Public Restroom

[MariaSangria]

At what age is is alright to send a boy to the men's room alone? There comes a time when they are too old to enter the ladies room; however, I worry about the perverts that may be in the men's room.

[cliffsweb]

its a difficult one this, depends how mature the lad is, but def not before the age of 8, even then i'd be worried, one thing when the boy does go on his own make sure he understands to go into a cubile and lock the door not use them thingys where they stand and wee. some public toilets have attendants and you could ask them to keep an ey e open for any trouble.

[mimififi]

My son is a big strapping lad but is only 8 and I do not allow him to go to any public toilets alone (especially after the story here in the UK a few weeks back when a little girl was followed and attacked in a toilet in sainsbury's. ) I make him come in the ladies with us and as I have other younger children, it kinda looks ok, noone ever questions us or minds, and it is only him that moans, but frankly you're right; who knows what type of men go in the mens room? I don't envisage him going in by himself until some considerable time in the future, maybe 12 or 13...even then, I'll be worried sick!

Hope this helps.

[doglady]

Personally, it wouldn't bother me that a boy came in the ladies with his mum until he was 12 or 13. It would bother me if he was sent in there by himself!!

On the other way around, I have been asked to take little girls into the ladies before now by dads on their own, which I think is very unsafe. I know I'm fine to do that, and would just be helpful (and not wipe any bottoms or anything), but it's still not a good idea!!

[maxi29]

I can't remember exactly when I went on my own....but I think I was about 6 or 7; certainly I was going on my own by the time I was 8.. While it's true that there are perverts that hang out in such places, they're extremely rare.

[Hellion]

I always send my son (8) to the loo with someone I know and trust or take him in the ladies with me. I've never had any lady object. I agree it's more difficult the other way round with dads and little girls but I would have no objection to a dad taking his little girl to the loo in the ladies. One male friend always takes his daughter to the disabled loo as they are often separate. It's about time they had parent and child loos - like a disabled loo but with a separate cubicle in side or at least a modesty screen.

[nik1971]

my son is 14 tommorow and still sometimes comes to the ladies loos with me!
we do sometimes get an odd look but i couldnt care less! if thats what he feels comfortable doing then so be it. !

[suzi-q]

I don't know if there is a set age I think its just when it seems right.

I don't think there is a pervert lurking in every public loo but having bought up 2 boys myself I know what you mean. I can't remember when they stopped coming in with me. I think 11-ish is a sensible age to think they are grown up enough to go in the mens on their own.

I have been known to hover outside the mens loo and even call out to check they're ok.

[teag1rl]

12 or 13??? I'd have issues with a kid of that age using the ladies loos. I'd say he should definitely be allowed to go alone by the time he gets to secondary school (11yrs old in UK). And that's for his own benefit-the p*ss take (no pun intended) would be unreal. Depends where you're talking about really. Dimly let grotty public lavs in parks or the loo in the pub or at the supermarket? Even I wouldn't go near those park one erggghh.

[Scarlett]

You could always take him into the gents if you were really worried? I would say secondary school is the limit. Imagine if he was spotted going into the Ladies by someone in his class? The humiliation! Advise him to go straight in and use a cubicle rather than a urinal.

[harriman]

I agree with zacsmaster - the media are all scaremongerers.
My 6 year old goes into the gents by himself when I'm at the supermarket although I do keep an eye on how long he's been in the loo. I wouldn't be bothered about an older boy going into the ladies if thats what's right for them, its just that my lad wouldn't be seen dead going into the ladies (he's 6 going on 11!). In fact my 5 year old boy sometimes goes into the gents with his brother too.
My 3 year old girl goes into the loo with her 8 year old sister and I sometimes wait outside the door.
I say CHILL OUT parents!
There were weirdo's hanging around when I was a lass as much as there are now.

[nik1971]

zac, i think you may have misunderstood what i wrote........................................... going into the ladies loos with me SOMETIMES is what my son wishes to do. theres no apron strings to cut and certainly cant foresee a problem in the future just as i havent had with my other children!
neither myself and especially not my son couldnt care less what people think of him coming into the ladies loos, what is there in a ladies loo that is so private?! cubicles?

[Rock'n'Roll]

the countries going paranoid. The chances of your lad meeting a pervert in toilets are remote to say the least,especially well frequented ones. Just stay at the entrance and wait.. I'm afraid Paedos aren't a new phenomenon,they were around when I was a kid. To make him more at ease,try and use toilets with an attendant if any still exist

[Pippa68]

My son has been going into public loos on his own since he was about 9 (he is now 13) and hasn't met a pervert yet...I very much doubt he will either.

it isn't as common as you may think!

[mimififi]

it is extremely rare that a peodo is going to be in the gents waiting to assault my 8 year old boy but not utterly impossible as the event a few months back in sainsbury's is proof of; if however, it did happen I would be devastated that I didn't make sure of his safety and just thought "It'll never happen to me..."

Car crashes are also rare comparitively; for the amount of cars we pass everyday and the number of times we see even a minor crash, the chances of having a car crash remain low. i do however still use car seats for all my children (except my 11 year old) and my nearly 5 year old is still in a 5 point harness. You see, I would rather they were strapped in than dead; just as I would rather my 8 year old was in the ladies with me rather than being raped.

I agree that there is a degree of scaremongering going on, but as parents I think we should remain vigilant and cautious (providing it is not becoming issuous) as to not be could result in tragedy from which we might never forgive ourselves.

[madham]

The legal age is 8, but I would leave it as long as you can get away with, trust no one!

[CLOWN TICKLE]

A sign in Chester Zoo says boys aged 7

[clairey-s]

how about as soon as he can explain to you why he doesnt want to go into the ladies, as long as its not a 4 year olds cry of "im norra giirrrll"
xx