When Should Children Use Public Loos?

[silliemillie]

Was out with my Daughter in law today when my grandson needed the loo.
WE were in McDonalds in the shopping centre so she just said 'go on then' & off he went into the mens by himself.

We could see the main door from where we were sitting so knew he couldnt wander off bt I was a bit uncomfortable about this but maybe I was being over protective but when he comes out with me on my own he comes into the ladies with me.

He is 6 so at what age do you think its ok to go to the mens or too old to go into the ladies?

I'm talking about shopping centres & places like that.

Many thanks for your opinions.

[silliemillie]

Thats what I mean DT, a man can ask a lady to take his little girl in but not many women would ask a man to take her little boy in,

[missprim]

I'm of the old school too and would take my 6 yr old grandson into the ladies with me but then again, so would his Mum.
I'm quite amazed that some of you think there can't be anyone lurking in the men's toilets and to be honest with you me and my daughter would not take that chance.

[ummmm]

Children are more at risk from relatives or family friends.

[missprim]

Unfortunately that's true ummmm. but in this day and age you can't take a chance with thinking children will be safe and I feel we should do all we can to protect them.
You know of cases where kids are left out to play when it's gone dark and then they are taken and we all say, what were the parents thinking of letting them out so late.

[starone]

Yes seriously ummmm, mainly because I have seen it happen and pervert gone before anyone could do anything. I know children are at risk from family and friends but the more you can do to protect them the better. Good idea to get them lessons in self protection.

[missprim]

Starbuckone you can't teach a little 6yr old boy to defend himself against a man. We have children and we are responsible for them. If someone wants to take the chance then that's down to them, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to my grandchildren if I was neglectful.

[starone]

I agree with you Missprim.

[ummmm]

This has nothing to do with letting little kids play out after dark. It's about letting a 6 year old use the toilets in McDonalds. Toilets that are in view of the parents. Toilets that said parents could walk into at any point...

No wonder our kids are growing up with no common sense.

[Orderlimit]

"but in this day and age you can't take a chance with thinking children will be safe " defo agree

[missprim]

This has nothing to do with common sense either!
If you let a child into a public toilet (even McDonald's) you do not know who is in there. If a man wanted to abuse a child, he would take a chance, just like people who break into your house when you are watching TV. He would be out of there without you knowing anything was wrong because the child would be still inside the toilet completely distressed.
It doesn't matter where you are, remember Jamie Bulgar? Taken from a busy shopping centre.
Sorry to keep going on about this but it's just one of those things I am passionate about, the safety of our children.

[daffy654]

The chance of there being a predator in the toilet at the same time as your child is very slim.

By the way missprim, it is James Bulger (not bulgar), his parents never called him Jamie so why should we, the same goes for Madeline McCann, she was never called Maddie except by the press and public... one of my bugbears, sorry :)

[ummmm]

It's even less than slim.

[rockyracoon]

I think a 6 I used to take him into the ladies, can't remember how old e was when he started to go in the gent's on his own. My daughter (who is 12) would still have me go into a public loo with her now if it's somewhere unfamiliar. We had more problems over swimming pool changing rooms than public loos.

[naomi24]

At 6, I'd take him to the ladies wherever we were.

[ummmm]

That's the thing Rocky, it depends on the child.

[bednobs]

i don't know if anyone else has said this, but just asked hubby what he'd do with our daughter if she was six -he'd take her into the men's in a cubicle or into the disabled/baby change one

[mallyh]

as my grandsons nine he goes in gents on his own but im very close by

[hc4361]

This happened in McDonald's toilets

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370807/McDonalds-sex-attacker-Simon-Archer-jailed.html

[missprim]

Apologies to daffy that I didn't check the spelling of little James Bulger.
Thanks to hc4361 for putting that article on here to show those who think it is usually safe to do this, proving that isn't always the case.

[hc4361]

Paedophiles with evil intent are drawn to places where there are children - seaside resorts, theme parks, McDonalds, fun fairs, swimming pools etc.

Not saying there is a paedophile behind every tree or door but people need to be aware.