Would you let a 4 yr old use bathrooms alone?

[Avonlady1001]

Not according to Disney, who owns the bathrooms. If you have a problem with the number of companion bathrooms, take it up with Disney. As it is now, WDW has informed people that those restrooms can be used by single parents with children.

Thank you! I have asked several CM's about this & have been told the same. They are for anyone who needs them, whether it's a disabled person who needs assistance, or a family.

I use them all the time w/ my 2 kids. If it was just for disabled people, why is there a changing table in there? I wheel the stroller right in, do my business, change baby while older DD does hers. Can't do that in the regular restroom...would have to hold baby while going?? Not gonna happen.

I've had to wait for these to become vacant, and have no problem doing so, as I'm sure a disabled person waiting wouldn't be upset to see me & my kids coming out. I have to wait to use it, they can too.

To the OP, before I had a son, I used to get a little weirded out by older boys in the ladies room. Now that I have one, I definitely think 4 is too young...and 5, 6, 7, etc. LOL Not sure when I'll let him in alone, thank goodness he's only 1! But def take him into the companion bathrooms if you're uncomfortable w/ him in the ladies room...but I don't see any reason for discomfort. He's your son, he's young, and it's the safest option. Too much can happen in the blink of an eye...Disney or not.

 

[maxiesmom]

I use them all the time w/ my 2 kids. If it was just for disabled people, why is there a changing table in there? I wheel the stroller right in, do my business, change baby while older DD does hers. Can't do that in the regular restroom...would have to hold baby while going?? Not gonna happen.

Do you really not know that just becasue someone is disabled, that doesn't rule out them having children?

As far as the whole I have to wait sometimes so they can too, you need to put that in perspective. In the whole of the Magic Kingdom there are 8 Companion Assisted Restrooms (as Disney calls them). Eight whole toilets for people who need assistance using the facilities. Compared to a few hundred toilets for able-bodied people to use. Those people have not other choice, those are the only toilets they can use. So for some people to use them just because they feel like it is pretty self centered, imho.

If you can use a regular toilet, then please use it. Leave the few companion toilets for those who truly need assistance.

 

[Avonlady1001]

Do you really not know that just becasue someone is disabled, that doesn't rule out them having children?

As far as the whole I have to wait sometimes so they can too, you need to put that in perspective. In the whole of the Magic Kingdom there are 8 Companion Assisted Restrooms (as Disney calls them). Eight whole toilets for people who need assistance using the facilities. Compared to a few hundred toilets for able-bodied people to use. Those people have not other choice, those are the only toilets they can use. So for some people to use them just because they feel like it is pretty self centered, imho.

If you can use a regular toilet, then please use it. Leave the few companion toilets for those who truly need assistance.

Wasn't saying that disabled people can't have kids...just making the point that they're NOT just for disabled people, as has been told by others here as well as CM's.

It is absolutely selfish of people to use them just cause they can & I would never go into one alone. They are "companion" restrooms, not disabled restrooms. And being only 8 of them....well, I've never seen more than one or 2 people waiting outside of one, so 8 is probably close to being enough to fill the need.

But this is OT...OP is asking about her 4 y/o...IF she doesn't feel right taking her 4y/o son into the ladies room, she has every right to use the companion one. She wouldn't be doing anything wrong or self-centered, and neither am I, when I take my kids into them.

OP, there are also the baby care centers. They have a small restroom in there w/ a couple stalls...I'll probably get flamed for suggesting that, but I've never been turned away from letting my 4 y/o DD go in there, either. We are always warmly welcomed by the CM's, whether I have DD1 with me or not. DD has colored in there, played w/ toys, watched cartoons...I've rarely seen more than one or 2 people in there at one time, either, so it's not like you'd be taking anything away from a baby who truly needs to go on the potty.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I use them all the time w/ my 2 kids. If it was just for disabled people, why is there a changing table in there? I wheel the stroller right in, do my business, change baby while older DD does hers. Can't do that in the regular restroom...would have to hold baby while going?? Not gonna happen.

I have also used them with my kids. When I am alone with my twins and I have to "go", how would I be able to use a regular restroom...hold them both?? There are situations where non-disabled guests also need the benefit of the companion restroom.

Again, OT. Sorry.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

I have seen WAY TO old boys like 6-8-10 even. I think there should be a posted rule after X age boys and girls must go into their appropriate restroom.

Chronological age doesn't always equate to a corresponding emotional age / maturity level. My oldest DS is 5 and will be tagging along into the ladies' room for a good long while, in spite of the fact that he's the size of an average 7-8 year old. No way, no how is he capable of visiting the men's room on his own at this stage.

OP, I'd say 4 is definitely too young. If you're unsure enough to ask, he's too young.

 

[natenapril]

Chronological age doesn't always equate to a corresponding emotional age / maturity level. My oldest DS is 5 and will be tagging along into the ladies' room for a good long while, in spite of the fact that he's the size of an average 7-8 year old. No way, no how is he capable of visiting the men's room on his own at this stage.

OP, I'd say 4 is definitely too young. If you're unsure enough to ask, he's too young.

Or kids who look older than they are. My son is 5 but looks older and I get dirty looks from women when he is in the bathroom with me.

 

[WelovMickey!]

My son will be four in July he is autistic but autism or no autism I would NOT let my son go into a bathroom (Disney or not) alone under any circumstances. There are too many sick people in this world. I would not take that chance. It only takes a second for something horribly wrong to happen. I could not live with myself if I knew there was something i could have done to protect my child. Take him into the women's restroom with you. You will have peace of mind.

 

[mama4]

I think 7-8 year old boys in a ladies room is way too old. I mean, they use bathrooms all day at school by themselves...and honestly it only takes boys a few seconds to go.

Actually, at my kids school they have bathrooms in the classrooms for Kindergarteners (5-6 yo) and 1st and 2nd graders (7-8 yo) have bathrooms in the centrum (1 bathroom with 1 toilet that is shared by the classes in that grade). In other words, they don't use the public "school" bathrooms. This tells me that the school administrators also consider these kids too young to be using public restrooms alone.

They should definitley be using the boys room at that age (unless they have some type of developmental issues obviously). They are old enough to know if something isn't right and to yell if the minute chance there is a weirdo in there.

A kid this age is no match for a sick, adult pervert who is on the lookout for their next victim. They might not even have time to yell out for help before they are grabbed and subdued. Or even just touched or brushed up against. Or have some pervert take a picture of them. My boys WILL continue to go in the ladies restroom with me if my husband isn't with us. They have many times...they are 6 and almost 8 and actually look a bit older because they are tall. To be honest I have never had even a second glance.

 

[Mkrop]

No way! I also wouldn't care if he protested. I am the parent and that is the end of it.
Something to keep in mind- forget that it is a bathroom. Would you let your 4 year be unsupervised in a public place? Would you really let them out of your sight? People are worried about their kids "running off" with them right in front of them. Why would anyone purposefully send their child somewhere public unsupervised at that age?

Yes I am the parent they listen to my rules.

I will tell you the one time I had to let my 3-year-old go to the bathroom alone! We were in a children's science museum that was PACKED with school field trips, he'd been potty trained for only about two months, and had to go! So I start to take him into the women's room, only to see a line of about 20 women/little girls at the women's room!

There was no waiting that long at his age and his newbie stage of being potty trained, so I had to send him in alone or have an accident. It worked out fine, but I was pretty worried.

I would have gone into the men's room with him then. I would have announced myself, and headed uss traight to the stalls or asked the long line in the ladies room to skip ahead. No way I am allowing a small child that young to go into a ANY bathroom unaccompanied.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I never would nor would my dh. We come from a bad experience - dh was molested as a child. so we are overly cautious on these types of things.

 

[RMulieri]

Haven't read thru all the rsponses..I took my daughter in at age 4, even at disney.Now at age 6 I am just starting to let her go in and me stand outside the bathroom waiting, and even then that is a rarity

 

[mama4]

:I would have gone into the men's room with him then. I would have announced myself, and headed uss traight to the stalls or asked the long line in the ladies room to skip ahead. No way I am allowing a small child that young to go into a ANY bathroom unaccompanied.

Yep. Me too! I had to do this at a mall. The womens bathroom was out of order...I opened the mens door...called out..no one answered so I walked my 4 yo ds in and looked around to make sure it was empty. I stood at the main door holding it open so I could explain to anyone who walked up to use the bathroom. One thing for sure though ...only in an emergency. That bathroom was

 

[SnowWhite607]

Another vote for NO. My DD is 9 and if I have to go and she doesnt, I make her stand outside my stall so I can see her shoes, LOL! I would never leave her outside the restroom to wait for me, nor would I send her in alone. Too many things could happen.

 

[Mkrop]

Yep. Me too! I had to do this at a mall. The womens bathroom was out of order...I opened the mens door...called out..no one answered so I walked my 4 yo ds in and looked around to make sure it was empty. I stood at the main door holding it open so I could explain to anyone who walked up to use the bathroom. One thing for sure though ...only in an emergency. That bathroom was

A dad did this at Home Depot with his two girls. They were in there, he had the door propped open. I was pregnant at the time and had to go so bad. He asked if I would keep an eye on them and he shut the door. I told him there are stalls I dont care if you are there I just need to go now One of his DDs did need help getting her overalls reattached. So I called to dad and said I can help her if you want or you can come in. He told me to help her. I think he felt bad but I told him not to sweat it that I had a boy (was pregnant with boy #2) and told him I got it, he needed to keep his girls safe. He seemed so relieved.

 

[Mommee]

..... Not necessarily because of not wanting him to use the mens room alone, but because I don't know what you would do with him when you have to use the facilities. Might as well just take him in with you and kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Great point!

 

[okeydokey]

I have also used them with my kids. When I am alone with my twins and I have to "go", how would I be able to use a regular restroom...hold them both?? There are situations where non-disabled guests also need the benefit of the companion restroom.

Again, OT. Sorry.

And that is a perfectly good reason for using them. They are for all guests who need them.

 

[SFD998]

I would not allow my DS 7 or DS 4 to go in by themselves. I have allowed DS 7 to go alone when we are in a restaurant and I can see the bathrooms and there is only one way in or out.

 

[darren Leblanc]

I am a single mom and my son is 4 1/2 and we are heading to Disney in 26 days. I realized yesterday that my baby is going up so quickly. We were out shopping last night and he had to go to the Bathroom, we got over to where the bathrooms were located and he said to me - "Which is the Men's bathroom - so I pointed it to him. He pushed the door open - went inside, I heard him flush the toilet, wash and dry his hands then he came out. I was so proud of him.

I got thinking if I should let him use the men`s washrooms at Disney by himself or not. I know that I don`t feel comfortable with him using a Wal-Mart bathroom by himself but I am on the fence about Disney. I am wondering what other parents have done. It is such a difficult line between letting them be independent and keeping them safe so I would appreciate some honest opinions.

I also realize that this could be a hot topic so I would appreciate everyone showing respect for all opinions given. Please do not belittle or insult anyone in this post for how they chose to parent. I don`t want this thread to get out of control like I have seen some threads get. I just really need some great input to help me decide.

My ex left when my son was 18 months old so my son was completely potty trained by me - he has never used an urinal and his father only sees him about an hour a month so would not be useful in this situation. So I would really appreciate some dad opinions too. Thanks!

My wife and I are Disney addicts and we have 4 bouys varying in age due to a blended family.
I feel that a 4 year old is still too young to go to the bathroom alone at DW. sometimes as previously stated the lock may not work or at DW alot of the bathrooms have two doors. you can imagine the rest......EUREKA! 85% of all the facilities have family bathrooms....praise to Disney!!! Hope this helps....Darren

 

[jenn-n-okla]

I have also used them with my kids. When I am alone with my twins and I have to "go", how would I be able to use a regular restroom...hold them both?? There are situations where non-disabled guests also need the benefit of the companion restroom.

Again, OT. Sorry.

I have a 8 yr old and a soon to be 14 yr old girls neither of them get to go to the public restrooms ALONE! Unless it is in a small restaurant where I can SEE the bathroom door. We use the companion restrooms. Those are set up for either handicap use OR for family use.
If those are not around we go together and use the same stall. I go and have the youngest either come in with me or stand just outside the stall door with her foot put under the door so I can see it. The 14yr old uses the stall nearest me or waits to use the same one. I have seen moms before with boys and dads with girls and that horrified look of how do I solve this restroom issue. If I see a girl with a dad that needs to go then I offer to go in with them and tell them to sing or talk to dad the whole time we are in there. My husband does the same if we see a mom with a boy. The parent stands right near the entrance door.
I watch too much CSI and read too many horror stories of kids being stolen, drugged, clothes changed and then being carried out of public places. No one thinks twice about seeing a kid being carried that looks like they are asleep or sick. On the 14yr old, the whole stolen and raped or killed part scares me and I have told her so. She clearly understands why.

 

[jodifla]

Yes I am the parent they listen to my rules.




I would have gone into the men's room with him then. I would have announced myself, and headed uss traight to the stalls or asked the long line in the ladies room to skip ahead. No way I am allowing a small child that young to go into a ANY bathroom unaccompanied.

Completely and utterly INAPPROPRIATE! The boys room had lots of little school age boys in it. Probably some men, too. I can only imagine what crime I would have been charged with if I'd barged into a boys' bathroom.