How to manage with a baby in a public toilet

[appleeyes]

I don't have a baby yet but planning to start trying soon. I've now started looking around at everyday situations and wondering how the hell anyone manages to do them with a baby in tow. Number one on the list is public toilets. I have seen some with larger stalls for a pram to fit in and once in my life somewhere there was a special little seat inside the stall that you could strap the baby into. If neither of these options are available, what do you do? Would you use the disabled toilet? Do you leave the baby in the pram outside the stall? Or do you take the baby in with you and somehow hold them while you use the loo? I never sit on a public toilet and I imagine it is pretty difficult to hold a baby whilst hovering to pee, never mind trying to change pads or something like that! Please tell me - how do you manage it? Or will I have to go home every time I need the loo!

[YDdraigGoch]

I think it's better these days than when I had my DDs, but I had to dash home many a time to go for a wee, because there was nowhere in Swindon with a toilet big enough for a pram to fit in.
Once, when I was desperate, I asked a nice looking lady to mind the baby while I had a quick wee.
You can tell that most architects are men...

[MrsCosmopilite]

I don't think I used public toilets as such - cafe toilets, department store toilets etc., yes.
Most of them have disabled toilets that double up as baby change rooms, or separate facilities for both.

I didn't use a sling, but would imagine if you had baby in a sling it'd be fairly easy to 'hover' and do whatever you needed to.

Agree that many architects are men. I'm sure that's why most women's toilets are so far away from everything/upstairs.

[lola88]

disabled or most big shopping centers have baby change/feeding rooms with a separate toilet... once you have a baby you just figure it out and get used to it. I pee'd this morning with DS sitting on my lap because DN was chasing him up the hall barking at him!

[sleepyhead]

You can use an end cubicle and keep the door open so you can see the pram if necessary.

I tend to plan in advance, make sure I go before leaving home and take advantage of baby-friendly loos when I see them.

I have also weed with baby sitting on lap. Wetting yourself or your buttocks touching the seat of a public lav? The choice is yours..

[Patchouli]

I have one of these - it's been great

[mumofboyo]

Most modern baby change rooms and shopping centres have a toilet that's large enough to fit a standard pushchair. A lot of places have a joint disabled toilet/baby change room. If I'm desperate and there's no available mother/baby toilet then I use the disabled facilities. I also had to use them when I had the double buggy as it was too long to fit into a cubicle. I've only ever had one comment, to I replied "Take it up with store management not me. I have to use the toilet and see no alternative."

[ChipAndSpud]

Our local shopping centre has a baby change area with a huge toilet at the end for mums to take the buggy in. Otherwise if I had no choice I'd take the baby into a disabled toilet with me. Failing that, I'd ask a woman with children if she would mind keeping an eye on the baby for me for a minute. Or old ladies are always very helpful!

[Clargo55]

I've been thinking about this too. It has helped me decide to not bother with a pram and just a use a sling. Also easier to manoeuvre in busy shops without pushing a pram around and out of people's way.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

I shopped in John Lewis at Bluewater for the first few months. Their mother and baby area had a huge toilet room with a big loo for mum, a small loo for toddler and plenty of room for the buggy.

[AnotherStitchInTime]

I used a sling a lot when dd2 was little as dd1 was also potty training so often needed to be quick about getting into the toilet. Also as others have said a lot of changing facilities are in the disabled loo so I just take the buggy in, you get to know where the good ones are.

I have also left the pram outside and taken dd2 in with me, doing the one handed trouser pull down with baby on opposite hip, then switch and jiggle trousers down. I then pee with her sat on my lap, have had to do this at home a few times when she has been screaming.

The worst time I find is now that dd2 is a toddler and into everything as she heads straight for the toilet brush or sanitary bin if not in the buggy, I have to hold her reins short to stop her whilst trying to get my kecks down to pee. Not great considering I am heavily pregnant and need to pee a lot.

[BackforGood]

You either do shorter trips where you don't need to go,
or
You go out for the day/afternoon with a friend
or
You get to know where there are big enough places (often combined with the accessible ones, but fine to use in many places - as with lifts)
or
You ask someone to keep an eye on them while you nip in

Really, it's not such a big deal - there are plenty of bigger worries I'd have thought, if you are not even expecting yet

[ManifestingMingeWhispersAlone]

just once I ended up putting my coat on the floor of a cubicle and plonking a baby on it.
usually not necessary.
pushchair is handy for the shopping though I quite missed it when they didn't need it any more

[mawbroon]

If your baby sleeps as badly as ds1 did, you'll be bloody grateful for the sit down on the bog!

[AndIFeedEmGunpowder]

Was just talking about this with DH and saying how I just kept DD in the sling when she was tiny and how that must have been even easier for him as he didn't have to sit down.

He replied that he never had any problems as he always put DD in the sink!

It is a wonder she is still alive.

[ChutesTooNarrow]

Slings are amazing for situations like this. I used a moby when dd was newborn, and now a connecta from about four months, and easily managed the loo whilst she was strapped in. Often she doesn't even wake up!

[rachyconks]

You get to know where the good facilities are. Most, where I live, are disabled toilets with baby change. My pram is huge and fits in no problem. Supermarkets are always well equipped too.

[VikingLady]

Our local leisure centre (they're our public loos) say to use the disabled toilet, as do the shopping centre. I wrote and asked as neither baby change room has a toilet!

As others have said though, a sling is easier. It's pretty much the same manoeuvre as peeing whilst heavily pregnant.

[Artandco]

Sling with baby or use end one and leave door open

Once they can sit up sometimes took baby travel changing mat in and put on floor and sit baby on the mat.

Eventually they stand ( and try and open the loo!)

[negrilbaby]

Just reminded me of an argument I had in the café at The Thames Barrier park.
This was a regular Friday morning trip for myself, toddler and baby. The cafe was never crowded and we could often be the only people there. They have tiny toilet cubicles - impossible to take in a buggy and toddler. The man who ran the café had no issues with me using the disabled loos - and always handed over the key happily.
On the day in question the new lady behind the counter refused - telling me I wasn't disabled. No amount of explanation/pleading/arguing would suffice - she was adamant.
Ended up leaving baby in buggy with toddler outside the toilet door. Had him poke his feet under so I know he hadn't gone anywhere - and kept up a conversation with him throughout the quickest wee ever!

[yellowsnownoteatwillyou]

I had this issue in marks n Spencer's of all places. 2 baby change rooms no toilet in either. Had to go to the toilet rather quickly shall we say, disabled toilet occupied. Went for End cubical door slightly open, baby outside asleep in the pram. Really didn't want to but had no choice. An old lady did hover slowly washing her hands until I came out and smiled at me so felt my pain and was silently helping. I mentioned it in a round about way to mil, who said
" oh you can't do that anymore, imagine something had happened to the baby?!?l
Thanks just what I needed, to make it worse. I now work out where toilets are in advance

[mrsmartin1984]

Use a sling instead of a pram. Problem solved

[sherbetpips]

Disabled loo or the mini me loos in the baby changing/kids facilities

[ILoveNoodles]

Patchouli

You cannot post something like that and not provide the necessary links.
What the hell is that called. I've googled strechy hangy baby thing.
No it's not that.

[ArabellaBeaumaris]

I've left the baby outside the cubicle in the pram - really how long are you planning on peeing for that you are genuinely concerned about abduction? It takes about 10 mins to navigate a buggy out through those unwieldy double doors they always have, am sure you would be able to catch up with the baby thief.

Or put the baby on the floor. In a reasonable toilet it's not going to kill the child.

Or indeed use the sink - have done that one - or just hold it.