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Should A Six-Year-Old Go To A Public Bathroom Alone?

The parenting community was up in arms after a mum has reported seeing a poster outside the bathrooms in their local mall.

The sign reads, “Please. Boys over 6 years of age use Men’s restroom. Thank you.”

restroom

Parents were outraged about the sign saying that they were not comfortable sending their young kids into a public bathroom alone and six years old was far too young for a child to use the facilities by themselves.

Fierce online debate rages after a mum revealed her husband takes their daughter into the ladies’ toilets when out in public places.

In a related incident, a mum explained how she had told him ‘women don’t like that’, arguing that he should take their four-year-old into the men’s toilets.

Some members of the parenting forum agreed, saying ‘adult men should never be in women’s toilets’, while others had more sympathy and said they could understand why he wouldn’t want to take her to the men’s loos.

Several people suggested he should take her to the disabled toilet instead, sparking anger about whether this is appropriate or not.

We at MoM think this is totally cool and would not blink an eyelid to see a dad in the loo with his young daughter. GO DAD!

I would not like to see little girls in the men’s toilet.

I send my boys (mainly the eight year old) into the ladies loo if I am on my own. I hate sending him into a male toilet alone.

Are Family Rooms The Answer

It’s pretty obvious to us that family or parents rooms are the answer. However, these have also attracted their fair share of controversy.

Recently we shared how a QLD Dad was called a “sicko” and forced to leave a shopping centre parent’s room while changing his son’s nappy. READ that HERE.

While another dad was told he was a ‘dirty old man’ for taking his seven-week-old baby into the parents’ room. Read his story HERE.

What do you think? When would you feel comfortable sending your kid to the bathroom alone?

Share your comments below.

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  • I dont see what the issue is with having a boy in the womans toilets. We dont pee with our bits exposed to anyone that walks in. We are in cubicles with the door closed. Ive never walked into the public toilets and seen a topless or naked woman either and I would be really caught offguard if I did see that. I really dont see what the issue is. Now a Dad out shopping with a young girl has a different problem all together. If he takes her into the Mens then there are guys using the urinal which could be very uncomfortable for a little girl and perhaps for some men.

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  • But this will never be a problem in future as all toilets are multi-gender or unisex. Have a look next time you are in a hospital – there are no male or female toilets.

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  • I never let my boys into a men’s toilet alone until they were 8 years old and I always waited outside the main door. They had a safe word to yell out if they needed me and, believe me, I would have run in there without a second thought. It’s more dangerous now than it used to be. A parent’s room is a great idea as Parent’s Room means Mothers or Fathers.

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  • When we were away there was no way I was going to let not quite 5 y.o. go into the Male Toilets alone.

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  • That is so ridiculous! 6 year old boys are not going to prey on women. They are just going there to do what they need to do. It’s not like women are nude in there they are just going into stalls and answering nature’s call. There is nothing for a young boy to see. The only reason why we have separate bathrooms is to keep men out – not that all men are unsavoury characters, but because there are some out there who are. As to a man with a daughter – a lot of disabled toilets these days have change facilities in them. It is usually the accepted thing that in lieu (pardon the pun) of a parents’ room, a disabled toilet fills that role. How else would someone who has a pram be able to go to the loo? I have an older child and a younger one so we generally all go to the toilet together.

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  • There is no way at age 6 that I will be allowing my daughter to go alone in a toilet. Not long ago I heard about a 12 year old boy that was sexually assaulted in the toilets close to a cinema. Very scary stuff.

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  • It’s very tricky when as a parent your child is a different gender to you. I had a son who I would take into the Parent room for many years. As he got older, my husband had responsibiltty for taking him into the Mens toilets. At some point, my hubby allowed my son to go alone. It absolutely freaked me out and I would go into a panic. My hubby taught my son about all the things he needed to be mindful of and it took from there. I can’t remember his exact age, but he was obviously at school. If I’d had a daughter, it would have been simpler. I would have just had her come with me for as long as possible!!

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  • My son is eight and I take him into the women’s bathroom after swimming to shower and change. He doesn’t shower naked and I cover him with a towel when dressing. I also tell him to close his eyes if women are dressing. My son cannot defend himself against some stranger. He is NEVER allowed to enter a public toilet on his own ever and I also stress this to any of the school parents whom he might be out with if he is staying with friends, and they totally respect my decision.

    I also think it’s terrible that father’s are given are hard time about changing their kids. That is totally disgusting and I agree that there needs to be parent rooms for all parents to use and feel comfortable in.

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  • Sorry, don’t trust anyone will take my eight year old grandson to the ladies’ toilet or baby change room. I have been doing it since he was younger and most women don’t have a problem with it, why would they? They are using a cubicle, not out in the open!!

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  • Absolutely not, I still take my 8yo son into the ladies.

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  • I do not see any problem with the dad taking daughter in to female toulets and would be more appropriate than male toilets. I find it very upsetting that men changing their babies nappies or using the parents room and being bullied or having offensive comments said to them appalling. Grow up narrow minded people

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  • No,not at that age. When will they have children’s toilets? Or parents toilets. There are thinking of doing non-gender but not looking after kids with their parents. My son always had long hair so we never had any problems going into the ladies, other than that would use the disabled if it was too busy in the ladies.

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  • Cannot see a problem with a man taking his daughter into the female toilets after all everyone has a cubicle so nothing is seen which is completely different in male toilets. Of course with the new gender free toilets coming on line, men and women can use any toilets they like.

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  • This is fantastic page! Great stories, recipes, information & competitions!

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  • My 36 year old severely autistic son will come into the disabled toilets with me. If there is no disabled toilet, then we use the women’s toilets. He – like a 6 year old – has absolutely no recognition of danger. To make matter worse, he is non verbal so couldn’t tell me if anything happened in the men’s toilets. He wouldn’t be able to give evidence in court so would be the perfect victim! His safety comes before women feeling uncomfortable.


    • Ridiculous sign. If I see something similar I’ll take it down and put it in the bin.

    Reply

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