How do you manage to go to the toilet with DC when you're out and about?

[Maydream]

Genuinely curious about this. I only really thought about it yesterday whilst in town. My DS is 8 months and I went to change him in Debenhams, which is where I normally go as there isn't many baby changing facilities in the town centre.

Our store has a separate room for baby change which also has a toilet in as well. So if I ever need the loo, I always go there so I can change DS and go to the toilet as well.

However, yesterday the baby facilities were out of order and I needed to go to the toilet. I tried going in the women's but my pushchair has really big wheels and I couldn't get or fit it through the door.

I figured I could have used the disabled but you needed a key and I didn't feel right asking for one because I don't have a disability. In the end I just left early and went home. There isn't anywhere else in the town centre that has a toilet with a baby change in.

Has anyone else found this a bit of a PITA?

Quite a few of the baby changes where I live are in disabled toilets so thou have no choice but to use the facilities. It is tough knowing what to do when facilities are limited though. I can get my daughter out now and she'll stand but there was a phase when I'd have struggled.

Or let's try to get 'disabled' loos renamed 'accessible', as they are in the US, and then people who need to use them can do so. Of course it's a 'disability' to be unable to leave home without needing a loo.

Use the accessible (aka disabled) loo! 'Disabled' people are normal human beings and like any other person will be ok about waiting the 60 seconds it takes you to wee. And you shouldn't have to hold in a poo until you get home!

For those who will chime in and say some disabled people can't wait, what would they do if another disabled person was in there? Yup.. They'd wait.

Another example of women-blaming on here. The fact is, look around you at a shopping centre in the day - so, so many women have pushchairs and all of them are prevented from using facilitities in an easy or stress free way, and it's their fault for not being organised, not that the world ignores they exist.

So duck that makes it ok then? A lot of places have one disabled toilet, a lot of disabilities lead to urgency issues so although it's sometimes unavoidable to wAit it is selfish of people to discount that and use the toilets when then don't need to, and having a baby is not a need for the disabled toilet, it is not a disability.

I agree with duck and pp. I've not yet come across a disabled toilet that does not have baby change in it though I'm sure theyre out there. But in the real world I'm sure most people would understand a parents need to use a disabled loo if no other easy choice as it does only take a minute or two. Where is people's compassion (ie "stupid children" comment) Why is it an us or them situation? If there's no queue and no other choice why not for a minute or two?

Surely the problem is a lack of suitable provision? There is one family room where we are. Plenty of space for three kids, an adult plus buggy and shopping. Baby change and loo all in one. We can all go the the toilet together.

Fwiw I don't see why I should have to leave my buggy outside a public loo, especially when bags of shopping are hanging off it. With or without baby.

Nor should I have to lie a young, immobile baby on a toilet floor. The portable changing mats are tiny.

Nor is it easy to have to hold a wriggling baby while changing a tampon.

I think the lack of provision for people with a baby is appalling.

No I wouldn't use a disabled loo if there was a choice. Quite often there isn't. Most other baby change round here are inside the disabled loo.

Surely it's on all our interests to ask for better provision?

In my local shopping centre half the cubicles in the toilet are designed to be able to fit a pram too they are double sized which is great, if I wasn't near one I would probably also go for a costa/cafe Nero which normally have a large toilet with space. If it was a quiet day and I had no other option I would go into a disabled toilet, I think most people would be understanding to why you needed it and would not mind waiting the two minutes it would take for you to have a wee, most of the disabled toilets are shared with baby change anyway.
Marks and Spencer's also normally have a mother and baby room with a loo big enough for a pram. Some of the comments are unnecessary on this thread, "stupid children whining"

I left the buggy outside the toilets in a shopping centre whilst taking toddler DS to the loo, came out and it was gone. Luckily it had been confiscated by security, not stolen, as some twat had complained it had been there an hour and a half...! it was literally about 3 - 4 mins and in no feasible way an obstruction to anyone (big wide sort-of-foyer bit where you often get things like Thomas rides/photo machines/scales etc).

I ask an old lady or toilet attendant to watch baby or if nobody else is around just leave him. Nobody's going to steal him...Or my pram, because it's cheap. I can pee quickly.

weebeastie I think I live in a different part of the UK to you. Can't remember the last time I saw a toilet attendant.

The point is, we shouldn't have to make do like this. It's not as if mums with babies is an unusual thing in town centres.

I've had three children and when I need to go, I need to go. I can't time trips to town around my toileting. Why should I have to? I live 40 minutes drive away so when I go into town, it's generally for the day.

I appreciate that having babies means loads of people have seen my fanjo. Doesn't mean I want random people in public loos to see me on the loo.

The number of times I've struggled to get a buggy into the toilets. It's not a double either. Then to have to leave it all outside the cubicle. It's ridiculous.

Agree with a pp on mothercare loos as well. They are terrible. Considering their target audience surely they should get it right!

What Bertrand said

Changing facilities are usually in disabled loo so I go in there, if not I'd go to a cafe and ask where to change the baby. Most places have baby change! Worse case scenario (never had to) I'd take baby out and leave buggy outside.