Are you afraid to let your children go to the bathroom in public?
By DJ9020
@DJ9020 (1594)
United States
September 2, 2007 8:59pm CST
My mother in law is afraid to let her grandson (who is 8) go to a public restroom by himself. I'm not naive, I know that things do happen. But I think those instances are few and far between and greatly exaggerated when they hit the news. So, is it safe to let an 8 year old go to the bathroom by himself?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@jcyap888 (721)
• Philippines
3 Sep 07
yes in public toilet you can get so many virus, bacteria everything coz its public and not clean. if i will let my kids go to toilet i tell them not to seat or touch any part of the toilet wash hand after use. if they gonna seat i tell them to put tissue on the rim before they seat.
1 person likes this
@DJ9020 (1594)
• United States
4 Sep 07
Actually, I think his grandmother was more worried about him getting molested than germs. She watches television news constantly and calls us whenever she hears a story about a child that's molested or missing or any problem at a school, anywhere. She is a real worrier.
@jcyap888 (721)
• Philippines
4 Sep 07
like my grandma she is very protective to their grandson. whenever the kids go, oh take care of your babies dont let him ....and ... always like that. i sick and tire of it but it give me a good memory and advice how she loves their grandchildren.
1 person likes this
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I understand how she feels. Unfortunately when you go out with a child who is a different gender than your own, you have this dilema.
It's hard to let a child go into a bathroom alone.
I guess 7 and 8 years old is the age where it starts to become inapproriate to take a boy into a womens bathroom? I don't remember at what age I stoped taking my boy into the bathroom. It was probalby younger now that I think of it.
When I started getting funny looks from women I took the hint. He's eleven now and I still become a little uneasy when he goes off to the mens room.
There are just a lot of wierdos out there and mensrooms have urinals so I guess they are forced to expose themselves briefly.
Yeah it still concerns me, but we can't go in with them. Luckily mine doesn't waste any time. I just wait outside for him.
1 person likes this
@DJ9020 (1594)
• United States
4 Sep 07
That's her concern, about the possibility of some wierdo. But I think that, for the most part, the wierdos are the exception. As I said in an earlier comment, next time I see him I'm going to ask him some 'stranger danger' questions. Fortunately, my kids had some great training in that area by a martial arts instructor when they were taking classes. Once a month they had an open 'stranger danger' class.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
3 Sep 07
Well I have to admit when mine where 8 I would not let them go alone either obviously with my Son I used to stand outside the Gents and with my Girl I would go at the same time lol
I was always scared in case something happened to them
I am still that bad today lol and they are 23 and 20 but no I do not go to the Toilet with them anymore
Anyway they live to far away for me to go with them
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
28 Jan 08
Whenever I am out with my Niece and Nephew, I go in the bathroom with my Niece and I stand right outside the door when my Nephew goes in. He knows he can yell and I'll come right in...I don't care if it is the men's room. I also remind them to wipe the seat off first and wash their hands when their done.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@Nardz13 (5054)
• New Zealand
3 Sep 07
Hi there. I dont have our children using public toilets, unless they really have too, which so far, they have'nt, and if that happened, I would be right there with them... Id rather have our children use home or somewhere clean, like Mc Donalds, Burger king or KFC toilets and that way, either my husband or I are always handy and near...
1 person likes this
@DJ9020 (1594)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I waited outside the men's room, but of course, something still could have happened. I guess I feel like you can't control everything, and as long as I was near I would hear if he started yelling or anything. Come to think of it, I don't know if his parents or anyone has ever been over 'stranger danger' stuff with him. He doesn't have the best of home environments.
