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?

Sorry Divine, but for me it is.

"Divine has said that she couldn't drive home if caught short because of her pelvic floor-isn't that a disability of sorts? "

Ooh I've stubbed my toe, I have a disability.

If you really think that a dodgy pelvic floor is a disability well erm really words fail me.

With a straight face?

So what I am saying is funny then is it Turnip?

It's quite possible that any toilet might stink of shit though

Am not in favour of the able-bodied using disabled toilets, though - not now I have read about the difficulties in waiting that can occur with disability. I think the issue is somewhat unclear, though, because sometimes there is one toilet for everyone (like in the department of the hospital we take DS to) , and that one toilet is therefore accessible. If a toilet is clearly a facility for disabled peopel, then that should be respected. And really, anyonne who buys a Radar key without being disabled should be ashamed of themselves.

Btw, Turnip, I am on about the disabled/baby changing combined.

I have only read a handful of posts so sorry if repeating.

I think the problem is lack of facilities for parent and child, it can be frustrating and I can see why its easy for people to think its ok to use the disabled toilet.

But having a dh who as a bowel disease it can be very distressing for him if he is not able to find a toilet and go within moment, minutes can be the difference between him going or having an "accident" and how day/activity cut short, not to mention the utter shame and embarrasment he feels.

So far the only accident he has had is not making it to the toilet in time, rather than getting there and it being occupied, I think that would be the worst for him.

On another point it annoys me the looks he gets sometimes when he comes out the disabled toilet after using his radar key and some people think that because he doesn't look disabled he isn't disabled.

If the disabled loo is occupied I take ds1 into the ladies. Now that does get the princesses complaining .

I waited to use a loo in house of fraser, but couldn't fit the pram in, some guy who was stood outside offered to watch the girls in their pushchair whilst i went in (dd2 was asleep), which I felt uncomfortable with. So I asked a member of staff if they had a toilet which i could use and they directed me to the disabled toilet.

I think a lot of shops with disabled toilets, consider them to be limited access toilets.

having just read the last page of the thread I am going to add that I [with pushchair and small child] have used the diabled loos on occassion when the others were all taken. I reason that as far as I have ever seen the disabled loos are not as frequently used and stand empty while a mother of three with a pelvic floor to match, pushchair and small child wait for ages for a loo.

I would never leave ds outside a toilet i always use disabled toilets out and about if he's in the pushcair, now he can stand its not so bad but trying to hold a small child have a wee and wipe your self is just insane. I've tried it and wont be doing that again in a hurry. Most disabled loos have baby changing facilities too so i don't see the problem.

I think the people who would leave their children unatended in a public place are just crazy, i really wouldn't risk it. Some people are bad, and some are just mad you don't know who would pounce on an opportunity.

crabby- think that demonstrates very well the need for dedicated disabled loos, not ones where people are taking forever changing a child's nappy.

As I said earlier, not the parent's fault if it's a combined toilet, but no need to clutter up dedicated disabled ones.

are there really packs of people waiting to pounce and take your child? i really do doubt it

can anyone find me a case?

and it's hardly unattended just behind a loo door

What on earth is wrong with all your pelvic floors? I've had 3 kids and am quite capable of waiting my turn in a queue. Do your exercises for gods sake.

Can i just add changing a baby in a disabled loo often takes longer than a quick wee are you suggesting we shouldn't change our babies there because a disabled person may be waiting.....? I have never had this happen may i add, but i have had another mum waiting to change her baby.

execising as I type but I know my limits.

pmsl fio

I havent read all the thread but really cant see the problem with able-bodied or mothers with pushchairs using disabled loos. Surely a disabled loo is simply a normal loo that has been abdapted to make it easier for a disabled person to use? They are usually unoccupied most of the time and if there are queues at the other loos then why not?

As far as I can see no-one has belittled anyone with disabilities or their carers. Yet there are one or two who have belittled peoples concerns about their childrens safety or other reasons given for their EMERGENCY use of a disabled loo. This is just rude and downright ignorant.

There are allot of weirdos out there. Who knows...... i just wouldn't leave him. my perogative.

Children get snatched from their beds for god sake that take allot more planning than walking off with an unatended pushchair.

Waits to be shot down in flames!!!!

southeastra, i know there aren't 'packs' of people waiting to pounce on my child, but if a stranger offers to watch my child while i go to the toilet, then I'm afraid I'm not going to do it, because I know nothing about them, and there are (not many i know) some horrible, scary people out there.