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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think there should be a simpler way of going to the loo with a toddler and a baby

62 replies

michie40 · 16/09/2007 13:34

Just had to drop DH at the airport and had to stop at a motorway services on my own with my 6 month dd2 and dd1 3yrs. Got into the toilets desperate for the loo and suddenly thought how on earth am I going to do this. Had to sit dd2 on the cold stone floor propped up by my bag and ask dd1 to sit next to her and stop her toppling. Then had to balance on the loo frantically trying to stop the two of them pushing each other whilst dd2 tried to grab dd1s hair. There has to be an easier way. Why don't they design cubicles with additional seats and play things. How do people normally cope with this? There should be special facilities. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:

StrawberryMartini · 16/09/2007 13:40

LOL I'm finding it hard enough with just one toddler! I usually try and use the disabled toilet so there's more space.

Original poster

michie40 · 16/09/2007 14:39

Disabled toilet was already in use and the mother and baby bit didn't have a toilet and smelt disgusting. Thanks for listening to my rant anyway.

OP posts:

moondog · 16/09/2007 14:41

It's hard isn't it?
Things would be different if men had to deal with it.
Disabled loos every time.

Sheherazadethegoat · 16/09/2007 14:42

i remember considering hanging dd (in her sling) from teh hook on the door.

Pannacotta · 16/09/2007 14:54

Agree its really hard when you have two little ones. Agree re the disable loo whenever possible.
I usually take a travel changing mat around with me (towelling top with little pillow bit and waterproof backing) and lay DS2 (4 months) down on this. But it IS a complete logistical headache...

LadyVictoriaOfCake · 16/09/2007 14:54

take buggy with you.

Original poster

michie40 · 16/09/2007 16:42

how do you fit the buggy in the toilet cubicle?
Mines a big 3 wheel jobie

OP posts:

andiem · 16/09/2007 16:45

disabled all the way

barbamama · 16/09/2007 16:50

I sometimes just try and get the end cubicle, take toddler in with me and pull buggy up close as possible in the doorway with the door open to jam toddler in and keep baby in sight. If someone sees me sod it, i pee quickly anyway. otherwise, you can just about go with baby in sling by standing over the toilet. not v nice for baby i suppose, mind you dp used to take ds1 into the urinals in his sling facing outwards which i always thought was a bit grim!

mummy2aaron · 16/09/2007 17:05

Why on earth would you use a Disabled Toilet?

lucyellensmum · 16/09/2007 17:10

mummy2aaron, why on earth wouldnt you? mostly wherever you go, the baby facilities are in the disabled toilet. I have no qualms about using it and no one has ever had a problem with it. Sometimes i will even use it if there is a queue for the ladies and i dont have DD with me. But then i will use the mens too if im desperate, if all else fails, the nearest bush, but ive worked on farms and often the nearest bush was all that was available - preferable to some public loos IMO.

lindenlass · 16/09/2007 17:14

I go to the loo with baby in a sling - either on my back or on my front. I was rubbish at it at first but, having three littlies, was determined to crack it and now I'm a real pro . I also use the disabled loo whenever I can.

Gingerbear · 16/09/2007 17:14

that is why I love having DS in a sling.
still hard to pull your knickers up though.

Gingerbear · 16/09/2007 17:15

snap!

barbamama · 16/09/2007 17:20

The disabled loo is usually the only one big enough to actually wheel a buggy into so you can have a more leisurely pee, also as someone else said, it is usually the one with the baby changing facilities so you are meant to use it. It would be nice if they provided 2 bigger cubicles - one for disabled and one for babies but the only place I can think of where I have seen this is Ikea - even then the disabled one also has a baby changing pull down mat as well so you are clearly meant to share it - don't see what is at all wrong with that. I think most coffee shops etc probably have far more parents with babies using their facilities on a given day the wheelchair users so it probably makes sense for them to combine the two facilities.

Notquitegrownup · 16/09/2007 17:25

Lol - I always use the disabled loos, and took in a sling and a pushchair too. (Totally agree GB about the trickiness of pulling up your knickers - well pulling up mine, anyway!)

There was a product advertised ages ago - a sling with a special hook, to hang your baby from the door on! MNetters were sure it would never catch on, though I could have been convinced. (To be fair the child used in the advert photo did look far too old for it, and particularly uncomfortable, but I still think that the idea is good.)

This all reminds me why I so often feel stressed out by ordinary life. And dh never quite seems to understand!!

lindenlass · 16/09/2007 17:29

What you need is (like moi) massive knickers with plenty of fabric to get hold of

melpomene · 16/09/2007 18:08

It is even worse when the toilet is filthy - wet floor etc - and your toddler is wanting to investigate everything in sight. Recently I had to use the toilet at our local park whilst trying to restrain dd2 from picking up the white pills and burnt foil that were strewn all over the floor. .

mummy2aaron · 16/09/2007 18:13

I think this is why a lot of diabled tpilets have a key these days, because people who are able bodied are using them when they shouldnt be.

sarahlou1uk · 16/09/2007 18:18

mummy2aaron - all the disabled toilets I have used with 2 kids are the ones that have the ONLY baby changing fold down table in (as someone else has already pointed out). Plus have you tried getting a pram into a ladies loo recently? If they don't want parents using the disabled facilities then they should blooming well not put the baby change in there!
PS. on the occasions that I have used these facilities, I have always seemed to use the loo after an extremely smelly disabled person and have to explain to the next person wanting to use it that the smell is not from me or my children!

2shoes · 16/09/2007 18:20

mummy2aaron with you 100% unless the baby changing stuff is in there. they are for disabled people. or does having a toddler/baby mean you are disabled.

2shoes · 16/09/2007 18:21

oh and there should be a seperate baby changing loo so we don't have to have this arguement

FluffyMummy123 · 16/09/2007 18:24

Message withdrawn

mummy2aaron · 16/09/2007 18:25

yes 2shoes really silly that they put the baby chaging facilities in there, it's like an afterthought.

i do use the ladies when i go shopping with my pram so it is definately possible.

i think the problem is there arent the facilities for mother and child toileting, this definately needs addressing, perhaps there could be a mumsnet petition or something.

I still wouldnt use a disabled toilet though - even though my son has a disbility, i would hate to cause discomfort or embarassment for the person it was meant for. I can see it from both sides.

andiem · 16/09/2007 18:32

how can you cause embarassment and discomfort if there is no one else using it and where are you supposed to take pram child and you and both you and child have a wee and change baby?

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