children in communal changing rooms

emsywoo123

MrsE wrote: »

For the umpteenith time.

There are large private family cubicles.
If there weren't I wouldn't mention it, because as a mother I can understand a mothers fears.

The woman is a god damn chatter box who talks non stop & can't tear hereself away from her friends for 10 mins to use the family facilities.

While it may be fine for your son to see you in the bathroom, he doesn't want to see other middle aged women, or at least they won't want him seeing them!

PS, the lad in this case is not a small boy! He's a junior school aged boy.

I think the thread has moved on and expanded from your individual scenario to be fair.

poet123

thunderbird wrote: »

I agree that sometimes other people's opinions can be quite shocking or surprising, but at the same time there is a need to consider their views and needs as valid and to be respectful as a result.

I would have no issue with a boy being in a ladies toilet, they are not communal!

I wouldn't take my junior school age son into one with me though, he would be quite safe outside the cubicle door for a couple of minutes.

MrsE_2

moomoomama27 wrote: »

I find it very unsettling that grown adult women are that threatened by a small child being in a changing room, or toilet! I think that's quite sad and just goes to show how sexualised our world is!

I will continue to be the type of parent that puts my child's safety over prudish reactionary women!

He's NOT small & he would be VERY safe in a family changing cubicle with his mum;)

MrsE_2

thunderbird wrote: »

I meant with regards to asking them if they could put up signs asking families to use the designated cubicles and/or assign an area of the changing room to adults only.

Its a small pool, the changing area isn't that big, hence only having 2 cubicles I guess, so you couldn't have an adult only area.
But they have dealt with the family issue, they have half a dozen huge family cubicles, with showers & baby changing facilities & a strap in seat to contain a toddler (while the parent dresses).

I will email & ask if they will put up signs reminding people to use the family facilities, but I think 8 is too old to be in with the opposite sex & that is their rule.
I really hope they don't have 8 year old girls in the mens!

notanewuser

MrsE wrote: »

Its a small pool, the changing area isn't that big, hence only having 2 cubicles I guess, so you couldn't have an adult only area.
But they have dealt with the family issue, they have half a dozen huge family cubicles, with showers & baby changing facilities & a strap in seat to contain a toddler (while the parent dresses).

I will email & ask if they will put up signs reminding people to use the family facilities, but I think 8 is too old to be in with the opposite sex & that is their rule.
I really hope they don't have 8 year old girls in the mens!

DH takes DD (2.5) swimming, and where there isn't family changing he'll take her into the gents. At one pool near us there are no cubicles at all, so I suppose when she is 6, 7 or 8 that might still be happening. Not sure why that's such a horrific thought to you though?

MrsE_2

notanewuser wrote: »

DH takes DD (2.5) swimming, and where there isn't family changing he'll take her into the gents. At one pool near us there are no cubicles at all, so I suppose when she is 6, 7 or 8 that might still be happening. Not sure why that's such a horrific thought to you though?

Because I would imagine a 6/7/8 year old girl would feel very uncomfortable in a mens changing room where strange men have their gentials on display.

notanewuser

MrsE wrote: »

Because I would imagine a 6/7/8 year old girl would feel very uncomfortable in a mens changing room where strange men have their gentials on display.

To my knowledge they aren't waggling them about. Surely it's no worse than having boys in the female changing rooms?

Jem8472

MrsE wrote: »

Because I would imagine a 6/7/8 year old girl would feel very uncomfortable in a mens changing room where strange men have their gentials on display.

So why should 8 year old boys be comfortable in womens changing rooms?

jellyhead

The woman in this scenario could use a family changing room.

I wonder if the age 8 rule is for larger families? If a mum went swimming with an 8 year old or two and also a smaller child, or a couple of toddlers, then perhaps the whole family wouldn't fit into a cubicle? Perhaps they would at the pool Mrs E goes to, but I don't think the family cubicles here could accommodate 3 people.

Personally I'd put my 7 year old in a cubicle nearby and let him look after himself, but he'd have to be within hearing distance so I could chat to him, for my own peace of mind. My eldest at 7 couldn't have managed it himself though.

poet123

notanewuser wrote: »

To my knowledge they aren't waggling them about. Surely it's no worse than having boys in the female changing rooms?

You don't think so? My 24 year old came back from the gym the other day and regaled me with a tale about how men behave in there and I wouldn't want my six year old daughter seeing that.

I don't think it matters where a family gets changed so long as there are cubicles, if there aren't then it is right that there are age restrictions, and personally I would put that at school age in communal changing rooms.