At what age (@ related but I want everyone's opini

[Deleted]

Do you think a child should stop going into the restroom with their parent of the opposite sex?

I just saw a roughly 6 year old come out of the women's restroom with his mom. To me that is too.

[Deleted]

Kindergarten age? I don't know how old that is, but it seems like when you get to kindergarten you should be able to use the bathroom by yourself.

[Deleted]

That's 5.

[FrozenSunshine]

I say 5 or so as well.

I was in the bathroom at an airport a while back, boy had to be 8 or so, leaned up against the wall playing on a cell phone. A gal asked if he was in line, he said no, waiting for his mom.

I was shocked.

[jennlin]

Aug 18, 2012 22:51:07 GMT -5 kooshball said:

I don't really worry that the kid needs help in the bathroom... I worry about who else is in there and if they would know what to do if something happened.

This. Totally. They have family restrooms for a reason. I will say probably 7 or so.

[InBetweenDays]

Um, I have a 6 year old and there is no way I'd want her to go into a restroom alone. If she's out with her dad she goes into the restroom with him. I think it will be at least 7 years old before I'd be comfortable with her going into the bathroom by herself.

ETA: For me it has nothing to do with her being able to use the bathroom by herself. When I take her to the bathroom she goes into the stall on her own. But I don't feel comfortable yet with her going into a restroom (unless it's a single occupancy restroom) without an adult. And there are MANY times when a family restroom is not an option.

[georgeharrison]

Aug 18, 2012 23:18:08 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Um, I have a 6 year old and there is no way I'd want her to go into a restroom alone. If she's out with her dad she goes into the restroom with him. I think it will be at least 7 years old before I'd be comfortable with her going into the bathroom by herself.

ETA: For me it has nothing to do with her being able to use the bathroom by herself. When I take her to the bathroom she goes into the stall on her own. But I don't feel comfortable yet with her going into a restroom (unless it's a single occupancy restroom) without an adult. And there are MANY times when a family restroom is not an option.

As a mom of a 7 year old boy, I almost never allow him to go into the restroom alone. The only exception to this is a single occupancy restroom (like pp mentioned) that we check together first. I have heard of several situations where there is a creeper just waiting in the bathroom for a young kid to come in alone. My mom even told me of a story where some guy was waiting in a single occupancy restroom at a Burger King and a kid went in there alone. His dad was right on the other side of the door, but the creeper locked it as soon as the kid came in and started doing bad stuff to the kid. Awful stuff. It would be nice if this wasn't the world we live in today, and like pp have mentioned, Tman can go to the bathroom by himself. He doesn't need my help. But, I can't risk someone hurting my son in a public restroom. Even if the chances are slim, I won't risk it.

Luckily, since he's a boy, I mostly just send him to the bushes when he needs to go.

ETA: Of course if James is around, he will take Tman to the men's room, but if we are at Fred Meyer or something and James isn't there, it's the ladies' room for him. I don't know how old he will be before I send him in the men's room alone, but I know that right now, he's still small and wouldn't be able to fend off an adult that wanted to hurt him.

[Deleted]

Maybe I'm just too carefree about this at this point since he is still in diapers. I just find it weird to have a boy any older than 6 or so in the women's room and it starts making me uncomfortable with them in there.

[FrozenSunshine]

I guess in the instance I stated, if you're bringing an 8 year old + into the bathroom, that isn't in the stall using the restroom, leave them outside, surely the other 1000+ people walking by a gate would realize something was happening to the child before they could do anything or kidnap them. Or at least have them turn their cell phone off, and take them into the stall with you.

[fiddles]

I think it depends on where you are at. If there's only 1 entrance in/out and it's not crowded, sure the kid at 6-7 can go by themselves. If it's a super crowded place, a few entrances...no thanks. Like a PP said, this world is too screwed up to take any chances.

[picksthemusic]

It depends. If a parent of the same gender is with you, then they should take them. But if you're by yourselves (say shopping or whatever), I think kindergarten age is fine to let them go by themselves. Just wait outside the restroom for them, and if they don't come out in a reasonable amount of time, go after them. LOL

[picksthemusic]

Aug 18, 2012 22:55:38 GMT -5 FrozenSunshine said:

I say 5 or so as well.

I was in the bathroom at an airport a while back, boy had to be 8 or so, leaned up against the wall playing on a cell phone. A gal asked if he was in line, he said no, waiting for his mom.

I was shocked.

You know, at an airport, if I was alone with my child (below the age of 10), I'd have them wait with me, too. Airports are just too risky, IMO. If it was the mall, I'd give a major side-eye, though.

[InBetweenDays]

Aug 20, 2012 10:44:20 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

Aug 18, 2012 22:55:38 GMT -5 FrozenSunshine said:

I say 5 or so as well.

I was in the bathroom at an airport a while back, boy had to be 8 or so, leaned up against the wall playing on a cell phone. A gal asked if he was in line, he said no, waiting for his mom.

I was shocked.

You know, at an airport, if I was alone with my child (below the age of 10), I'd have them wait with me, too. Airports are just too risky, IMO. If it was the mall, I'd give a major side-eye, though.

I'd actually be much more comfortable having them wait outside at an airport than a mall. There aren't nearly as many entrances/exits at an airport as there are at a mall, unless you want to try to go through a secured door with an alarm and end up on the tarmac. Plus I would be more comfortable with the number of security guards, TSA officers, or airport employees that are around the airport concourses rather than the one or two mall cops on their segways.

[madDawg228]

I think for the average kid, 10 is a good cutoff time for bringing them into the opposite sex restroom. I agree with PPs who say there are WAY too many creepers out there, and it's better to be safe than sorry. I also agree that I find it a little awkward when I see a 6+ year old in there, but I understand the parent's concern about keeping their kid safe.

[amandasw]

Aug 20, 2012 11:25:34 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Aug 20, 2012 10:44:20 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

You know, at an airport, if I was alone with my child (below the age of 10), I'd have them wait with me, too. Airports are just too risky, IMO. If it was the mall, I'd give a major side-eye, though.

I'd actually be much more comfortable having them wait outside at an airport than a mall. There aren't nearly as many entrances/exits at an airport as there are at a mall, unless you want to try to go through a secured door with an alarm and end up on the tarmac. Plus I would be more comfortable with the number of security guards, TSA officers, or airport employees that are around the airport concourses rather than the one or two mall cops on their segways.

ditto - you can't even get in anymore without a ticket, so I kind of assume that for the most part, people are more 'normal' since they had to pay $$ to get in! lol

Not a parent, but it weirds me out to see an older looking kid of the opposite sex in the bathroom. I think if you want to bring them in, take them into the stall with you.

[georgeharrison]

I can hold it for a long time (not saying it's good, but I can). I can't remember a single time - at least not since Tman was a baby that I took him into the restroom for me to go. The only time he ends up in the ladies room is if HE has to go. Otherwise, I just hold it, because yeah, I would find it weird to have him (7 years old) just standing around in the ladies room waiting for me.