what age for public bathrooms alone?

kcisthebombdotcom · July 2014

So i got some rude comment from a woman in a public bathroom for bringing my boy in who looks six-ish. It got me thinking what is the normal age to let a kid go alone?

mandymack · July 2014

Age 6-7 last year I started letting Emily go in alone with me standing right outside and felt very comfortable with that.

Andrewsgal · July 2014

My 5.5 year old and 7 year old go in alone.

MesmrEwe · July 2014

With DD, I started letting her go into a stall alone around 4, then by herself around 5/school age... But use your judgment and read the situation because only you know your child the best. If you're taking your looks 6-ish kid into the Women's locker room at the gym to use the restroom is A LOT different than if you're going to the bathroom at Walmart KWIM...

Lolapop29 · July 2014

Gastro said:

At our swim school the bathrooms are marked that children six and under can go with a parent. Edit; of opposite sex

Same

eaglesfan700 · July 2014

It depends where we are. I let DD, who just turned 5, go alone at places like the grocery store, local park or the pool, with me standing right outside. At a bigger place like zoo or amusement park I would go with her

sunnydays99 · July 2014

DS (4.5) goes in with me but I let him be completely independent in there so that I know he'll be ready when he starts going completely by himself. The few times he's asked to use the men's room by himself have been at crazy busy places (airport, sporting event) and I've said no.

Spin313 · July 2014

Depends on where we are...DS is six and will go in alone, but in busy places he comes with me.

hokies94 · July 2014

eaglesfan700 said:

It depends where we are. I let DD, who just turned 5, go alone at places like the grocery store, local park or the pool, with me standing right outside. At a bigger place like zoo or amusement park I would go with her

This is us. I'll let DS (5) go in alone at smaller places and I stand right outside. At bigger/more crowded places he comes in with me. He usually doesn't want to go by himself if there are too many people.

Arnegard · July 2014

Yep, I'll allow my older girls (6 & 8) to go in their own stall or even without me. If we are at a busy rest stop on the interstate - no way. It all depends on the location, amount of people, etc.

I have let my 4 yo use her own stall before, usually not the rest room solely alone but in a deserved restaurant with DD1.

ariel06 · July 2014

DS1 is 6 and I have just started letting him use the men's sometimes when we're out. But honestly, I don't understand why having a little boy in a women's restroom with stalls is a big deal. Locker room at 6, I get why they need to use the mens or the family changing rooms. And I don't know if I'd send a little girl into the men's room.

SurpriseAt39 · July 2014

I don't post frequently but...

ExH often sent DD to the ladies room alone when she was 4/5 because the men's rooms were disgustingly filthy and smelly. He stood outside the door.

If I was with them, I'd go wait inside, but let her use the stall alone.

My main concern is that they are too small to wash their hands and dry them. Soap, sink, hand dryer and paper towel are usually out of reach.
...
I've been to a few public pools with different rules;
1. Kids 7 and under MUST use the 'family washroom. After that they use men's/women's.
2. Another pool says age 5.
3. One pool near me does not have a family washroom but says under 5 only to stay with parent of opposite sex, otherwise use appropriate room.
...
I generally try to find an 'accessible' washroom, or family washroom.

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what age for public bathrooms alone?

Re: what age for public bathrooms alone?

eclaire 9.10.06 diggy 6.2.11

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