyZMomof3]

Well,
I really like the idea that I can stand right outside the restroom with him inside; however it will not work for me to go. I don't think we'd be comfortable with him in there with me during and I'm uncomfortable leaving him outside the restroom while I go. I guess i'm going to have to "hold it".

At my local mall there is a family restroom that is a big room with a few stalls in it. That's more what I'm looking for. I wonder what other "single" mom's do?

~Cindy Z

 

[missyc]

My kids go in.....no option. My DS is 10 1/2...poor thing! Good thing he looks MUCH younger! He is terrified at Wal-Mart, movies, etc that he'll run into a friend from school! Too bad, I've heard too many horror stories and my kids won't turn into one of them because of something I can control. When are they old enough to in alone? I remember the sad story of a 12 year old boy who was raped and murdered in a public restroom. Sometimes I let my DS and DNephew go in together...but first I check to make sure it is empty. They bolt right out of there if someone comes in before they leave.

 

[panfan]

My ds will be eight on our next trip too. I still don't have a problem bringing him into the ladies room with me anywhere. It's just not safe yet to leave him alone outside. ( the mall, movies, etc.) I also am not yet uncomfortable "going" in front of him. I don't make a big deal about it and either does he....it's not like he even pays attention to what is going on ! So the single family restroom works for us but again..if thats not available I certainly would not have a problem bringing him into the regular one !

 

[saymama]

I say bring him in with you. Have him stand right outside your door. When you are finished, he can go in. I promise you there are other mothers in there with will do or have done the same. He's not gonna see anyone undressed or even anyone he knows. This will be a great learning lesson for him. Of course he'll tease about how he was tormented as a child when he's 30, but that's part of making parents feel guilty. You can just tell him that at least he's alive to remember the ladies bathroom!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The family restroom is just one bathroom--you open the door and there it is--when I suggested waiting outside--it is just like standing in front of the stall itself--or outside the bathroom door in your own home...

Make sense?

Sorry for the confusion--I don't suggest sending him into a large restroom alone.


Worst case--go to the mother baby stations---sounds silly--

BUT--they are staffed with CMs and they are indoor lounges with one restroom with a door--your son can "hang" with the cast member while you do your business.

He may not chronologically be a baby--but he's still your baby

 

[panfan]

I forgot about the baby-stations! That would be perfect for you if you are uncomfortable "going" in front of him...They even have tv's in there ( disney movies of coarse!) but he could just relax while you do what you have to and then his turn !

Whatever you decide...Enjoy your Trip !!

 

[TwingleMum]

Two Suggestions - 1). Take him in the Ladies room. I know its a little embarrassing for him but chances are there will be other boys in there with their Moms so he shouldn't feel too out of place. 2). If he goes in the mens room stand near the door and have him either say the alphabet out loud or recite the pledge (something - anything) Tell him if he stops or you can't hear him you're coming in. Thats his choices. Tell him his safety is very important to you and even big boys need to be careful. Good Luck.

 

[Terry S]

I just take both my son - 8 and daughter - 6 into the family restroom with me. They really don't make a big deal about it and my son kind of just turns around while I am "going". I don't tell him to or anything, he just does it.

 

[kilee]

My son is now 11 (so he's alittle older). Anyhow it was only up until about 18 months ago that he had to go in the room with me, then stand outside the stall where I could see his feet. That is if we were in places like WDW.

In March, we separated from DH & MIL a lot at the parks. So I was posed w/ this question once again. It was really hard. See I'd use the family room, tell him to turn his back and close his eyes. But he flat out refused!!!! So, we found restrooms that were in quiet locations and only had 1 entrance/exit. Then he'd go, while I waited. Then if I had to go-- I rushed!!! He waited right at the entrance. He was told to come in and scream loudly if anyone did anything. Poor kid, a CM could of said "HI" and he'd probably come running. It was nerve racking, but the choices were limited. I guess there just gets to be a point, that I have to allow him to grow up alittle, but like I said, he's a bit older than your son in question here. At 8 yrs old, he would of been coming in no doubt about it!!!

 

[MamaKate]

I'm a single mother of 2 (DS 8 1/2 & DD 7). I've been a single mom since my son was 3 & still take him into the restroom with me.

There have always been other boys in the restroom so he never felt uncomfortable.

Until a couple of weeks ago we were at Disneyland and this girl around 10 years old said outloud "Mom, there's a boy in here!".

Well my son got embarrassed and felt like he had been doing something wrong his whole life. I explained there is nothing wrong, but he still gets worried.

I'm going to try the baby center on our next trip if we are in that area.

 

[connie254]

Well, I've my DS in the bathrooms everytime we go down. He was 6 at the youngest,10 at the last trip. Now he wants to go in the men's room (13 years old), but my boyfriend will be coming this time, so I don't have to worry.

That said the way to do it, hold his hand(don't care what he says-it is mandatory), make a beeline for two stalls next to each other-you both have one -do your business, wash your hands and leave. Look at the maps and figure out where they all are, so you can find a less-populated in a hurry. I forgot to mention my son has autism and this is the only way I would allow it since the first time at WDW, he was non-verbal. I never got a dirty look-probably because of the hand-holding and the way I talked to him-simple and direct.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

One thing that I read on a similar thread (an uncle was bringing his neice) was to use the restroom in a full-serve restaurant at WDW. That way there would be employees around, unlike at the regular restrooms.

I'm going this fall with only my 4yo, who thankfully is still young enough to go into the stall with me. I might bring my 11yo alone this winter and I would probably be comfortable having him wait just outside the restroom entrance. It's a rough situation for the in-between years.

T&B

 

[missyc]

Standing just outside the restroom is ok with me to....sometimes. And also the super busy places with SO many people in them. What worries me even more are the public restrooms at other places, like around home & in stores where there might only be that 1 other person. At least at a really crowded place there are many, many others in there. Oh, and my son & nephew know not to use the urinals, only private stalls. This is all on the rare occassion that they actually go in the mens room.

 

[CindyZMomof3]

Thank you for all the tips. After reading I did realize that this would be much tougher with an adult male alone with a young lady. It's much better for a boy to go in a Women's restroom because we're all behind stalls! Unlike those gentlemen.

~Cindy Z