When should children start using public toilets on their own?

mummy_Jay

I know this sounds a silly question but when do you let your children use busy public toilets without accompanying them?

My DS has just turned 5 and has just start insisting when we are out that he needs to go in the boys toilets not the girls toilets with me. I can cope with this in small quite places but when its a busy shopping center toilet, it worries me he's a bit little to be that independant or maybe I'm just being a bit over protective.

I'd really appreciate some opinions from the other parent out there.

jenhug

mine are 10 and 8, and I still go in with them, there was a case a couple of years ago where a little boy was molested in a fast food chains toilet, after going in unaccompanied. (This was local to me)

Jet

My son is 11 and has been going into public toilets unaccompanied since he was about 8 or 9.

I think 5 is probably a bit young. My biggest fear always was if he got his trousers stuck or something and then spent ages trying to sort it out, then I'd be outside frantic and worrying whether to just walk in and find him! :eek:

Hardup_Hester

Mine were allowed in alone from about 8 or 9

Pee

I - as a non parent - would find it a bit strange going into a ladies and seeing a young man there so agree by 8 or so, children should be alone but also think at 5 is very young... and starting gradually in quiet toilets is a good idea.

tori.k

mine were the same i make them all use the disable toilets when in the supermarket and my youngest is 11 if we are out and about i still make hubby or one of my older boys take the youngest.
Paranoid some may think but it more because a public toilet was closed in our area because drug addicts were using them and leaving needles

Katyag

My son is 7 and goes to the boys toilets, but one of us is usually always outside waiting for him.

My mum isnt keen on us letting him as she works in Asda and in her store there was a bloke caught fiddling with himself in the middle of the loos free for all to see and some younger boys walked in.

If im going to loo too I usually make him just come with me so hes not waiting outside.

ALIBOBSY

I tend to go for the disabled loo or family room and we all go in together, or if OH is with us DS goes with him and the girls with me. But DS is 11 and will not go in the ladies (understandable really) so if he is with me and the girls goes in alone. Only recently say age 10 I let him as I was worried, but from sept he is at high school and will have to be more independant, ie going to and from home without an adult. Although he did walk to primary with his mates from about 9 (only about 5 mins) I was walking up with his sister and could keep a distant eye on him.

His Dad told him to use the cubicle rather than urinals and we told him if anyone makes him feel uncomfortable to come out straight away and/or make alot of noise.
Mind you we don't live in a city and its a pretty low crime area all around.
But 5 seems too young.

ali x

the_gorgeous_one

My son who is now 21 was in the public toilets of a quiet small famous fast food outlet when he was about 7-8 ish and a man in the toilets tried to touch him indecently. My son didn't tell me until he was out of the shop but I contacted them and police etc were called. Now I know its a long time ago but things haven't got any better so would be cautious and Im glad I dont have to think about it anymore.

Hermia

I think 5 sounds too young. I think a child needs to be old enough to look after themselves to some extent.

On a non-safety issue I also think children should be old enough to know how to clean up after themselves. I am sick of seeing tiny children coming out of a cubicle on their own and then going in and finding it a complete mess with wee (and worse) all over the seat and floor.

I once saw a mum forcing her teenage boy to go in the ladies with her. He looked embarrassed and this girl who was getting tampons out of the tampon machine looked equally embarrassed when he walked in.

sparkle03

My son is 6 going on 26 :rotfl: He is also quite insistent that he can go to the 'boys'! I dont agree though and unless OH is with me obviously then he comes into the ladies with me! Unlucky mate