Out with child in a pram and you need the loo...

[Blackbear19]

If your on your own what do you do?
The obvious answer is to use the 'family loo' if there is one but few places seem to have them. Do you?

1. Use a standard cubical in the ladies. Keeping the door open so you can keep an eye on child?

1. Ask a stranger to keep an eye?

1. Leave pram unattended and hope for the best?

1. Use a shewee?

1. Quickly nip into the accessible loo?

List all that apply or you'd consider.

I’m another shocked by how many admit to using the accessible loo with absolutely no shame whatsoever. The accessible toilet is there for those with disabilities or health issues who can’t use the regular cubicles in the ladies or gents. It’s not appropriate Or excusable to use just because you have a pram with you

I wouldn’t use the disabled loo in place of another person. But never have I encountered anyone waiting for the loo when I’ve needed it with my pushchair. I don’t believe it needs to sit totally vacant.

I always think accessible loo is fine for this; it’s when mum or dad goes in with their five kids who all need a wee too that I start to lose my shit internally (and unfortunately possibly externally too 😒)

To the poster who said they wouldn’t ask a stranger in a city - I did, in London. No reason not to. And if you give one person responsibility they are more likely to act on any threat - it’s the opposite of the Good Samaritan problem where experiments show people will walk by someone asking for help unless the persons asks them specifically (eg ‘lady in the blue coat, can you help me’ gets a response where ‘help me’ doesn’t).

Disabled loo weather or not baby changing. I won't ask someone i don't know to watch. And the idea of holding dd while using loo is alot of hassle to me. I've only done this twice and literally very quick.

Well, you think that's a problem try it when they are toddler escape artists!
We adopted two at 3.5 years and 20 months. It was impossible. I did try taking them into the disabled loo but the one not on the loo would get out ! or best of all both when you are mind steam leaving the door wide open into the shop.
Not enough room in a standard cubicle for me and two children so asking them to wait outside the cubicle was a disaster, off they would go or even better open the door and give everyone else a running commentary on what I was doing! Deliveries became my friend.

I would park the prank half in the cubicle & obviously leave the door open, I’d pick the cubicle as far to the end as possible...I’m not bothered by having door open but realise others might be

I just park the buggy right up against the door of the cubicle so i can see wheels so i would see if it was moves and baby would protest if she was touched, sometimes have left the door open if she was upset.

In a busy place there are lots of witnesses so who would take a baby in a buggy? They would usually be challenged if they were taking a buggy from outside a closed cubicle.

I have four very little kids and have always either had the baby in the sling or just asked someone to watch them.

Guess how many UK babies have been abducted by people being asked to watch them while their mum nips to the loo, ever? Zero. So I’m willing to take the risk. I just pick a mum who already has a child with her or an old lady.

When I worked at Tesco and was on the end checkouts by the loos loads of parents would ask us to keep an eye on their kids in prams. They'd just park the buggy in the bit where we sit, pop to the loo and then grab the buggy after. Honestly happened about 10 times a day. No one ever minded. Prams were out the way of shoppers and parked between two members of staff.

Just make sure you go to a decent loo facility especially if on your own. Also, a Costa or the like usually have huge loos!!
When they're a little older and can babble, close door, tell them you're going in loo and keep chatting so they can here you.
People don't steal babies from loos.

I used to leave the door open

Seriously, if it’s a ladies with cubicles, pee with the door open! Who’s honestly going to care?! *might rethink that for a poo

end cubicle with the buggy pushed in a bit and door open

In an empty bathroom ive left the cubicle door ajar so I could see my DTs, used the disabled loo if I’ve been absolutely desperate, the changing room loo, or more often than not not gone until I’ve got home. I’m too scared to ask someone to watch them whilst I go to the toilet just in case, although I know most people are not a threat and that’s more my issues than anything else!

I’ve happily kept an eye on babies for other mums though.

The end cubicle in the only public loo in town, besides in the doctors where they’re all accessible, is the accessible/disabled one. It’s practically the only option as the first two (there’s three all in) sit so close to the entry onto the road that if you left the door open you can see in them from outside with the mirror. And considering the new rise in I’ll go where I want from questionable trans people I don’t think I’d be comfortable with the door open in the first place.

Ours also have the baby change so if I go when I’m out it’s when I change a nappy, extra 30 seconds added in, and I’ve never met another person going into it.

I also don’t get the “that’s ten people that’s the disabled toilet filled for 30 minutes” we’re not all in the same place obviously.

The accessible loo without a doubt.

Normally you cannot get a buggy into the ladies due to tight and narrow corners and no-one can get past you due to the microscopic space between the toilet cubicle doors and the sink. That's before having to work out how to contort your body so that you can actually close the cubicle doors.

Some mumsnetters seem to think that you should:

• Wet yourself if you need the toilet when out
• Never stay out long enough for you to need the toilet
• Never go out without another adult who can watch the baby if you need the toilet

But then they tend to be the sort of people who think that you should walk 40 miles in the snow with the buggy if you cannot drive instead of using public transport incase someone needs the wheel space.

The accessible toilet is there for people who can’t access the normal toilets for whatever reason. I think having small children in buggies counts (especially twins in double buggies that can’t physically be wheeled into the normal toilet)

@Kpo58 is there a reason you’ve pinpointed those three times and completely missed the many many other options offered?

Or could you not be bothered to read them like you clearly can’t be bothered to wait for a toilet when there’s a disabled one available

You do know who accessible toilets are designed for don't you?
Its a rename of disabled toilets to let those with hidden disabilities feel included. Some have either sign because not everyone has got around to changing this. Nothing to do with having a buggy, suitcase or dog.

Accessible. Any other option is bat shit & making your life hard for a 10 second pee.

I have never, ever seen someone else leave a pram with a stranger or leave a buggy outside the cubicle while they use it, and I'd be quite shocked if they did. I also haven't seen people wee with the door open.

Where I live there are loads of loos that are big enough to hold a buggy, so I've never found it a big problem - almost every cafe has one, shopping centres, etc. It is true that they're often the disabled loos, but in the cafes they're only the only loo, and in other places they're the baby change, so it's very clear that it's acceptable to use that toilet for other reasons. I wouldn't use one that was a disabled toilet that wasn't the only toilet and which had no baby change, but I can barely think of one toilet where I live (I have a tiny bladder, much worse post-partum, so have a very good working knowledge of toilets!) where that's the case.

The accessible toilet is there for people who can’t access the normal toilets for whatever reason. I think having small children in buggies counts (especially twins in double buggies that can’t physically be wheeled into the normal toilet)

Again, no. They are accessible specifically for people with disabilities. Having a child in a buggy is not a disability.

I'd use the family toilet/parent and child toilet if there was one.

The accessible toilet if I had either of my DS' with me (radar key).

If no parent and child toilet and accessible toilet not an option then I'd use the end cubicle with the pushchair up as close to the door as possible and the door closed but not locked, I can see the wheels of the pushchair under the gap at the bottom of the door and I can see any feet if anyone comes close, pee quickly and then back out for handwashing. I've had four DC and they have yet to be stolen.

You do know who accessible toilets are designed for don't you?

This becomes more confused when they also house the changing mat, don’t you think?