At what age is it inappropriate to take a child of the opposite sex with you into the bathroom?
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I would say not until you are content him going into the toilet alone
My son is 6 and he doesn't leave my sight to go into the men's bathroom. I trust no one
Up to 13 is fine. Other women in the bathroom don’t care.
@Bethany no way
@Rosa Only had 4 options for choices so started at my son’s age and went up a year from there then put a comment option. I know some moms with 5yo that let their kids go into bathrooms alone so I’m honestly not sure what age is “too old”. I don’t think I’d let him go in alone until I’m comfortable but was curious if there’s an age that would be considered inappropriate generally.
I would not care if I saw a woman bring her little boy into the ladies. Rather everyone’s kids be safe with their mums than be sent alone into the men’s!
Well I wouldn't mind an 8 year old boy in the women's bathroom with his mum. But I don't like the sound of a girl going into the men's eww, there's urinals for everyone to see 😕
I couldn’t let a 5 year old child out of my sight in a public place, especially in public bathrooms with total strangers. I don’t know what age though - it’s hard to say.
I wouldn't think it was strange until 11ish if I had to give a number. I would say to use common sense and keep the child in the stall with the parent or use a family washroom. Most washrooms around us are still kept locked from the lockdowns and the staff will happily just prevent anyone else from entering if requested for a man to go into the girls washroom for change table or comfort. I like that middle ground option.
Way older than that. Ignore them.
This is the thing - there’s nowhere else in public that you’d tell your young child to “just go in there with I-don’t-know-who…. you’ll be fine, probably…”. Just not worth the risk and I can’t get my head around anyone sending their small child in alone somewhere just like that. Keep them with you & safe.
Im not there yet but If I had to guess I’d say a tween about 8/ 9 or so or older primarily because I’m thinking that they’d not really want to go with you at that age - but also that’s assuming that he’s being left with someone else my son is tall for his age also and I personally wouldn’t care one bit about what other people who do nothing for me think at this age specifically 🫠he’s literally still a toddler 🤦🏾♀️
My step son was 7 and going into the restroom alone. Made me nervous but he didn’t feel comfortable going into the women’s so I just stayed close to the entrance and called out after a few minutes.
I feel like somewhere between 8-12 depending on the child's maturity level. But there was a case of a 9 year old boy getting murdered in a bathroom at the beach, with his aunt waiting outside, that will always haunt me.
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Until there old enough to go to the toilet on their own. There are a lot of weirdos out there. I take my 9 year old in the bathroom with me and don’t care what other women think he is not a adult man
@🩷 Patience 🩷 I've seen that video! He was waiting by the sinks...but you don't hear the water on! Who knows how long he had been in there...so freaky!
@Grace omg this is horrible I’ve never heard of this story but just looked it up that’s so very unfortunate
My Son is 8 and no longer feels comfortable going to the ladies' room with me. So we decided that he will go alone To the men's bathroom, I wait outside anxiously, and if he takes too long I raise my voice and ask if he is okay, Waiting for his reply... Ready to go in if necessary. My point is, ignore the glances of ignorant women, your son is your priority. He alone will tell you when the time comes to go alone.
@Donna I was too little to remember it, but my mom talked about it several times (as reason why she didn't want us going on our own) and it stuck with me. Such a horrible situation 😭
When you trust him to go in by himself. And when i say trust him, i also mean anyone who may be in the toilets with him. My oldest is 5 and i would never let him go in by himself. I can't imagine allowing it at least until he is 10 or so....
school age
My son is really young still but I’d say when the child feels really confident and the mom feels good. Whether that’s 5 or 10 doesn’t matter. Both need to feel confident.
They would be at least 10-11 people Are crazy if they think I’d put my child in danger for their comfort 🤡 If you don’t like opposite gender children in a public bathroom pee at home 🙃. You hear stories of attacks happening in bathrooms x
My son is 10 this month and a big boy for his age, and I still take him into the women’s toilets with me, don’t care what anyone has to say and luckily no one ever has said anything. He keeps asking when he can go to the toilet alone etc but no way am I letting him out of my sight when I don’t know who’s on the other side of the mens toilet
He’s 3, ignore any looks. That’s awful some women were bitches about it, he’s a babe and needs help in the bathroom still. I see young boys all the time, 7/8/9/10. I don’t bat an eyelid since mum is there with them.
I wouldn’t give two .. I will take my kid no matter their gender/age into the bathroom with me until I feel it’s safe for them to go on their own
Up to 10
I’m not really sure what age but it’s definitely not 5! I won’t be letting my son just go alone into a room full of men we don’t know when he is 5.
If you're accompanying your child i dont see an issue using the opposite sex bathroom as children have different needs but by 7/8 they should know how to use the bathroom at least by themselves.
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@Grace I just looked this up and i am mortified😭😭 i already wouldn't trust leaving my kid in a bathroom but I'm even more paranoid now😭💔poor baby
10 years old is too big.
@Shay absolutely a horrible case 😭!! I guess his case was one that sparked the need for family bathrooms.
When they express discomfort
My girls are really small but I don’t think we’ll allow them to go alone until they’re able to recognize and articulate if they’re in danger should a situation arise.
My boys, 10 & 9. I still don’t allow them to go by themselves. If they are with me, they use the girls bathroom. It won’t hurt them and other ladies can kick rocks. Grown men be in the bathrooms and no way I want them in the same room alone with them
My son was 7 when he started refusing to go into the women’s toilets. Think for me it depends where they are. Used to be fun as he’d refuse to go in if anyone else was there or come out if someone was in there. I think it needs to be something that’s child led although 10 probably is too old.
Ignore the women giving you evils!! Do what you feel comfortable with. I think 13 as stated above is a bit old though 😂 they do need to actually at some point need to learn to go to the toilet without mummy 😂 5yrs old 100% in with mum.
7
Personally speaking, I could not give a shit about seeing a 10 year old in the women’s bathroom. I find it odd that you’re getting strange looks from other women for your 3 year old (or say 5 year old for arguments sake) being with you. I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable telling my 3 year old to go pee in the men’s room on his own!
Omg what is wrong with people?! Even if he was 5 it would be absolutely fine! I would 100% not be letting my unaccompanied child in the toilet with a bunch of strangers. I think the people Giving strange looks are the weirdos tbh
No age limited, your kids could have special needs that can't be visible to others. The other women in the toilet should mind their own business...also if nobody directly told you anything, maybe you just feel judge but they don't actually look at you 🤷🏾♀️
Like ten. There’s no age it’s inappropriate to take a child in the bathroom with you until they’re considered grown enough to walk somewhere a few blocks away on their own. Of the alternative is leaving them unattended in a store or something they’re def coming in with me until 10/12 idc idc
In today’s world our babies come first. If you feel it right I. Your heart do. So much happens in todays world where if people just did what right in their heart and follow their instincts, so much could have been avoided.
I’ll never send my little boy into the men’s until he can stand his own, he can use the disabled or he can come in with me, women who moan clearly aren’t mother, same as my little girl if she’s with her dad, she’ll use the disabled with her dad and won’t be going into the men’s x
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I literally wouldn't judge any mother who took a boy of any age in with them them the ladies toilet.
Definitely 9/10 even if it’s in the women’s toilets they can go in on their own but you stand outside the door depending how comfortable you are with leaving your little one on their own
i’d say 10+ you should probably stop. but personally while my son is little i’d never let him go into the men’s room alone. i’ll bring him with me for as long as possible
Thank you ladies- your responses have been very reassuring and eye opening. You all rock! I know for a fact he is too young now, but the looks I got the last couple of times made me think about this. But now that I think about it some more, most of the glaring was from younger women and it never occurred to me that they might not understand because they don’t have kids (thanks @Beth for pointing this out). Either way, I’m just going to ignore everyone else and do what’s best for my family.
I’d say when they are well aware they arnt supposed to be in there. Maybe use the family bathroom. I know for little boys it’s awkward. But yeah I guess 5 would be a good time to start maybe trying to use the right bathroom or family,
Surely if you’re not doing anyone any harm, then do what works for you and keeps your son safe and well. This only goes up to 5 years old - that’s still a really little child.