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Toilets with children

(114 Posts)
singerann2017 Fri 13-Jan-17 16:04:18

I would just like to ask what other people think about pub and public toilets. Whilst out today a father took his two year old to the gents in the pub. But the little girl had access to see men using the urinals. Am I being too sensitive here. He could have asked for the key to the disabled loo at the end of the bar. My husband chose not to use the loo as he was very uncomfortable.

thatbags Fri 13-Jan-17 16:08:10

Wouldn't one have to peer round quite closely to see more than a man's back. Aren't there usually cubicle toilets available as well as urinals? A dad could take his kids in one of those. Perhaps he did.

Plus, I'm don't think it would do a child any harm to see a penis or two. It's just biology.

suzied Fri 13-Jan-17 16:10:02

Would you be concerned if the child was a boy? The father was there with the child, could answer any questions. Personally, i think this is OK provided the child is with a parent. I think it a positive thing that some places have baby changing facilities in the men's as well as the women's loos.

annsixty Fri 13-Jan-17 16:15:45

A different but similar situation has arisen only this week at our local leisure centre. Boys over 8 are no longer allowed in the ladies changing area and a mother has protested that it puts her son in danger if he goes in the men's changing area alone.
I used to take my GS to his lessons occasionally and took him in a ladies cubicle. There were also family changing areas where a mum could take all her children. I assume the same facility was available in the men's.

ninathenana Fri 13-Jan-17 16:29:18

I agree thatbags it's biology and I would assume she has seen daddy's before.
On the rare occassion I'm allowed out with GS×2 I have taken them in the ladies with me when necessary, although the nearly 8 yo is beginging to insist on visiting the mens. Which maybe the result of a girl of about his age recently informing him that "boys aint allaud in 'ere" smile

Antonia Fri 13-Jan-17 16:51:34

When I am at a restaurant with my DGC I usually get the job of taking both children to the toilet afterwards. They both come in with me to the Ladies (boy age 7 and girl age 5). No-one has batted an eyelid so far, it's so obviously granny doing the post-meal WC run. The same would apply to a man doing the chore too. I can't see why anyone should feel uncomfortable with it, or why it should be an issue if the little girl does see men urinating. She is with her dad, she is not being molested, and if no-one makes a fuss about it she won't be troubled by it. I think there is a danger in today's society that anything that could be seen as even the slightest bit 'sexual' (for want of a better word) is immediately deemed to be sinister.

M0nica Fri 13-Jan-17 16:56:47

Both the swimming pools I use have large unisex changing rooms, with family and individual sized cubicles. One also has two single sex communal changing areas, but these are quite small and off the main changing area. I am not quite sure what their purpose is.

As for loos, as far as I am concerned it is a non-issue.

Luckygirl Fri 13-Jan-17 17:09:06

Definitely a non-issue. No problem at all with this.

stillaliveandkicking Fri 13-Jan-17 17:31:44

Im with you on this one OP. Don't think it's acceptable for a little girl to go into a blokes toilet in the pub.

Christinefrance Fri 13-Jan-17 17:48:55

I think the issue may be more about the fact we are talking about a pub lavatory . I would be a little concerned that there may be men in there a bit worse for wear. Leisure centres and restaurants may be a bit different.

Deedaa Fri 13-Jan-17 18:40:43

I think I'd be a little wary of a pub loo. Am I being a bit prudish to wonder why he was in a pub with a two year old? I would have thought there were more toddler friendly places around.

singerann2017 Fri 13-Jan-17 18:47:24

Thank you stillaliveandkicking. Not every one is understanding. The father did use a cubicle for the girl but then went back into it for himself leaving the girl to see others. Please the feelings of other male users need to be respected. This is now way noted as sexual. Changing rooms are not the same thing. Let children be shown biology at home.

Ana Fri 13-Jan-17 18:50:13

How do you know what the man did (i.e. go back into the cubicle, leaving his daughter alone in the men's toilet area) if your husband chose not to go in? confused

Eloethan Fri 13-Jan-17 18:58:07

But little boys go in with their mothers. If the cubicle was used, the little girl should have stayed in there with her dad.

What on earth is wrong with taking a young child into a pub? Many pubs are restaurants also.

rosesarered Fri 13-Jan-17 18:58:56

Yes, I wondered that! Maybe he didn't need to go himself?

Jalima Fri 13-Jan-17 19:02:07

hmm I was going to post but there is something odd about this thread.
Or is it just me?

FarNorth Fri 13-Jan-17 19:22:54

I remember going into men's toilets with my dad, when I was very young.

My DS is main carer for his 3yr old daughter. He takes her into men's toilets if there is no alternative, such as a disabled toilet, but is well aware that men's toilets are often dirtier and have been more vandalised than women's toilets.

petra Fri 13-Jan-17 19:28:54

A 2 year old wouldn't even notice/ understand if someone was ' worse for wear'
I think some of you should get out more and then you'll see that most pubs now are family friendly.
Have some of you never been in a male toilet? If you haven't I can assure you that they are not all standing there waving the old fella around. In fact most men never see another mans penis in this situation.

petra Fri 13-Jan-17 19:30:56

Jalima As I was posting I thought the same thing. Is somebody bored.

Linsco56 Fri 13-Jan-17 19:35:17

Rather strange topic of conversation for a first post. hmm

I'm having doubts!

f77ms Fri 13-Jan-17 19:37:39

If she was two she was no more than a toddler and wouldn`t have even noticed men using the toilets . Sounds a tad prudish to me , why was you H uncomfortable? has he never taken a child to use the Loo when out ?

f77ms Fri 13-Jan-17 19:38:33

Yes odd come to think of it hmm

Marmark1 Fri 13-Jan-17 19:40:51

There is nothing wrong with a dad taking his child to a public toilet.If she needs to go,she needs to go.We tend to worry about little girls in front of men,more than little boys in front of women,for good reason unfortunately.My Little granddaughter [3years] innocently comes out of the toilet with everything still pulled down.

Jalima Fri 13-Jan-17 19:41:53

Is somebody bored.
hmm

Anya Fri 13-Jan-17 19:42:09

When taking his daughter swimming my son had to take his daughter into the gents changing room. And there are often little boys in the female changing rooms.

I don't see the problem.