to think this Mum was over reacting?

[ChickandDuck]

Am genuniney interseted to see what others opinion is on this...

In Nando's today, early tea time, family on the table next to us arrived and were being seated. Boy with them asked to use the toliet, Dad says go ahead. Mum completley aghast 'you can't let him go on his own, he's 7, anyone could be in there!!'. Dad shugs and escorts lad to loos, to which the door was right next to their table. It wasn't busy, and this particular Nando's is on one of those, don't know what you call them, estates maybe? That has bowling complex, cinemas, eating places, out of the way,not a busy town centre.

I would have thought that at age 7, in this situation he would have been ok going on his own? I'm not judging this Mum, maybe just seeing if if it was me and I let him (have two younger Ds's and so am bound to encounter this situation at some point) would I be being carless to let him go on his own?

I would let my 5yo ds go in a place we have been before but the first time I hovered outside the gents waiting for him he panicked because the only cubicle was padlocked shut and the urinals were too high for him. I wouldn't let him go somewhere with 2 entrance/exits because he would almost certainly go out the wrong door and get lost. There are some horrific stories about attacks in public toilets but they are thankfully rare. The girl who was raped in Sainsburys was 11. She was probably doing all sorts of stuff independently and it would have been over protective to not let her go for a wee without an adult. I knew a 18yo girl who was sexually asaulted in a lift at a 6 form college but that shouldn't mean that young women shouldn't use lifts or go to college.

I'm a bit amazed at the number of repliesthat think it's OK for 6 year old to go to loo on his own. After reading some of the threads on MN where mums go berserk if MIL or some other relative dares to give child a lolly or or buy something without running it by mum first, they are then happy for their chld to go to a public loo on their own? No thanks.

DS1 who is 3 went to the toilet in Asda the other day on his own. I was packing the shopping, DS2 was screaming and it was a NOW wee, not a "I can hold for 2 minutes" one. The mother and baby room (which has a toilet) was almost opposite the checkout, DS1 opened the door wide so I could see no one in there, shut the door to pee, and then opened the door whilst he washed his hands. I would not let him go to the ladies round the corner as I couldnt see who was/wasnt in there (and couldnt trust him not to get locked in!)

DS1 was really proud at being allowed to go "on his own", though I did get some v. disapproving looks from other people at the checkouts. (really didnt fancy a 3 year old in wet trousers, or trying to take the 18mo with me, leaving the shopping etc and I thought it was safe)

Personally I would have let the 7yo go to the toilets on their own if they were THAT close. But not if I couldnt hear the second there was a problem (hey I'm still on "MUM I've done a POOOOOOOOOOOO" listening as DS cant do his own bum yet )

I woould done exactly the same in that situation smokinaces. I challenge anyone on here to say they wouldn't!