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Parenting

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Original poster

Right, this one has been bugging me for nearly 6 years. Public toilets and babies...

52 replies

tigana · 19/07/2011 22:01

Here we go. I'm preparing for a really obvious answer to be revealed.

You are strolling around town with baby in pram/pushchair. You do not have friends or DP/DH with you. You need a pee. You cannot wait until you get home. You venture into the loos kindly provided by debenhams/M&S?wherever....

what do you do with the baby?
Because that buggy won't fit in a cubicle now will it?!

leave baby outside cubicle? leave buggy but carry baby in and do funky dance trying to hold baby and lower/raise own pants etc? use buggy as modesty screen?!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

thenightsky · 19/07/2011 23:19

This must sound really bizarre, but I've actually forgotten how I managed my two, I really have. DH worked away in those days, so I must have done it somehow. I just have no memory at all.

Or perhaps I've just blocked out the stress and trauma of it all

CroissantNeuf · 19/07/2011 23:21

I used to either:

-go in the disabled loo
-go to Mothercare (about the only time I ever set foot in the place!) who had a big toilet cubicle
-end cubicle in public toiet where you could leave the buggy outside the semi-open cubicle door

zebedeethezebra · 21/07/2011 13:51

Use the family loo if there is one or the disabled loo.

We need more family loo facilities provided.

The train is a nightmare because the loos are tiny, so I've never dared go anywhere with DS by myself on the train.

Interested in this thread?

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Families General parenting

BluddyMoFo · 21/07/2011 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

vogonmothership · 21/07/2011 13:57

disabled

It really really PISSES me off when baby change rooms don't have a toilet in. Who designed that then? A bloody man???

OddBoots · 21/07/2011 14:02

I gave up and used a sling for baby and a (small sized) 'old lady' shopping trolley, the trolley just about fitted in with me.

exexpat · 21/07/2011 14:16

I'd recommend living in Japan if you want to be able to go to the loo with a baby in tow - public loos in shops etc usually have a fold-down baby seat that you can plonk the baby in while you go. But if you don't want to move, maybe start a campaign to introduce those over here?

nojustificationneeded · 21/07/2011 14:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BobbieSox · 21/07/2011 15:07

Is it just me that would go into the cubicle and shut the door leaving baby and pram outisde? Also happily wee with door open and pram barring the way, as others have done.

Steeplearningcurve · 21/07/2011 15:08

It really annoys me when baby change rooms don,t have a toilet in them! I also have used the disabled toilet before, I figure it's ok if there is no one waiting for it as it's only for a minute. I can recommend costa if you're stopping for a drink anyway as they tend to have combined baby changing/disabled toilets so I feel less guilty about using it!

Octaviapink · 21/07/2011 20:41

I reverse the buggy in so it (and DD on the front) are sticking out then wee like that. It's not like they're mixed toilets or anything and frankly I'm really not that fussed about someone coming past and seeing me perched! (I do usually aim for an end-cubicle though...)

TheOriginalFAB · 21/07/2011 20:43

Why leave the baby outside but take your bag in? Surely your baby is worth more? Though I guess people don't nick babies in the same way some nick bags.

BertieBotts · 21/07/2011 20:44

Angeldog! WTF?

BertieBotts · 21/07/2011 20:46

Exactly fab - bag's more likely to get nicked than a baby is. And if you gave a shout out for a missing baby and were able to describe the pram etc, it's easier for someone else to stop them than it would be to spot a stolen bag.

spout · 21/07/2011 20:46

same as Octavia - pee with door open and buggy outside. No one is interested in gawping at me on the lav.

I don't believe that the need for modesty should entitle anyone to use a disabled loo

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 21/07/2011 20:49

Disabled/Baby change cubicle when I was with a baby on my own. When DS1 was old enough I'd leave the buggy outside the door with him 'guarding' it if I was out with the two (and later three) of them.

KoolAidKid · 21/07/2011 20:55

I leave the baby outside. If I'm uncomfortable about doing this (there are some dodgy public toilets where I live) I use the toilet at the end, furthest away from the entrance, and leave the door open a crack so I can keep an eye on my baby outside.

MrsChemist · 21/07/2011 20:56

I usually suss out the places that have family toilets. There is at least one in every town close to my house.

Only been an issue since I've been pregnant though. I can go hours without needing to pee usually.

KoolAidKid · 21/07/2011 20:58

I remember having DD in sling / baby carrier type thing (on my front) was worse for some reason. She was a long baby and I'm short. I couldn't get my jeans down and struggled to bend down, and I got all flustered

Nagini · 21/07/2011 20:59

angeldog I'd have been speaking to her boss! And I speak as a person who will take an unattended bag into lost property for my own entertainment. But a baby!!!?

monkoray · 21/07/2011 21:02

having read the responses i feel a bit stupid. I always took DS in with me and did the waddle dance to try and get my jeans up and down - but thats also what i usually ended up doing at home too as DS didn't like being put down when he was wee. I like the idea of hanging baby on the door hook. I wonder if there is a nitch market for babygrows with a hanging handle.

MrsCampbellBlack · 21/07/2011 21:04

yeap same as most others - door open. I have no shame any more.

Woodlands · 22/07/2011 20:01

I tend to push the buggy right up to the door and shut the door, but so that I can see the wheels under the door IYSWIM. I chat to DS while weeing.

The other day we were at the swimming pool and had finished getting dressed afterwards and I was desperate for a wee. I had carried DS in with no buggy or anything as there's nowhere to put them - luckily in the family changing cubicles they have special seats on the wall for babies. Anyway, so I had to take him with me while I went for a wee. All went fine except I could not do up my flies afterwards! i ended up having to hold him/my bag in front of me till I got out to the car...

controlleddemolition · 22/07/2011 21:20

"if you gave a shout out for a missing baby and were able to describe the pram etc, it's easier for someone else to stop them than it would be to spot a stolen bag"

Yes, but if someone stole your bag you'd be pissed off and get over it, but if someone stole your baby it would be absolutely and utterly the most horrific thing that ever happened in your life and you'd never get over it.

So not the same, IMO.

whomovedmychocolate · 22/07/2011 21:31

I have a very small buggy and have taught the DC to scoot into cubicles using any available space. I have been known to fold the buggy with one hand while holding DS hang it on the back of the loo door, walk DD in, use the loo, toilet DD, still holding DS and then flick the buggy open as I emerge without letting either of them loose. DH saw it once and he was dead impressed.

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