Distressed baby going in to public toilets

[ClaireS17]

Has anyone ever experienced their baby becoming incredibly distressed/scared in a public toilet?

My 5 month old baby boy becomes very upset every time we go to one. It happens if I change him or even if he just accompanies me in while I go. I can’t seem to work out if it’s the lighting, the smells, sounds etc…. But I don’t know how to help him. I’ve tried singing, showing him toys, reassuring him, cuddling him but nothing seems to make any difference. I hate that he gets so upset - he is such a happy little soul and it is so out of character for him to scream like this.

Any suggestions greatly received.

Nearly 6 year old here and I’m not allowed to use the hand dryers!

I used to be a childminder and was very clear with parents that I took children out most days - 50% of under 3s hate public toilets IME, especially hand dryers yes, but also the smell and the echoes which most older children and adults don't notice much. Public toilets in municipal settings are also often weirdly drafty and dank even in warm weather. There's not much to like if you're a nappy wearing baby or toddler who doesn't appreciate the need for plumbing yet...

On the subject of hearing I thought dc1 had tinnitus from when she could describe what she heard accurately at 7 or 8 until she was 12 - we took her to an ENT specialist and she carried out a lot of tests and said that dc1 just had extremely accute hearing especially at the top end of the register, as do about 25% of under 16 year olds...

The average human loses parts of the accustic spectrum progressively as they age, starting really quite young, though it's very gradual and most people compensate on a functional level and don't notice...

That’s a really good point about not having windows - all those toilets are quite enclosed with bright lights!

When you start to analyse how unpleasant toilets are and all the sensory aspects of them you can really see why they have such issues with them!

Thank you everyone for replying - nice to know that I’m not alone with this

I think it might just be the general sound and light in them. Echoey, bright. Mine both went through a phase if it.

But also yes, hand dryers. Dds are now 4 and 6 and they still get upset by them. I love seeing paper towels!

He might now also be sensing your anxiety about it. And perhaps anxiety about your IBS.. perhaps the rush to get there, if there is one?

Could be the changing table, mine used to scream the whole time on them and then as soon as he was picked up he was fine.

At about a year old he'd be able to tell you what exactly is upsetting him

Unlikely, since most 12 month olds can only say two or three words max…

Hand driers. And it is just hand driers with DS, no issue with other noises.

He isn’t stupid, he knows public toilets are where the hand driers are, so he is scared going in in case somebody sets one off (like you would be walking into a pit full of sleeping lions).

@DobbyTheHouseElk

Hand dryers.

We had to avoid them for several years. Not 100% sure the 9yr old is ok with hand driers now,

My 7 and 8 year olds still hate the bloody things!

Oh and yes, mine loved a loud siren and market day hustle and bustle. But the hand dryers were a no for a long time. Although right now, one of them is scared of sounds from unknown sources, no matter how loud or quiet.