To use the disabled loo when I'm with my son?

[RestingBitch]

My sons 9 months and obviously still in his pushchair. The majority of the time it's just me and him when I go into town/visit places. When I need the loo I get an attack of conscious, I normally use the disabled loo so I can bring him in with me.
Can't use a regular loo as I can't get him in the cubicle in his chair. Don't want to take him out of his pushchair and plonk him on the floor as the floors are manky and he will eat whatever is on the floor. He'll also probably try and crawl under the gap and interrupt someone else. Don't really like the idea of leaving him in his pushchair whilst I nip in the cubicle, so providing there isn't someone waiting for the disabled loos, AIBU to use them? I'm usually in and out and so far I've never encountered anyone waiting for one, or the impatient rattle of the door. If I am being unreasonable, short of pissing myself what's the options?

Not a troll, and don't work for any newspapers :).

[UserThenLotsOfNumbers]

I really wish places would have changing facilities separate to the disabled toilet. These are completely different needs.
I also wish places would have adult changing facilities too, not just for babies/toddlers.

[mirime]

A thought re an able person with gastric flu. I have a compromised immune system, and that isn't rare amongst disabled people. Is it fair to put someone at risk like that?

Difficult one, as if you're not going to be able to hold it in whilst queuing you might end up exposing a lot of people to whatever virus you've got who might also be vulnerable. And of course those toilets would have to be closed while being cleaned up potentially leading to more people without disabilities using the disabled toilet.

Also you can't expect someone in that situation to think through the options rationally. They're just going to leg it to the nearest toilet.

[PurpleDaisies]

If you've read these sorts of thread before dailymail you'll see they are always plenty of disabled people who say it isn't ok for non-disabled people to use the disabled loos.

[twelly]

I think it depends if there are no people waiting, and if you are quick to use it then that is fine. They are public toilets and it's a matter of what is reasonable

[DailyMailReadersAreThick]

PurpleDaisies I know. I'm not saying all disabled people would (or should) have the same opinion. Just that all the able-bodied people telling the OP that of course it's fine for her to use the disabled toilets should shut up and listen to the people who matter in this debate. They might learn something.

[PurpleDaisies]

And how do you know whether posters are disabled or not dailymail?

[thatdearoctopus]

I'm sure if a disabled person needed it, they could wait 2 minutes until you are finished.

Have you read the fucking thread???? There are disabilities that mean some people cannot wait. And what about the selfish so-and-so above who spent ages in there breast-feeding, ffs?

[Mustang27]

Jesus most of the baby changes are located in the disabled toilets I really can't see the difference of you nipping in without having to change your wee one.

Every one saying you are unreasonable clearly don't have tiny babies! Plus not all disabilities are visible so nobody can really judge you.

You are doing nothing wrong.

[DailyMailReadersAreThick]

PurpleDaisies I don't, which is why I'm advocating self-policing: the able-bodied shut up and listen to the disabled. What a strange question

[PurpleDaisies]

Every one saying you are unreasonable clearly don't have tiny babies! Plus not all disabilities are visible so nobody can really judge you.

So it's fine because people will think you've got a hidden disability when you don't?!

[Sirzy]

Or people people have had tiny babies but realise that they aren't a disability and you can carry on with life without making life harder for people who are dosabled.

[MaybeNextWeek]

'YABU, because if everyone with a small child did this the disabled toilets would never be available for disabled people to use.'

I don't get why this ^ is always so hard to understand. It isn't about anyone's one instance where there was a queue and the accessible toilet was available, it's the fact that if everyone did it then the toilets won't be available for those that they are actually designed for.
I managed very easily with 2dc, plenty of trips and shopping and never once had to use an accessible toilet. It's selfish and totally unnecessary.

[Mustang27]

But I do Daisy and I have a small child and even with my disabilities I try not to use these toilets but tbh I really think it's none of anyone's business. If you need to pee and you have a tiny baby in tow it's hard even for the abled bodied.

[anon1987]

It's fine, my daughter is disabled and I have no problem with mums with pushchairs using the disabled toilets.
Disabled people are usually capable of waiting a few minutes for the loo anyway.

[PuckeredAhole]

YANBU. Unless I want to piss my pants or have the cubicle open whilst I'm taking a shit, I'm going in the,"accessibility" toilets. They don't actually say disabled.

[Sirzy]

I wish people would stop cageotising "disabled people" as if they are all one and the same!

[PurpleDaisies]

mustang if you actually have a disability, hidden or not you're entitled to use the disabled toilet. Your previous post really didn't sound as if you did.

[deliverdaniel]

thanks for the replies to my question

joannegrady I totally sympathise with what you are saying but it sounds like the problem is people changing their babies in the disabled toilet, not nipping in for a quick wee with the pram? And obv when the baby change facilities are in there this is allowed. Surely the whole baby change thing is far more of an issue for a disabled person having to wait than people using the toilets for a quick wee which is usually much quicker than a full baby change?

[twelly]

I think people would base usage on the queue if there people waiting then clearly the toilet was needed by people with a disability, there would not be queues of people with babies waiting

[anon1987]

So for those of you with a disability that gives you the urge to need the loo, what would you do if another disabled person happened to be in the accessible toilet?

[PurpleDaisies]

anon there are posters in that situation who have wet or soiled themselves waiting.

[DailyMailReadersAreThick]

So for those of you with a disability that gives you the urge to need the loo, what would you do if another disabled person happened to be in the accessible toilet?

Wait.

How is that remotely the same as waiting for someone who could be using the non-accessible toilet?

[Sirzy]

If someone else is using it you have to wait of course you do, that's why people rely on people having the decency not to use the disabled toilets when they don't have a disability that means they need too.

Sadly as this thread shows lots of people don't have that decency and would happily risk letting someone have an accident rather than planning ahead or doing a bit of "juggling"

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

I think the worst thing I've done is breast feed in one and the baby was taking such a long feed I felt bad when I got out as there was someone who needed it. But then there was no where I felt comfortable to bf.

You seriously think that was ok @smearedinfood ?

I give up.

[Stevieo]

I'm disabled (invisible) and a mum with a small baby.
I use the disabled toilets, even if it's not for an emergency when I have the pram with me. No way will I take a piss in front of a bunch of strangers or leave my baby outside the cubicle and I find this bizarre how this has been suggested so many times on this thread.

If the disabled loo is engaged and I am desperate I will use the public toilets. What about if the disabled toilet is engaged by another disabled person? You, as a disabled person still have to wait.
Yanbu op.