Should I take my 10 yr old son in the ladies restroom?

[MichelleVW]

I am not yet at the point of taking an older child into the restroom, but that question is the first thing that popped into my head. If mother has to use the restroom, is she supposed to leave her 10 year old outside the restroom until she is done? I .

If it were me, I would leave him standing right outside the bathroom door. I'm sure that's what my ex husband did with my daughters when he was traveling alone with them. He surely didn't take them in with him.

yeah....things can happen, but honestly how long are you in a bathroom?? I can't see anything bad happening OUTSIDE a bathroom at Disney or an airport where there is security everywhere.

 

[lillygator]

I'm sure if someone saw a single man or woman come out of a companion bathroom, that would be another whole thread, about "who do we think we are...using bathrooms that are meant for parents and children!!"

Can't win either way...

exactly - "we" can't either.

 

[LOLA2]

Wow. That was a little over the top.

Adult women often are not the only ones in ladies restrooms. Like some other posters have mentoined, there are also young girls that have to use these restrooms who may feel uncomfortable seeing boys the same age as they in the bathroom. 10 yrs. is getting to about that age IMO. Should there be no concern or respect for the girls' privacy? Also, for women of certain cultures, it would simply not be allowed for them to use the restroom in the presence of a male, any age. We must respect the beliefs of others.

Since safety is of utmost importance, I think that if it is necessary for a 10 yr. old boy to be brought into the ladies room, then that is what needs to happen. You just gotta do what you gotta do to protect your children. I would just say take care to afford the other women and girls as much privacy as possible. And if you have other options, certainly try to go with those.

I am curious how fathers who are out in public alone with their daughters handle this situation, as it is not appropriate to take young girls into the men's room with them. I would like to know what they do about having to leave their daughters to go use the facilities, and why would the same practice not work for the little boys too?

Yes I guess some people might see it as over the top. My daughter is 11 and she had a problem with a 10 yo boy standing in the entrance of the bathroom i would explain to her why that most likely is happening and I am positive she would be understaning. I'ts not like girls are in plain view peeing in front of everyone! I am sure a young lady would get over it, especially if they would like to grow up being parents that are concerned for their kids safetly, they should treat it as a life lesson.

 

[mrzrich]

As the mother of an Autistic son who "looks normal" but has the maturity of a 3 year old, I am concerned about the way certain posters have stated that there is "no good reason" for a 10 yr old boy to be in a women's room. If you saw my son in the bathroom, you would not know he was handicapped, and I hate to think that I am making you or your preteen daughter uncomfortable, but sometimes we gotta use the ladies room.

We try to use companion bathrooms when available, and I must say, I'm getting good at knowing exactly where they are in WDW, but, they are not always nearby, and my son is still potty training (remember how quickly you had to run to the potty with your 3 yr old?) So we gotta use the ladies room.

 

[Fredd's Girl]

If 10 isn't too old, how old do you have to be? I'm not trying to be a pain, but parents do have the options of companion/family bathrooms.

It's not an attack to anyone's parenting, and I don't think anyone is trying to put children in danger, but there is a reason that there are not unisex bathrooms all over the place. Would you feel better if there were?

And I agree, it might be a whole different discussion if it was a father wanting to take his 10 year old daughter into the mens bathroom.

 

[CathrynRose]

Yes I guess some people might see it as over the top. My daughter is 11 and she had a problem with a 10 yo boy standing in the entrance of the bathroom i would explain to her why that most likely is happening and I am positive she would be understaning. I'ts not like girls are in plain view peeing in front of everyone! I am sure a young lady would get over it, especially if they would like to grow up being parents that are concerned for their kids safetly, they should treat it as a life lesson.

I have agreed 100% with every one of your posts, within this thread.

I also cannot believe how *worked up* someone would get about their child using the opposite sex facilities so the parent could keep and eye on their safety.

Good Lord people.... talk about uptight.

 

[disneynewbee]

All the folks that are defending taking an older boy into the ladies room are talking about grown women not caring- WHAT about the other girls I really don't think a 12 yr old girl would be very happy about a boy that age watching her or for her age worse, hearing her in the bathroom, or what about 13,14 any teen? Where are they supposed to go? I still say 10 is to old in any circumstance to be in a womens bathroom and yes I have children and have travelled with boys and NEVER took them in the BR at 10! I would not appreciate sending my 10 yr old girl in alone and finding out later that there was an older boy in there.Not appropriate.

I'm a mother of a 12yo girl and I know she would be less then thrilled to find a boy that old in the ladies room. However being a mother I would rather see my dd uncomfortable than have another womans child injured or killed. As long as he waits just inside the door I really would not have a problem with it, his mother would be in the restroom so I'm sure he would not be acting up. I don't let my dd go into the restroom alone so I can't expect a mother of a boy to send her son in alone. Of course me and dh tend to be on the peranoid side, our motto is better safe then sorry.

 

[BTown]

Dear God, the boy is 10 years old. If you ask me, that's far too old to be going into the ladies restroom with thier mother. I honestly dont think you will have anything to worry about, especially at Disney, or at the airport either. And, I'm sure your son wont be too thrilled about having to go to the bathroom with his mom.

 

[DISUNC]

This question comes up from time to time and is as HOT as reusing refillable mugs from years gone by and Pool hopping! Not to mention using 'expired' Fast Passes!

Why is it deemed 'OK" for a Mom to bring a her son into a Womans rest room, and not deemed 'OK' for a Dad to bring a daughter into rest room?????????????

I am sure the 10 year old goes to the restroom by himself while in school....he will be fine going by himself in WDW! In fact HE will be MUCH better off going to a mens room by himself!!!!! TRUST ME...I had a mother who did this to me until I was 7 and it was HUMILIATING! Just wait outside..He will be fine!

 

[DisneyGirl]

1. At DisneyWorld, you have the option of the family bathrooms.

2. Someone posted way above that at the airport, you can have your child sit by the desk with the flight attendants, and ask them to keep an eye on your son. This is done all the time, since children often travel alone.

Alternatively, as you are an adult, you can go before you leave, and then hold it until you get on the plane (or until you get to the hotel when you land)

Therefore, there is absolutely no reason to make other people feel uncomfortable. You are not more important then them. If you think you are, then perhaps you should put off going to Disney until your son is old enough that you feel comfortable allowing him to stay by himself. I'm not being smart here-- that is what I would do if I knew I was making other people uncomfortable. My wants don't come first.

Don't ask a question if you don't want opinions from both sides.

 

[Spartan]

As a dad, can't you just let the boy sit on one of the lounge chairs or couches that you ladies get in your bathrooms? I haven't personally spent any time in the ladies room, but I've always assumed there was some sort of lounge in there based on how long my wife would be in there at times

I have a 5yo son so I've never actually even given this much thought, but I now I also have 2 daughters on the way soon. I'm already dreading this situation with them. I will be informing my wife tonight that she will always need to go out in public with us for this very reason. Or I could be really cruel and make my son escort them into the men's room when he is like 15 and they are like 10.

 

[learnhome]

I think 10 is too old to be in the women's restroom, but that's just my opinion.

I can respect your opinion, however, it ONLY takes SECONDS for a pedifile to do his "thing"....and, if anything were to EVER happen, 10 wouldn't seem too old at that point!!!!

If you are not with an older male companion who can accompany your son to the restroom, I would rather be SAFE than SORRY. NO ONE EVER SAYS "It only happened once...."

So, regardless of what other's opinions may be - this is YOUR child, and YOUR responsibiity to protect him to the best of your ability!! Disney is great, but the REAL world is not filled with magical creatures who love your children!

BEST WISHES

Chris

 

[jenelope]

In at least three of the cases cited in this thread where someone was assaulted in a restroom, the victim was fifteen years old or older. Twice, it was an adult female. I'm 35 and I travel alone a lot. It's beginning to sound like I need to have an escort to the ladies room, myself. Yes, bad things happen in public restrooms. They also happen at busy intersections, at work, at school, and in the privacy of your own home. Common sense, awareness, and a "just in case" plan can go a long way toward not just feeling safer, but being safer.

I'll admit that I'm not really comfortable with older boys in the ladies' room. However, if that's what it takes to make both Mom and kids more comfortable, so be it. It's not my place to judge, and no one should have to stand outside a men's room, feeling like a nervous wreck just so I can feel more comfortable. I can deal with it, even if I don't like it. On the other hand, I don't speak for the other women and girls in the ladies' room, who may not feel the same way. Who decides who has the right to judge them?

I do think that at 10, kids should be able to use a restroom by themselves and be as street smart as anyone using a public restroom should be. Safe travel is a life skill that they have to learn at some point.

 

[drogerstn]

Why would some consider WDW restrooms to be safer than an airport restroom; especially if the restroom is in the gate area of the airport. The gate area of an airport is a secured area in which only workers with airport clearance and passengers with boarding passes are allowed? An airport has got to be one of the safest places in the world.

 

[LOLA2]

In at least three of the cases cited in this thread where someone was assaulted in a restroom, the victim was fifteen years old or older. Twice, it was an adult female. I'm 35 and I travel alone a lot. It's beginning to sound like I need to have an escort to the ladies room, myself. Yes, bad things happen in public restrooms. They also happen at busy intersections, at work, at school, and in the privacy of your own home. Common sense, awareness, and a "just in case" plan can go a long way toward not just feeling safer, but being safer.

I'll admit that I'm not really comfortable with older boys in the ladies' room. However, if that's what it takes to make both Mom and kids more comfortable, so be it. It's not my place to judge, and no one should have to stand outside a men's room, feeling like a nervous wreck just so I can feel more comfortable. I can deal with it, even if I don't like it. On the other hand, I don't speak for the other women and girls in the ladies' room, who may not feel the same way. Who decides who has the right to judge them?

I do think that at 10, kids should be able to use a restroom by themselves and be as street smart as anyone using a public restroom should be. Safe travel is a life skill that they have to learn at some point.

I don't think it is as much of waiting for your son to come out of the mens room, that I can deal with. It is (like op stated and my opinion also) when I have to go I will make my 10 yo son come in rather than stand alone outside where he is a target. My son is 4 right now and probably by 6 I will let him go into mens room with me hovering by door, but if I have to go to BR and DH is not with or his older ds is not with and no family restroom in sight, yes he will be waiting in restroom for me while I do my business.

 

[drew2wdw]

Let me get this right, so all of you who wouldn't take your 7 or 8 or 9 year old sons in the ladies room, you would feel perfectly safe leaving them alone in JFK airport, while YOU went into the ladies room?

I'm sorry, but I have a HARD time believing that. Not in this world.

And THAT is what I am getting at. I let HIM use the mens room when he was 7 at WDW, but THAT is not what I am talking about here.

I meant if I need to use the ladies room at the airport, should I take him in with me, NOT up to the stales, not for HIM to use the ladies room.

Back on page 3 the OP clarified her question. See above. If this is the question then, to me, the answer is obvious. Find a companion bathroom or family bathroom (there are many at Disney and I've seen them in quite a few airports as well). Since the adult is the one who has to "go" then there shouldn't be a problem waiting while you seek one out. I would think that even a 10 year old wouldn't have a problem "holding it" for a few extra minutes while you locate a companion/family restroom and then that would solve both situations.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

..'s the I spilled on my shirt and now I'm standing here in my bra trying to dry it off or because we are changing our princesses into their costumes and not taking up a stall to do it.

This doesn't even make sense. You wear your bra in the bathroom, or use it as a group change room, so that's why someone shouldn't use it for their own child's safety?

 

[Snowy]

This post has left me with two questions, the first of which has been asked a few times but not answered by anyone:
1. how old is too old to bring into the ladies' bathroom? I don't need to tell the parents worried about safety that a 16-year-old boy can be raped or assualted very quickly in a men's bathroom. I'm not being sarcastic. I'm genuinely wondering where you draw the line on when your child (and in most places 16 is still a child) is "on his own" in the men's bathroom.

2. do the designers of ladies' rooms know how many boys use the ladies' rooms? Again, not a sarcastic question. I would not want anyone's safety threatened, but I can't tell you the number of times I've waited in a line for the ladies' room when there is no line whatsoever for the men's room, only to have older boys come out of the ladies' rooms stalls. Definitely a little frustrating when ya gotta go!

 

[rigs32]

I also cannot believe how *worked up* someone would get about their child using the opposite sex facilities so the parent could keep and eye on their safety.

Good Lord people.... talk about uptight.

Judgmental much? Many people who disagree with the OP have said they understand where a parent is coming from, but disagee with the ultimate decision.

 

[mmw]

It takes a village to raise a child and hearing other people's suggestions can always open your eyes to different possibilities.

Your post came across harsh, maybe you didn't mean it to?

I didn't mean it to sound harsh. I just don't think that this question requires all of the energy people have put it to it today or that it is an approprite question for a disney theme park post. Whatever - to each his own. Apparently lots of people have opinions on this so maybe I'm wrong.