Public Bathrooms, Kids

No, I agree with you. If someone stopped me from using a public restroom simply because their child was in there, I'd be pi$$ed. And as a parent, I'd NEVER ask a stranger to *hold it* just because my precious angel was so very special, they need the ENTIRE, EMPTY bathroom all to themselves. Ugh.

Yeah, I think that's borderline inappropriate, at best.

A whole, whole lot of people actually have bladder problems and/or IBS, and physiologically *can't* hold it in. It's not terribly well known, since it's not everyone's favorite thing to share, but it affects a fair number of people.

As the mom of a boy, I do really, really understand these moms' anxiety, but I wouldn't block the door. I take my 7-year-old son to the ladies room in huge, very public places (airports, NY Penn Station) and just wait right outside the men's room in smaller places (Barnes & Noble, etc.).

I have long broken the rules on this one. Mind you, I live in NYC so it's crowded here and often there is a wait on the ladies but none for the men's. Since high school, if give a knock on the men's see if it were empty or if they minded if I would come in then pop into the stall and go about my business. It would often prompt other women to follow suit.

Gendered bathrooms are stupid if you ask me.

I take ds into both men's and women's the same way. Hubs takes ds into either men's or women's; but would never go into women's alone, lest he be branded a pervert.

Best to you and yours,
F. B.

I've never heard of people doing that, but if they do, it's rude and selfish.

That's nutty and obnoxious. The world does not revolve around our children.

My son is 9 years old and he has been going into the Men's bathroom by himself since he started school in Kindergarten.

He knows the rules:
Don't talk to anyone
Don't let anyone touch you
Do your business, wash your hands and leave
If you need help call for me (I will go into the Men's room)

These rules still apply now that he is older. I would never prevent someone from going into the bathroom but I do keep an eye on it to see who is going in and out.

That is ridiculous.
I never heard of people doing that and blocking the bathroom.
Ridiculous.
The Mom should just go in their with their child.

My boy goes with me unless I know the place very well. Women's rooms have DOORS and he's not peeking under them. Blocking others is ridiculous.

As the mom of a boy, I would not do that.. He would go with me to the rest room. Yep.. ladies a 5 year old little boy could be Peeing next to you.. :) There are stalls, nothing he can see. I see no reason why it has to be seperate like that.
I trust my son, however it is the other creeps out there that I do not trust.. Even if my child did not talk to anyone, they could still do things even if he did not engage him.

I have also seen single moms pacing back n forth outside rest rooms waiting for thier kiddo to come out (not stopping anyone, just waiting) I will usually send my husband in to make sure he is okay.

Now, My hubby taking my daughter.. we that is a little different.. with the urnial etc.. I am so happy for Family rest rooms for that reason.

I have never heard of anyone doing this. Most moms I know take their boys into the bathroom with them until they are 5 or 6 years old, and after that they are capable of using the men's room on their own.

If someone did that to me and I had to really really go I'd push them out of my way and go on in. Good LORD!

I do appreciate the Walmarts that have family bathrooms nowadays. They are getting more and more frequent. They have a small room with a sink, toilet, and changing table. Enough room that a family of 5 or 6 could all go in together and not be shoulder to shoulder.

To do what this person did would make me mad. If I feel the opposite gender kiddo I have with me isn't able to scream like a banshee if someone comes near them then they are young enough to go to the bathroom with me, where I can be in the stall with them helping them wipe or standing in the bathroom while they go. But chances are if they're going in a stall then I'm going to be going in one also.

I've never heard of that.
You can't block a public rest room just because your kid is in there.
At best it's rude.
At worst people will knock you over and go in anyway.
If they were really ill mannered and had to go badly enough they might pee on you.
It's great when places have family restrooms.
If people can't deal with public facilities then maybe they should stay home till the kids are old enough for it to not be a problem.

I kind of felt the same way you do... until the state fair this past last month. A man was caught videoing young boys using the restroom. Not only did he have video from the fair, he also had video of other little boys from other public restrooms. The dad was standing right outside and the boy noticed this man and told his father.
This hits way too close to home. Come to find out I know someone that knows this man. Before, I would have just let him go while I stood outside. Now, I have to take it step further. You just never know when a sicko is lurking.
My son is 7 - way too old to be going in the restroom with me. It's just not appropriate and he doesn't want to go in the ladies room. Predators are everywhere, waiting for just this type of opportunity.
I don't tell men not to go in the restroom, but I do wait until there is no one in the restroom before letting him go in. Then, I stand at the door with it cracked open. I have only had one man walk away when I told him my son was in there, and I was leaving the door open. They have a choice. They can go with me standing at the door, or wait. Some may find this rude or annoying, but I really don't give a damn!
What this world really needs is more family restrooms!
ETA: Here's the story. Watch your kids in the bathroom!!
http://www.wral.com/man-charged-with-photographing-boys-i...

I wouldn't "block" a restroom.
Since I don't feel it's right to do that, I don't do it.
I've never been blocked from a restroom by a parent doing that either.
I've never seen a parent doing that.
If it's a single person bathroom, consider that the child might not know to/know how to work the locks. In this type of case, the person isn't really "blocking" anything.

I would not block someone from going in the restroom for my kid. If my child is not old enough to handle business on her own, then I go with her or I stand outside the stall. When DD is with her father and no family restroom is available, then he takes her quickly into a stall in a men's room. When my SD was about 8, DH lurked outside the bathroom waiting for her and asked a mom going in to check for his kid when he was worried that she had not come out yet. (SD was fine...playing with soap.)

No, I think that it beyond rude. If I was that uneasy about my son going into the men's room, he would simply come in with me. My son is 7 and we have done that before...

I bet Jenny O's catholic! LOL!

And no, no one should block the entrance of a public restroom. Either go in with your kid; take the kid to the ladies room; or stand in the doorway and listen.

BTW, very few children are molested or kidnapped in a public restroom. Molestation is usually perpetrated by a trusted friend of the family or coach or clergyman - someone who knows the kid and the family.

I have never done that, but have been known to yell into the mens room or men's locker room to check in with my son. I often have men come out letting me know that he's washing his hands and looks like he's almost done. lol.

They should just use the right rest room. Mine do at age 4, boys or girls. With or without me.
I would never block!!!!

But our church does this at bible class. They have to make sure there are no adults in there, then the child goes in. So, maybe that's not a public restroom really. Who knows.

My 11 year old just started going in by himself some with me at the door as long as it's one that doesn't close so I can hear if there is any major comotion in there. I try to send in my 14 year old with him if he's there if my husband is not there. I like the places that have family bathrooms that way I know he's the only one in there is I don't go in with him. But I have never told someone they can't go in there.

I have never seen this. However, I do have to admit that my son has been the world's slowest bathroom user in some places with only a single bathroom.

If someone blocked me, I'd go in anyhow if I were in my own country. If I were in Rome, I would do as the Romans asked, and wait...

I don't understand this at all, I really think you might be misunderstanding.

a boy goes in with the mom to the ladies room. there are stalls no problem most ladies don't mind if he averts his eyes and is well mannered. My son is 10 and would have no problem doing this if I felt the need in a highly crowded unsafe area.

Regular places that we are familiar with and are safe, low crowd, decent people, I give him the rules, and send him in and yes I wait for him Outside the door.

So if this is the scenario and you are saying the mom pacing outside the mens room is requesting men not go in until ds is done, then yes the mom could politely request that, Honestly it seems unlikely to me that there would be a man on his way in, mens rooms are never busy. Since men are not nearly as understanding, I could see them getting impatient, but how long is it taking kid to do what he needs to do? serious 15 secs to whip it out, pee and tuck it in. carry some handsanitizer and use that.

It might depend on the place high traffic no this isnt' going to happen, but a small restaurant maybe. also the number of stalls might influence it.

I dont' know weird question. Either they are old enough to go alone or they come with me, that's how I see it.