Taking my boys into female toilets

[Fredablogs]

They are 7, 4 and 2. I have noticed a few looks when I take them into the female loo. Am I supposed to leave the oldest outside? Or send him to the gents on his own, although he wouldn't as he is pretty much scared of everything.. ?? What is the etiquette please

And the unisex toilets have put schools on the ‘hell no’ list for DH and I. I want my DDs to feel safe at school.

As I've already stated, I misread the post.

It's often I how the OPs of threads like this post once and disappear

I missed that.

Only one poster said she does because her boys have disabilities and can't be left. I am sure those young girls would see that and show maturity when they enter.

8 year old has just started to go into men's on his own. I stand right outside and have popped head in if he doesn't answer. I think 7/8 is about right. Obviously if iffy area then go with them.

She's probably sitting back eating popcorn and reading all the feminist ridiculous comments about young boys under the age of 8 or 9 because she knows.

@sanluca, don't be so dramatic! Of course men are not all 'vile'. I do think most mens loos are though, and I would hate a toddler to have walk past grown men posing in order to get to a cubicle.

As to what I think about men using a womens toilet I at least have the common sense to think that a father and child are not an abusive tag team. If I said what I think about the men in dresses and lipstick I would be banned for my TERF beliefs.

that would be 'pissing' not 'posing', although you never know

I'm a single mum with 2 boys aged 8 and 5. My 8 year old often goes into the men's when we are out. I don't love it but I don't think it's realistic to carry on taking him into the women's indefinitely. If he was taking ages I'd go in but he's always out before us.

none of the woman who give you funny looks are half naked in the communal areas of the toilets? No, well no bother then...

Mens toilets can be disgusting and probably intimidating places for young boys going in alone. I don’t mind 8 year olds or 10 year olds coming into female toilets. I am in a private cubicle anyway. At that age I just lump them all in one category as young children and female toilets are cleaner, safer spaces.

I generally go into a cubicle to pee so I guess I just don’t see the problem!

My son is about to turn 8 next month. If he's out with me, he's coming into the loos with me. I don't get the problem... female toilets are all cubicles. Men have urinals. I don't like the idea of seeing a random strangers penis at aged 8. Why is there such outrage. And who decided 8 was the age. Why. Explain. My son has no idea about sex etc. and is a CHILD. Not a pre teen, not a teen. A child.

Well if all parents take their children into the loo with them, then 8 year old girls are also seeing random men's penises when they go into the men's loos...

It's not enclosed in the men's they will have a couple of toilets to shit in but they use a open urinal where men can go have a wee and measure dicks. Completely different to the women's bathroom.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/strangers-raped-boy-14-toilets-2727833.amp&ved=2ahUKEwjYpPyC6suDAxWTgv0HHU6pDTwQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3dqEXIjltekRo6wPVVz-9v

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.itv.com/news/meridian/2022-07-21/eight-year-old-boy-sexually-assaulted-in-shopping-centre-toilets&ved=2ahUKEwjYpPyC6suDAxWTgv0HHU6pDTwQFnoECA0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw20ASDPD5Te-uqyMN49UfQS

^^ For those questioning if boys are vulnerable and are apparently incapable of Googling themselves.

Plenty more links.

@strawberryandtomato I think when boys start to use the mens loo it should really be led by how they feel. I can only go on my own experience, it was about 8 when the boys in my family wanted to use the men loos. By that time it was usually possible that we had time to look for a 'salubrious' loo that I could wait outside for them. If I wasn't happy then they had to put up with it and come with me to the ladies.

When a much younger child says 'I need a wee' they usually mean NOW. Thats why I would have no objection to a father bringing a young child into the ladies, there is nothing to see and its hopefully cleaner.

Thats why I would have no objection to a father bringing a young child into the ladies, there is nothing to see and its hopefully cleaner.

And what about the women who don’t want to share space with adult men?

When a much younger child says 'I need a wee' they usually mean NOW. Thats why I would have no objection to a father bringing a young child into the ladies, there is nothing to see and its hopefully cleaner.

Why would that stop him using the men’s toilets? I wouldn’t use a public toilet without wiping it down even if only women were using it.

My son is about to turn 8 next month. If he's out with me, he's coming into the loos with me. I don't get the problem... female toilets are all cubicles. Men have urinals. I don't like the idea of seeing a random strangers penis at aged 8. Why is there such outrage. And who decided 8 was the age. Why. Explain. My son has no idea about sex etc. and is a CHILD. Not a pre teen, not a teen. A child.

If your 8 year old hasn't had any age appropriate sex education, you need to start this now. It's not about teaching them about having sex, it's about safeguarding

This conversation is wearing thin now you do realise that men do clean female toilets.

Pls can someone answer why they think it is ok for a man to go in the women's toilets with a child. Why can't they go into a cubicle in the men's?

I don't mind young boys in the ladies but 8+is not acceptable. ND should use accessible toilet.

7 yr old is getting a bit too old. That's why you are getting looks. I'm surprised he's still happy to go with you.

But the younger ones are fine.

Yes, but there’s generally a notice on the door so women have the choice to go in or not.

Young children should go in the correct toilet for their accompanying adult.