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?

I have used the disabled toilets in the past (when I had a pram/pushchair and toddler DS1) when there were no other facilities available.
It has always made me feel bad, I don't need to now my boys are older.

Subtlemouse, i think that coun'ts as a genuine reason to use a disabled toilet, it is an illness that if there is a que will prevent you to use a regular toilet, i wouldn't have a problem with that.

In our M&S people just use whatever toilet is availiable regardless of wether they are disabled or not, a young lady was waiting outside the disabled toilet with someone else the other day and said, 'oh i can just use this one then i can take dd in with me'

I said to her 'Sorry but my ds is actually disabled and desperatley needs the toilet, can he go first?' Thus was confirmed by DS crying holding his bottom becuase he really needed to go.

She said 'no' and DS had an acident which really upset him.

I am going to buy a radar key i didn't know you could buy them, i really get annoyed with non-disabled people using the disabled toilets, but........ SOmetimes you can't tell if they do have a genuine problem, my mum for instance needs the bars next to the toilet to get on and off as she finds it hard with a bad heart condition, ds isn't visibaly disabled with his shirt on but he can't wait for a toilet and on a bad day needs lifting on so the extra room in important.

If there isn't enought room for you and your buggy, go and complain or leave the buggy outside and just take baby in, i can manage it so can you.

i have mantioned oversized prams once.

I am a single mother of 2. i am well aware of the issues of negotiating a toilet stop.

I am understanding of a stressed mum who uses a disabled toilet out of necessity.

I think those who feel it is their right to use it simply because it would inconvenience them not to are, quite frankly, selfish fucktards.

but hey, its only MHO

disabled toilets are suitable for wheelchair and disabled users but they are not exclusively for that group.so yes of course all mums can use them

This drives me nuts. If there is a changing station (which there shouldn't be) then it is the shop's fault. If not, you use a cubical. When I had a massive twin pram, I would ask another mum, or nearby old dilly to watch them for the 30 secs it took me to go. Actually I used to avoid drinking anythign at all while out because I couldn't easily get it into a toilet!

I wonder how many people who use the disabled toielts would be prepared to help me clean up ds with poo all down his legs because he hasn't been able to get into a toilet.

Disabled Toilets are there for DISABLED people. Having a baby is not a disability, try walking a mile in a disabled persons shoes and then see if it is still OK to use a facility meant for those who need it.

I have 2 ds's and i have left them outside the cubicle while i have a wee, ds1 is 10 now and never had anything happen to him while i was in the cubicle. ds2 is 17m and nor has he.

Don't abuse the system when there are facilities put in place for certain people let them have them without feeling you have a right to use them because you have a child fgs.

Tbh I never realised this was such a hot topic. I have left pushchair outside small loo with door slightly open but I have also used disabled loo - and never thought it was an issue as I am nearly always using the baby change - or crowd controlling 2 toddlers. To my knowledge I have not inconvenienced any disabled person.

One occasion stands out - a couple of years ago I was in John Lewis in Portsmouth. Baby feeding room with changing facilities is next to disabled loo - a floor away from the usual (very difficult to access with a pushchair) ladies. Having changed baby, DS1 (then 2.5) needed a wee. Can't remember if I did. someone had been in there ages. Probably about 10 mins. An old lady wanted to use loo too - no idea if she was disabled. Any way a totally normal looking man came out eventually folding up his newspaper (leaving a hideous stink behind him). I was furious - that was mis-use of disabled loo imo.

By Notevenfunny on Tue 10-Feb-09 23:33:49
I know a Mum who had to wee in the sink of the baby change because she didn't have a disabled key and couldn't find anyone to let her in.

I would have thought the disabled amongst us would be the most understanding of the problems faced when one is strapped into a seat on wheels and can't walk or easily get about therefore needs a carer to help them and making that carers life as easy as possible frees the carer up to care for person in said wheeled chair ie in exactly the situation of mother and baby.

well now I have read it all....you compare a baby/toddler, with a disabled child/person

Oddly enough there were not always disabled toilets,errrrr parents still needed to use toilets and guess what prams were bigger at one point do you think these parents moaned or just went leaving their dc in the prams outside the cubicle.

As I said disabled toilets are there for a purpose and having a baby is not a disability, so unless there is a baby changing station there forgot using it and hold the wee if you can't negotiate using a normal cubicle.

this has gotten very high expressed emotion.if a disabled wc is free i will take pram in and use it.that does not equate to i want to see anyone child in pain/covered in faeces/crying.it equates to it has large space and I don't want to leave my child unattended as I cannot fit a pram in regular wc

it is a huge generalisation and extrapolation to assume any non disabled mum using disabled toilet is a hard hearted harridan

gross over statement

having a kid in a pram is part of the deal with parenthood (and of course small kids can be slinged if a pram is too much hassle). not comparable with disability.

I find it sad that people seem to equate having a child with having a disability.
I can assure you as a parent of a nt teen, and a severly disabled dd, there is no comparison.
you just all seem to want the "benefits"(pmsl) that go with disability, but starngely no one took dd up on her offer of having her CP.

Pollyanna: In Churchill Square toilets (by Zavvi) there are two or three cubicles with pictures of prams on the door!

can you clarify.i don't understand your post seems bit confrontational.who are you arguing with?other mums- Why?

No one is comparing having a child with a disability. That's absurd. I usually use a cubicle with the door open but if the disabled loo is dual use (baby changing too) then how are you going to know if someone is changing their baby's nappy or just going for a wee?

it the toilet is designated disability and family/baby changing then that is a different issue completely to expecting access to all disabled toilets just because you have a young child.

I so wish these people that think it is acceptable to use the disabled toilets could have just one day in the life of a disabled person or one of their carers. My dad was disabled and quite often we would have to search for a toilet or parking space because some selfish numpty thought they had priority.

are you all worried some random loony will nick your baby if you leave it outside for a minute?

years ago babies used to be left lined up outside sainsburys whilst the mother shopped.

we are becoming a paranoid nation.

Round here there are people who won't leave their buggies without locking them (whether there's a baby in them or not)

this has taken a most peculiar turn.Were has anyone equated parent and pram with being disabled?

it is a huge extrapolation to assume if a mum with pram uses the disabled wc she is

a desiring to be disabled
b purposefully malevolently blocking use of the wc from disabled users

anyway as i understand it,the building regulation require accessible wc, eg adequate turning circle, handrail, alarms and these are Wheelchair suitable but not designated for sole exclusive use.

obviously it is good manner's and common sense to let the parent waiting with wheelchair in before you

but if it is empty,yes i will use it

People actually looked out for each other years ago, and maybe people did leave their babies lined up outside Sainsburys, but would you yourself do it now South? Little girls are being raped in the loos of Sainsburys in case you have forgotten so who in their right mind would consider doing that kind of thing now? We live in a sick world.

I'm lucky, in my local shopping centre, we have designated mother, baby & toddler toilets with baby change, toilets and an area for breastfeeding, so this is never an issue for me. But if it were, I would certainly baulk at leaving either of my children outside while I have a widdle. I don't want to be the one in a million statistic.