When should children start using public toilets on their own?

mrscb

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

And you believe that teachers will escort 8-9 year old children into the toilet?

Why not?
At my DDs school the teachers check the toilets first when out on a trip(and I know as I have been on them)Obviously dont go in the cubicles with them!!

Oldernotwiser

aliasojo wrote: »

Personal preference. We are all entitled to it you know.

Of course, and you could've pointed out the same thing to BeenieCat.

Oldernotwiser

aliasojo wrote: »

Are they?

'Most' being the operative word.

Not just "most" but the majority. The greatest places of danger for a child are the homes of family members.

Oldernotwiser

mrscb wrote: »

Why not?
At my DDs school the teachers check the toilets first when out on a trip(and I know as I have been on them)Obviously dont go in the cubicles with them!!

The way everybody's talking on here it seems to be only a matter of time!

aliasojo

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Of course, and you could've pointed out the same thing to BeenieCat.

Yes, I surely could have but I saw no need to address my comment to multiple posters. You weren't singled out particularly, you were the last person to comment in this vein so you were 'it' if you like.

Your comment suggests you took this personally for some reason?

patchwork_cat

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Not just "most" but the majority. The greatest places of danger for a child are the homes of family members.

being pedantic, but most means majority.

On the topic of disabled toilets I don't feel it is the same as parking in a disabled space at all. My feeling is that it is not disabled only, but suitable for disabled users. Why shouldn't you use a disabled toilet? It is not as if you are stopping them from using merely delaying them for 5 minutes. You will find that the baby changing area is in the disabled toilet in some places - well it is in 1 department store that I use frequently.

patchwork_cat

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Shopping centre toilets are the few free ones here. The homeless use them a lot so many have blue lights to make finding veins harder and they have holes in the walls with needle bins because the needle problem was so great. To be honest most public toilets (I imagine ladies better) can be pretty hit and miss and I wouldn't let a 5 year old judge what's safe to use.

Crikey I must lead a sheltered life - I hadn't even considered this! I can honestly say I have never seen this perhaps it isn't nearly as rough as people make out 'oop north'!

Also with regard to using a baby sling I personally couldn't carry my children in a sling past about 4 months - don't know how other cultures manage they are probably stronger than this particular woosy westerner! Oldernotwiser did you carry your children in a sling past tiny babyhood?

patchwork_cat

mcspanna wrote: »

Accessible toilets are being 'rebranded' as such because for years they have incorrectly been called disabled toilets when in fact the toilet is not disabled at all. However, it would appear that this is likely to lead to people with impairments becoming even more disabled because it would appear that 'accessible toilets' will be abused even more than 'disabled toilets' by non-disabled people as a result...as a wheelchair user I despair...

In response to the various people who have asked what they are meant to do instead of using when they have several children and no parent and child toilet, it's very simple; stay at home or go somewhere else...that's what disabled people have to do when they can't get parking spaces or accessible toilet facilities. rant over.:mad:

I really can't believe what I have just read - are you seriously suggesting that people with children do not go out just so that you are not kept waiting 5 minutes to use a toilet? How selfish can you get.

mumps

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Not just "most" but the majority. The greatest places of danger for a child are the homes of family members.

But if your child has just been raped, murdered or otherwise harmed when alone in a public loo it is no comfort to say, "Well they were safer than at granny's house."

We are responsible for the safety of our children, I don't know of any young children being hit by cars in the local supermarket carpark but I hold my grandson's hand when walking through the car park as I don't want him to be the one it happens to. Caring for children is a big responsibility and I don't think it is easy for parents to always get it right but people should be congratulated for doing their best. I always think the hardest part of being a parent is deciding when to let them do things e.g. first solo trip to the local shop, first sleep over etc.

Oldernotwiser

mumps wrote: »

But if your child has just been raped, murdered or otherwise harmed when alone in a public loo it is no comfort to say, "Well they were safer than at granny's house."

Of course not, but the number of children who this happens to is miniscule whereas the number of children who are harmed by granddad/uncle/mum's boyfriend is far greater and people take far less care about these situations.