to expect to use a disabled toilet when I'm out with the pram?

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I can't use the ladies when I have my baby with me in the pram. The only thing I can do is wheel him into the disabled toilet with me. But the disabled toilets have special locks on them, which presumably disabled people have special keys for. I appreciate that they want to stop able-bodied people hogging disabled toilets but what else can I do?

Quite frankly, yes. Between my 3rd and 4th baby there was every chance waiting would have meant I would have done the same. Leaving my dcs outside is not an option I would ever consider although have at an airport and had people look in the pushchair and then at me, with the door open.
I can't imagine many people would use a disabled toilet unless they really have to.

Bit differnt having them in your loo and a public loo though isnt it?

what i honestly don't get here is why I have never found this an issue

I have 4 kids, none disabled (or known to be) as babies or toddlers, two extremly close together (13 months), so done the whole double buggy thing (tandem and sidebyside) (no phil & ted in my day)..... still have never used a disabled loo, thought about in a restaurant once after I got stuck inn the regular toilets (wedged- nice!) when very heavily pg but no.... not been ap roblem

Weird

Goodomen,
Your impractical suggestion is astonishing...dc1 & dc2 were 14 months apart and dc1 walked at 16.5 months...so what should I have done? Now I have dc3&4 and they're 26 months apart....where do I put my clean little baby, on the floor?

if someone has a problem with their bladder or bowel, then fair enough, but to just use the disabled loos because you have a pram, is, quite frankly, disgusting...

I think we can worry about things that are not going to happen. Baby theft is very rare. BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

Perhaps there could be a Princess key that could be an alternative to a RADAR key?

The RADAR website is very clear that the key is for the use of people with disabilities.

Yes, yes a Princess key would work.

I think disability is rather more common than baby theft.

keepingitRia if you surmised that dd1 had special needs and might need the toilet before you - I would not be offended if you asked. If she did not - I would say - no feel free to go ahead. I would be pleased that you had considered her and given me the option to go ahead if she needed to and not feel stressed about a situation.

People have invited ds1 to use the toilet before them in a queue for a disabled loo (in this case the only loos were disabled ones, so everyone has to queue for them). Probably because he was headbutting the ground (doesn't do waiting), but nevertheless it was appreciated.

keepingit ria- Isomeone posted something about someone similar to your (and indeed my Mum) and as Is aid then I think you'd have to be immensely cruel to not want a person with a riosk of incpntinence to access a disabled loo; she may be able bodied but so are many disabled people (ds1 could probably outrun every kid on here- never been beaten yet) anyway, and I would say the drefinition of disabled wrt toilets is has urgent medical need thereof.

As for the changing room- thats not an issue. The idea is crap and badly planned but theya re meant for ababies and prams so...

DS1 sends out very good messages also when in need- jumping from foot to foot yelling I need a wee. In a 9 year old one can surmise the need is desperate!

Sparkly, imagine in your pram are two very precious (for the sake of discussion) twin boys. You love them dearly and they're ten weeks old. They've only been out of hospital, following a terrible and risky pregnancy and delivery. You've popped to the shops for the first time on your own and you really need a wee. There's no family room but right next to the ladies is a disabled toilet what do you do? Leave the tiny ones alone outside with the door shut? Or open for anyone to see? hold them whilst you will your trousers to drop?

There was an article about sexist town planning on the BBC at while ago here it is. I actually wrote a comment that toilet provision is an issue - a big one - because women have small children and because there are a lot of women (particularly older women) who can't always wait, but they didn't publish it. The lack of seating really hinders the elderly too - and pregnant women.

In fact, it's only since I've had children (been pregnant and dealt with buggies) that my eyes have been opened to just how difficult things are made for the disabled - things that could be easily solved too.

OH FOR FUCK SAKE

NO-ONE HAS SAID THAT HAVING A BABY IN A PRAM IS A DISABILITY.
caps, sorry.

"I am disabled and it pisses me off that when I want a wee, I usually have to hold my breath because some of the disabled toliets double up as baby changing rooms and they stink of shitty nappies."

Yes this is the problem. Separate toilets are needed because actually those with disabilities have different needs than parents.

I think its fair enough for mothers (and fathers) to use those doubling up changing rooms/disabled loos as that's all there is in that case, so probably not much choice. But it is beyond me why anyone would buy a RADAR key when they're not disabled.

And disabled loos should have adult changing facilities. because (1) they're needed and (2) that would clear out the PFB's

It isnt the parents fault they dont want their kids to get snatched is it? It is the council's fault for not providing adequate facilities.

Sorry but no way on this earth would I even take the small risk of my kids being taken.

So what do I do when the changing facilities are in there Fio?

Goodomen I find your intolerance astonishing! Divine has said that she couldn't drive home if caught short because of her pelvic floor-isn't that a disability of sorts? And many parents won't take their children into a public loo if it means they have to sit them on the floor because those floors are filthy.
Sparkly- would it be less embarrassing, then, for a grown woman who happens NOT to be disabled but still urgently in need of the loo(for whatever reason) to soil herself simply to appease the feelings of others? We're not all blessed with superhuman abilities to hold on indefinitely.

It's not just about them being taken, it's about them being touched poked, prodded and (most importantly) frightened.

So complain to the council that there is nowhere for you to have a wee without your child risking being snatched. I'm sure someone will reply with a straight face, and if enough people complain they might even rethink their toilet provision for parents.