How wrong is it to use the disabled toilet when you are not disabled?

[emkana]

And does it make a difference whether you have small children or not?

I nearly always use the disabled toilets when I'm out with the children, I just don't see what to do otherwise, where to leave the children while I'm in a tiny cubicle.

Wrong or not?

I suppose it IS wrong in theory to use the disabled loo (esp if there is just the one) if you are not disabled, but I understand 100% your dilemma on the where to leave the kids dilemma.

I don't think it makes any difference at all. I always use them with my children too. The issue is that they are available to disabled people surely.

I do it too emkana and rush like mad so i dont upset any wheelchair user needing it.... Can i say that as yet no one has ever come to use it while i was in there....

so i suppose its nor wrong so long as you are prepared to shake your lettuce quick sharp should someone come.... xx

Ooops, one too many dilemmas there

My post wasn't exactly helpful either was it ?!

I use the disabled toilets if I'm out with DS and DD and either I or DS needs the toilet (as DD is in a buggy).

As they often have baby changing facilities in there, I don't feel too bad. I wouldn't use it if I were on my own, or if I were with just DS (unless he was very desperate to go and there was a queue in the ladies' toilets).

That's a double dilemma, NdeP

I often used disabled loos when I had the pushchair with me - so I could take it in with me. Often the disabled loo is the baby changing room too. And I'll still take ds2 in a disabled loo now if he's bursting and there is a queue for the ladies.

I use them all the time because if you have a buggy with you how else can you use the toilet?

However, I am always quick and would let a disabled person go first if there was a queue.

TBH I have never seen one used by a disabled person! They are always empty or being used by old ladies (the ground floor ones _when the alternative is an upstairs loo)

I used to use them with the children when they were tiny, and I never had an occasion where I had kept a disabled person waiting AFAIK. It isn't safe to leave very young children unattended, so using the disabled toilets is the best option. It is also the only option if a father needs to take his small daughter to the toilet.

I use it when with ds and dd but not on my own. I tend to see the disabled loo as a facility for disabled people to use (as the normal ones would be impossible) but I don't see them as exclusively reserved for disabled persons (unlike parking spaces). Even if that is wrong we're out of there within minutes so I fail to see how it would be a huge problem.

I think it's fair enough when you've got kids in tow, especially if you are quick. What else are you supposed to do after all?

Think of them like - they're toilet accessible to people who are disabled, but not reserved for them IYSWIM. And usually the baby changer is in there anyway.

Not wrong unless there is a queue of disabled people and you have barged to the front imo

I use the disabled toilets if I'm out with DS and DD and either I or DS needs the toilet (as DD is in a buggy).

As they often have baby changing facilities in there, I don't feel too bad. I wouldn't use it if I were on my own, or if I were with just DS (unless he was very desperate to go and there was a queue in the ladies' toilets).

If I'm with DS and the buggy then I tend to use the disabled one if there isn't a Mothercare, or similar, toilet that allows space for buggies.

I usually feel guilty but its either that or wet myself!

How did that happen?

It may sound harsh, but there are more mums with buggies around than people in wheelchairs etc. Saying that, I would never dream of barging in front of a disabled person to use the disabled loo. It seems silly for it to sit empty, and my ds moans about going in the ladies, but there is no way i would send him in the gents on his own.

not wrong at all if it's vacant. I've never seen a queue at one anyone and I do use them.

shall I mention the baby changing table? - no I can't be bothered

i use them when i have the children with me. the ladies loo in the main hospital is inaccessable with a pushchair so dont have much choice if the pavillion is shut.

also baby changing tends to be in the disabled loos, which is a PITA if you ask me, because its not like they have lowered the changing unit so a person in a wheel chair can change a babies bum, there are always at physically abled person height.

If there were mother and children toilets that would be different...but really, where are mums with buggies supposed to go? We can't leave the kids outside the cubicle.

not too dreadful imo,aslong as there is no one obviously in need of it who deserves to use it.
I use it with ds .

Did you just read my entry on the cringeworthy moment thread? Enough to stop you using disabled toilets!

Many of the disabled toilets also double as a baby changing unit so I have no problems in going if I have small children with me. I'm sure most disabled people wouldn't mind at all if it's a choice between using their toilets and leaving your small children unattended in the public loos.

ADA (you know the place, the shops mumsnetters dont like becaus eits full of chavvy types ) have big family sized toilets, with a changing table and toilet, you can lock the main door so no one can come in, which means that 2 small ones plus mummy/daddy can pee in peace without the kids escaping. and you can bring a buggy in as well.

Lots of people do leave kids outside the cubicle, mousie. I used to. The main prob is that often there is NO space to put the buggy in the toilet 'room' anyway, never mind the blinking cubicle, so you'd have to leave your kid out in the corridor !