When should children start using public toilets on their own?

Oldernotwiser

Becles wrote: »

If you take a baby out of the pram/trolley, it's difficult to hold the baby and adjust your clothing while you use the toilet. Ditto trying to hold a baby and wash your hands afterwards.

I can see the difficulty but I still don't think that it warrants using the disabled facilities any more than it would do to park in a disabled bay because they're nearer to the shop's entrance.

Becles

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I can see the difficulty but I still don't think that it warrants using the disabled facilities any more than it would do to park in a disabled bay because they're nearer to the shop's entrance.

How do you suggest a mother with a tiny baby uses the toilet in a manner that is safe for the baby?

MrsE_2

pennyfarthing1971 wrote: »

If you get caught short in Forest Row, West Sussex and use the public loo's please watch out for holes in the wall - although my husband and his labourer have been in there and sealed up all holes and cracks with silicone!

Thats a really "nice" area too, the sort of place you feel safe in:eek:

mrcow

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I can see the difficulty but I still don't think that it warrants using the disabled facilities any more than it would do to park in a disabled bay because they're nearer to the shop's entrance.

So what have you done in the past when you are alone with a baby in a buggy with your shopping and you need to use the toilet?

You don't have any other option.

It's nothing like parking in a disabled bay. Not parking in a disabled bay won't result in you leaving a baby unattended in a public place or peeing in your own pants.

inkie

I can see the difficulty but I still don't think that it warrants using the disabled facilities any more than it would do to park in a disabled bay because they're nearer to the shop's entrance

.I think that there is a difference between willingly using a disabled parking bay when you are not disabled which you would block for a few hours, and nipping into a 'disabled' loo with a pram if there are no 'family cubicles' around, because there is no other option available for you to safely use the loo with a pram

mrscb

A lot of places have mother and baby ones similar to the disabled ones.

mrscb

Its going to turn into another argument!!!!!:rolleyes:

inkie

A lot of places have mother and baby ones similar to the disabled ones.

Which is great, and would be used. If there aren't any though then the only safe, realistic option is to use the disabled loo.

Oldernotwiser

Becles wrote: »

How do you suggest a mother with a tiny baby uses the toilet in a manner that is safe for the baby?

With baby in a sling?

Anyway, many of the people who've been talking about using disabled loos don't have tiny babies; they have toddlers and school age children.

Baileys_Babe

I take my 4 year DS and nephews aged 5 & 8 into the ladies with no objection from them.

The most convient toilets I find are the family ones with 2 toilets and a baby changing station for DD. No stress.