Would you let a 4 yr old use bathrooms alone?

[mamaLori05]

I will let my almost 5 yr old dd go into the stall by herself (often I am in the stall right next to hers with my 2.5 yr old ds), but no I would never send her in the restroom without me or dh. She doesn't need my help anymore, but she does often need a little help reaching the sinks.

 

[design_mom]

I agree with most. I would take him into the womens room with you unless you have a trusted male friend who can take him into the mens.

Many Disney restrooms have two entrances/exits. I know my 5yo (who wants to "lead" all the time) has tried to leave the restrooms by a different door than we came in from. If she had gone out the other door, she would not have found the place where Daddy and brother were waiting.

 

[MSSANDRA]

NO WAY would I send a 4 year old into the men's bathroom alone at WDW or anywhere else in public. Take him with you.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

I still do not let my 5yo go by himself. He is capable, but the number of times he can't reach the soap, towels, water, and door won't shut...

Then again, I can go in with him, so thinking when my girls were that age, I made them come in the men’s room with me. I think it was 6 or 7 before I let them go in the girls and wait right outside the door. They were to the age that they did not want to go in to the men’s room anymore. However, I think girls are a bit more mature at that age then my boy. He understands what needs to get done, but playing in the water for 5 minutes or super high-power hand dryer that deforms your skin can be distracting.

 

[Zeebs]

My 4 year old isn't quite ready as he just mucks around too much. But your wee man sounds like he does very well.

If Cullen was ready then yes, I would, at Disney and other places where I feel it is safe enough to do so.

His Dad however, feels differently on the matter and would still have him go with a parent until he was at least 10 if he could get away with it. So two different opinions in the one house.

Kirsten

 

[Kat&Dom]

As a dad this is a tough choice as mine is 5. However, since she was three, she knows the deal. I take her by the hand, she closes her eyes until we get into a stall. Then she doesn't touch anything so she doesn't have to wash her hands after.

I wondered how single dads with daughters handled it - it is definitely a more difficult situation for dads with daughters than moms with sons. I have the utmost respect for dads raising their daughters - so many challenges!

Thanks for everyone for your input. My son has been one of those "old souls" from birth and people always guess him to be about 2 years older than he is. He also has an amazing volcabulary and loves to do 100 piece puzzles. He is still a little boy but he acts so grown up that I second guess myself sometimes. I appreciate all of the honest feedback.

 

[LWatson]

I will at a few places here in town as long as I'm standing outside the door and it doesnt seem crowded in there. BUT, DS1 has a problem w/ shutting the door behind him (he doesnt) so at Disney he will go w/ either DH or in the women's with me. That or he can go into the BCS and if I remember right there is a kids size potty there.

 

[iwrbnd]

Do I think 4 is too young? Yes.

Have I been guilty of it in times of desperation? Yes.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I think my son was somewhere around 7 when I let him go into the men's room by himself. I was a little fortunate in that he and I always traveled with my mom and 2 of my brothers (when my DS was 6, my DB's were 6 & 12) so he always had a "buddy" to go with him to the men's room. No, I definitely wouldn't be comfortable letting a 4 year old go in by himself.

 

[mickey family]

My Ds will be 8 on Tuesday and I still take him into the restroom with me. Better safe than sorry.

 

[3boys4me]

4-no way. My 7 year old still comes in the ladies room with me if his dad or older brother isn't there. He comes in, takes care of business and stands off to the side. No one has ever made a comment or given us a funny look. Even if they do, too bad. Take him with you, 4 is still very young.

 

[squirrel]

I would take him into the ladies room. There are some bathrooms with more than one exit.

I took my cousin to WDW in 1999 and my aunt made sure he knew he was to go with us into the ladies room each time. He hated it (he was 9 at the time) but that was the deal.

 

[frostymom]

I would take him to the womens' or find a family restroom.

I think this sums it up. I do admit I allow my son to go into the local grocery store bathroom while I stand out by the door. I allow him at a small local restaurant, if we can see the door and it is not crowded in the restaurant.

Things can happen too fast, even with a mom standing on the other side of the door. At WDW, our children will always be escorted in the rest room though.

Have a great trip!

 

[PipersDadChad]

I have to say, between the wife and I, I am the least overprotective of our daughter. With that being said however, I would not let her go into the bathroom by herself. There are too many weirdo's out there waiting for a kid to be by themself. Like the idiot in OH (i think) that was running around stabbing kids in the head with his keys at WalMart. Nope...she won't be going anywhere by herself anytime soon.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

My answer is no.

I know a teenager that was nearly cornered and attacked by a stranger in a public restroom of a restaurant where her family was dining.

I will also say that I think 8 (some other posters) is too old to be going into the ladies' room and that would make me a little uncomfortable, but I'd probably get over it.

 

[summerrluvv]

Nope not a chance.

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

I do not let DS go alone. When I take them alone places he goes in one stall and DD and I sometimes go in the same or all in seperate, depending on how busy it is. He stands out side of mine when he is done so I can see his feet/shoes. We will all go together this summer when he is 7 and she is 5 if DH is not with us. Girls take longer than boys which would leave him alone outside if we both went at the same time. No one has ever said anything or given me any looks that I have noticed.

 

[DisneyDarling212]

I wouldn't let him. even if disney is safe i still wouldn't want him to. try a family restroom and let him do it himself there.

 

[Swimalie]

My son just turned 5 and the only place he's allowed to use a public rest room alone is at pre-school and I'm right outside the door. I wouldn't feel comfortable letting him use one in a more public setting than pre-school. Certainly not at Disney where there are just too many people coming and going.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I wouldn't. But I haven't needed to worry about it. My girls are female (of course!) so I would go in with them anyway.

Disney does have several family restrooms where you can stand right outside the door and he's the only one in there. I might note where they are on the map and purpose to use those.