Would you let a 4 yr old use bathrooms alone?

[maxiesmom]

I have to disagree with the whole family bathrooms and companion assisted bathrooms are the same thing thought. Wouldn't you think if Disney wanted them to be used as Family Restrooms that they would put them on the park maps as such? Yet the only park maps they are on are the ones specifically made for disabled visitors. They are not on the regular park maps at all!

Also, if you do a search on Disney's own web-site for Family Bathrooms, nothing appears. The only place they mention these restrooms are in the section for disabled guests. If Disney wanted them used by one and all as Family Restrooms, why is there no mention of them that way?

I really don't think it is a big deal if a mom quickly hops in with her 2 little ones and uses one of the companion restrooms. But please remember that there are not many of them in the parks, and are not intended to be used if you can use a regular restroom instead.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

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.

At 14 she has to use a companion bathroom with you?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have to disagree with the whole family bathrooms and companion assisted bathrooms are the same thing thought. Wouldn't you think if Disney wanted them to be used as Family Restrooms that they would put them on the park maps as such? Yet the only park maps they are on are the ones specifically made for disabled visitors. They are not on the regular park maps at all!

Also, if you do a search on Disney's own web-site for Family Bathrooms, nothing appears. The only place they mention these restrooms are in the section for disabled guests. If Disney wanted them used by one and all as Family Restrooms, why is there no mention of them that way?

I really don't think it is a big deal if a mom quickly hops in with her 2 little ones and uses one of the companion restrooms. But please remember that there are not many of them in the parks, and are not intended to be used if you can use a regular restroom instead.

Well they are companion restrooms. Meaning anyone who needs a companion should use them. I have used them in the past when there was nothing else nearby and we needed to really go - if you know what I mean. Overall though we usually just use the regular restrooms and I take the kids in with me.

 

[mjkacmom]

At 14 she has to use a companion bathroom with you?

That's just nuts! What does she doe when she's out with friends? On field trips? The chances of abduction are slim to none. How is she going to survive college if she's never been in a public restaurant without mom? And if you are worried about rape, rapists choose their victims by targeting those who seem weaker.

 

[Mkrop]

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.

I think that is opinion vs criminal. Please show me where this would be against the law.

I have been to huge venues where they allowed women to use rest rooms of the opposite sex due to overcrowding, and there are gender neutral bathrooms although they are rare. If a boy can come in the ladies room and a girl can go in the men's room when necessary, I dont see the difference.

This is ceartinaly NOT my first choice. My first chocie would be to ask some woman/girls to let us jump ahead before an accident occurs. If my 3 year old ran into the men's room, I would head in after him. I am not allowing a 3 year old out of my sight. Aint happening. If you choose to do so with your child, so be it but I will risk whatever if it meant that my child was not in that bathroom alone at that age. I am not talking an older child, I am talking a child as young as in your example. IMO, and that is what it is MY OPINION, a potty training child should not be in a bathroom by him/herself no matter what.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

That's just nuts! What does she doe when she's out with friends? On field trips? The chances of abduction are slim to none. How is she going to survive college if she's never been in a public restaurant without mom? And if you are worried about rape, rapists choose their victims by targeting those who seem weaker.

Um, to be fair, you don't know that the 14 year old doesn't have a disability or other issue with going to the bathroom by herself.

Also, I agree with whoever said Mom should take a boy into the men's room if the ladies' room line is too long. I highly doubt that the men in there are going to be offended by a mom taking her little boy into a stall to go to the bathroom.

 

[jodifla]

Um, to be fair, you don't know that the 14 year old doesn't have a disability or other issue with going to the bathroom by herself.

Also, I agree with whoever said Mom should take a boy into the men's room if the ladies' room line is too long. I highly doubt that the men in there are going to be offended by a mom taking her little boy into a stall to go to the bathroom.

The problem is not really the men in this situation. It would be the woman, alone in a bathroom with a bunch of underage boys. Why do you think Disney won't allow non potty-trained kids in clubs, or even assist them in any way. It's a liability issue. I don't like it or agree with it, but it sure stopped me from going in the men's room when I knew it was filled with elementary age boys.

My 3 1/2 year old did just fine, although like I said, certainly not my first choice.

 

[wscottsawka]

As usual, there are many ways to look at things. Sure Disney is not the run of the mill amusement park and even at 4 you probably wouldn't have any issues. Now from my own perspective, i would not let any of my sons or daughter go to the bathroom by themselves at 4. Too many wierdows in the world.

With that being said though, i will tell you what drives me crazy is a mom or dad standing outside a restroom while there husband/wife takes the opposite sex child in the restroom. Meaning Dad taking his Daughter in the Mens room while Mom stands outside or vice versa!! Shouldn't happen. In my opinion!!

 

[rina900]

No way. I won't even let my almost 7 yr old boy go to the bathroom alone at Target, let alone at Disney.

 

[deerhart]

I have an almost 10ds and a 7.5 yo ds. Last year at disney my youngest son (at the time 6y10m) was using the restroom at disney by himself. Of course, it was the one next to Soaring (only 1 exit) and i was standing outside the door and sending older pro in every 4 minutes to check on him (dh was getting fast passes across epcot at the time).

I FORCE the boys (both of them) into the women's room when we are at places with easy access to escape routes, like rest stops. Out shopping and such, restaurants, my boys do go by themselves (though usually in tandem) and I usually wait outside. They wait outside while I go to the restroom (I usually try to get them to stay in the hallway leading to the ladies room).

But, both my kids are ultra independent and my oldest is very responsible when it comes to following rules and stranger safety (to the point that I don't think he would even talk to anyone but his brother or someone he already knew in the restroom).

My boys are also the same size (frequently asked if they are twins and they are 2.5 years apart), so my oldest is very small for his age and my youngest is very large.

We wouldn't even consider letting the boys use a public bathroom alone until they were 5-7yo (and at that time they went together even if one didn't have to go).
There are lots of things to consider, but part of it is what you feel comfortable with. I know longer have an problems with my 7.5 yo heading off to the restroom at the grocery store while I am shopping (again tiny restroom). Usually I am in an aisle near by and I have his brother scouting. The two of them have gone together while I have been on the other side of the store. Then again, I know my kids won't be touched without making a HUGE ruckus.

 

[okeydokey]

I have to disagree with the whole family bathrooms and companion assisted bathrooms are the same thing thought. Wouldn't you think if Disney wanted them to be used as Family Restrooms that they would put them on the park maps as such? Yet the only park maps they are on are the ones specifically made for disabled visitors. They are not on the regular park maps at all!

Also, if you do a search on Disney's own web-site for Family Bathrooms, nothing appears. The only place they mention these restrooms are in the section for disabled guests. If Disney wanted them used by one and all as Family Restrooms, why is there no mention of them that way?

I really don't think it is a big deal if a mom quickly hops in with her 2 little ones and uses one of the companion restrooms. But please remember that there are not many of them in the parks, and are not intended to be used if you can use a regular restroom instead.

My personal response back from the Disney company was that the companion restrooms were for any guest who needed to use them, they are not reserved for disabled guests only. Since Disney decided that was the use for their own property, then that is what i am going with.

 

[maxiesmom]

My personal response back from the Disney company was that the companion restrooms were for any guest who needed to use them, they are not reserved for disabled guests only. Since Disney decided that was the use for their own property, then that is what i am going with.

Sigh. I didn't say they were reserved. I believe you that Disney told you to go ahead and use them. But their main purpose is to be used by people who need assistance using the toilet. Again, Disney themselves call the "Companion Assisted Restrooms". Go look it up on their web-site if you don't believe me.

Anyone can use them. But it would be great if people who are able to use the regular restrooms leave the companion assisted restrooms for those who need them, whatever form that need takes. Just be courteous, that is all I'm saying.

 

[jodifla]

Sigh. I didn't say they were reserved. I believe you that Disney told you to go ahead and use them. But their main purpose is to be used by people who need assistance using the toilet. Again, Disney themselves call the "Companion Assisted Restrooms". Go look it up on their web-site if you don't believe me.

Anyone can use them. But it would be great if people who are able to use the regular restrooms leave the companion assisted restrooms for those who need them, whatever form that need takes. Just be courteous, that is all I'm saying.

But I think one can easily make the argument that a mom with a boy or a father with a daughter DOES fit the companion title. The child is too young to be on his or her own, but maybe pushing the age where it feels comfortable bringing him into the opposite sex bathroom.

 

[BBG-BLT]

When my son was 4 1/2 - 5 yes I would let him go in alone at times. Was always right outside waiting and sometimes would ask a guy going in to check on him. Bad things can happen in there yes - bad things can happen anywhere.

Depends on what your son wants - his maturity - and if it feels right at the time. We usually go in Sept - Oct when its not very busy. When we go in Thanksgiving I may feel differently.

Once my son was 6 he went into the men's room by himself all the time.

Its up to you, your son and the situation (crowds etc.).

 

[squirrel]

But I think one can easily make the argument that a mom with a boy or a father with a daughter DOES fit the companion title. The child is too young to be on his or her own, but maybe pushing the age where it feels comfortable bringing him into the opposite sex bathroom.

I agree with this.

I waited in a woman's washroom for the larger stall as my niece was sound asleep in the stroller-I had nobody to leave her with. I waited for a family (no dad-it's the womans washroom) with 3 kids (all girls) and the mother in the one stall. The youngest girl was at least 6 yrs old. I waited a good 5 min or more. At the time I was kind of annoyed as I was waiting forever and I had to go! I was almost at the point of just going into a stall and wheeling up the stroller to help block me on the toilet when they finally left the larger stall. My point is you never know why someone may need the larger stall or companion bathroom.

Maybe Disney needs to make more of the companion bathrooms if they are super busy.