to use a disabled toilet if I've got the buggy?

[MrsHelsBels74]

Pretty much as the thread title says, if you're out in public & need to loo but can't fit the buggy into a normal cubicle is it acceptable to take the buggy into the disabled toilet? I'd never use a disabled parking space but did this today in desperation. So, is it ok or still a no-no?

I once had a no 2 in a French motorway service station hole in the ground with 7 month old DS in sling - that was an unforgettable experience.

If I had to do the same now, I wouldn't manage - I have had a hip replaced and while you wouldn't know it to look at me (I am not disabled), I find certain things difficult - eg squatting.

As many say, large loos are often hybrid and not just intended for the disabled, I would always aim for the standard loo, but where necessary, yes, I do use the disabled loo. Last time this happened was in Sainsbury - 3 loos, one man, one woman, one disabled, and the woman's was out of action. Seemed reasonable to me!

Actually this thread is a lot less damning on people using disabled loos than they usually are.

Clearly those justifying using a disabled loo when they have a choice, don't believe in Karma.

It would probably be a great idea to start a campaign to get all loos, to be disabled friendly, and everyone would benefit, that would be an amazing bit of equality, so go for it.

but because most people on here get to a disabled loo desperate to use the facilities and find it occupied, they have a choice and can use the other loos, I very much doubt most will put much effort into what would be a very hard time consuming campaign, because it isn't a necessity,

Necessity is the mother of invention, hence the disabled loos, when it's a necessity to have a buggy friendly loos, they will appear.

It's really sad that you have to carry a key to use the loo, another obstacle to overcome when going to loo, totally unnecessary, only put in place because people are deliberately ignorant, and do what suits them with no empathy for others.

Go and ask on a disability forum and explain why you think they should wait.

Everyone does.
Most places no problem.

However, I have visited busy shopping centres where the line of buggies waiting for the disabled loo, changing table is totally jamming the corridor.

If I was in a wheel chair, I'd feel very . I wouldn't know if I had to wait or if I had priority. I think the mum's waiting would be too.

Such places really should have, family toilets and large cubical a mum's and toddlers can use.

"Leave pram outside, take baby in."

erm..and then what??!! How on earth do I go for a pee whilst holding a 3 week old baby??!!

No WAY am I leaving her outside the cubicle in her pram. Anything could happen.

So what about mums with three children under four, possibly with a buggy and a sling and shopping? I think that makes for a fair enough reason to use the disabled.

I wouldn't do it.

I think that public toilets should have a larger cubicle for parents with buggies, but I wouldn't use a disabled toilet.

DD would have something to say to you too if she saw you. She's very vocal if she sees people misappropriating disabled facilities. She's only 6 so she's still learning that there are 'hidden disabilities' but even she understands that having a baby in a buggy doesn't count as that.

Yes, I did today with 23mo pita and poorly DS 7. I don't know how I would have managed otherwise.

Genuine question here.

I'm not in a wheelchair or walking aids etc. However, due to a medical condition I have to take a strong diuretic. (To stop a build up of fluid in my lungs). Now, this diuretic is potent and when I need to go I need to go...right now. I try to take it when I have access to a toilet at all times, but sometimes I just can't as ....well I have to go out!

On the odd occasion where I need to use the toilet and the cubicles are full I have been known to use the disabled facilities.

Should I not do this?

Just a serious question, maybe I've been a bit naughty doing this? I hadn't thought of it before until I read about welshmaenad's little girl wetting herself. I feel quite bad now actually!

Um no, Quote, they probably don't believe in Karma. Most people don't.

I will happily use the disabled loo IF there is nobody needing to use it whose need is greater than mine, and especially if it's a dual-purpose loo with a changing table. I use a sling a lot of the time so it's not always necessary, but even though I'm quite experienced at doing most things with a sling on, I found it almost impossible to pull my pants up with a baby slung in front! Down, no probs... Slings are no size to carry round 'with all the baby paraphenalia', btw, so if you already have a large bag with nappies, spare clothes, snack etc, a fabric sling won't make much difference.

I agree, I think it's pretty appalling that there is such patchy provision for wheelchair users and people with disabilities in general. But saying 'you have a choice, they don't' is knee-jerk and glib and certainly doesn't cover all eventualities. And why is it acceptable to suggest that someone takes their baby into a filthy cubicle with them and puts them on the pissy floor?

Well they shouldn't be putting the baby change in there as it gives the impression that it is ok for mothers with babies to go in too.

I agree, because it's not like disabled people ever have babies to change.

YANBU...they are designed for people with disabilities who cannot for whatever reason use through smaller loos. I am parent to a child with ASD who can perfectly manage the mechanics of a smaller loo but not wIth the hand dryers. We use the disabled loo and I have been told off before. Pointed out DS has ASD and person went quiet...and a bit red faced.

apostropheuse - of course you should use the toilet if it is free - You do not need to have a disability to use an accessable toliet - I am sure you would use a regular one if it was free.

Do and would, just don't see the problem. I always go before I leave and have enough local knowledge of nearby shopping centres to find family rooms but if I was with children and need to go then I would use without any guilt whatsoever.
The safety of my children means I'm not really up for leaving ds 2.9 to look after dd 9 mo. Not just a fear of kids being grabbed but my lovely little boy does like to play on the escalators!
Similar debate for bus/train spaces for wheelchairs/buggies, if I didn't use space I couldn't use public transport so should I never go out since I can't travel or pee!

apostropheuse, why should you feel bad; if there is a loo available, no-one using it, no-one looking like they are on their way to use it, and the only alternative is for you to wet yourself, it seems like a no-brainer to me.

Strikes me as massive entitlement to subject a disabled person to discomfort, pain, and possibly humiliation in order to save yourself a bit of hassle.

Disabled people get seriously abused when they ask if they can use the loo, and told to wait their turn,

Because there is a culture of entitlement to use the disabled loos, people now behave as if it is their right to use over someone who really needs it.

I find reading this thread both sad and interesting, it does start to explain why so many people are utterly vile in their attitude,

I was at the zoo a few weekends ago, waiting to use the loo, there is only one disabled loo, the lady who had gone in before me had taken in a young chap, in a chair, whist she was in there, it takes quite a bit of time to get someone out of a chair and on to a mat(some adults have to have nappy changes),or on the loo,then redressed and back in to a chair again,

parents kept coming up and trying the door, and or knocking on it, I really felt for her in there trying to sort out the person she was helping, with people who couldn't be bothered to walk another 50 yards to the standard loos,when she did finally come out, she looked very flustered, I then had a woman try to push past me to use the loo with two children, around about the age of five, she told me they were desperate, in the time it took her to wait for the woman to come out,then try to shove past the woman with the chair, speak to me to tell me I could wait ,she would of made it to the other loos, which have about 15 loos, she huffed off to use them.

She won't do it again.

I did type a whole paragraph and then decidied it was a not way of posting, so i decided just to say no, its not really okay. But sometimes needs must.

But it's not because otherwise it would be a "hassle" it would be bloody dangerous!

Peerie great that's there's a queue of mums and buggies wanting to use as changing room smelly . But I can only use that one toilet so am I meant to wait while those that can't stand smell use disabled toilet

Oh and I'm not talking about those that have invisible disabilities who quite rightly use the disabled toilets

Jesus, I've pissed whilst holding a tiny baby 2 weeks post c section. I should give myself more credit.

Apostropheuse, you have a medical need. Perfectly justifiable. I'm not about policing the disabled loos, just appealing for people to think about whether they NEED to occupy it, or if really they could yank on their big girl pants and manage in the regular one.

I do , if someone was waiting outside I would just apologize for their wait.
I would think they would understand tbh , most baby changing facilities are in disabled anyway so you don't have much choice where I live.

It comes down to common decency and curtesy. I have and would use a wheelchair accessable toilet if there were no other suitable facilities available and it was not immediately required by someone who needed it.

That is perfectly acceptable and legal.

I would not however advocate anyone using them just becasue it was more convenient/closer or because it was a private space to bonk/make a phone call etc.

people who do that are not nice people and their abuse of whellchaire accessable facilities is probably only he tip of the iceberg.

It is not a black and white situation and relies on reasonable-ness form the GP - not all of whom are reasonable.

not read all the thread but my opinion is that they are not disabled toilets ( the toilet is not impaired in anyway ) they are accessible toilets . this meaning that you using one with a buggy is fine .

Apost

To answer your question no in your case your have a genuine medical need I would have no problem waiting in your case

But I do resent queue of mums saying I'll only be 5 mins which never are and then as I need to use catheters end up wetting myself as a grown adult that is no fun . You say a toddler wetting themselves is bad imagine a adult ending up doing

Yanbu. I've done this frequently as none of the loos at the local shopping centre are big enough for the pram too.

I have never seen a disabled person using the disabled loos either (never seen anyone but me!) so perhaps there are plenty of disabled loos where I live.