What would make a public toilet rating app useful to parents?

[JollyYoly]

I don’t have children myself, so I’m hoping some of you can help me out. I’m building an app where people rate the public toilets they’ve used (cleanliness, accessibility, privacy, stock of loo roll and so on, and whether it’s free or paid). I’d like it to be properly useful for parents, and I’d rather ask people who actually do this than guess.

When you’re out with a baby or small child, what do you wish you knew about a toilet before you got there? Baby changing, a decent size of cubicle, step-free access, cost, somewhere to put a pushchair? Anything I’m missing?

To be upfront, it’s my own project, so I’m biased. I’m not here to sell anything. I just want to build the right thing.

There is already an app called Toilet Finder

With small kids, the number one thing is proximity. Unless you’re in a shopping center or something with loads of options, you will always go to the closest loo with a desperate toddler or poo-y baby. So I’m afraid I don’t think this would be particularly useful.

I would stop tbh. There are other problems that need fixing - this is not one of them.

Whether there is a toilet and baby change together in one large cubicle that can fit a pram in.

No I wouldn’t pay for or download an app for this. With little kids it’s “run to nearest loo”. Parents generally keep loo roll and wet wipes with them at all times.

💯 nailed it

This

The problem with rating them for cleanliness or availability of toilet paper is that this can change very quickly indeed. If the cleaner is off sick, or quits, or some filthy merchant leaves it looking like a war zone and/or uses/steals all of the paper, those assurances can become null in a heartbeat.

I agree with PP: so many public toilets have closed over the past decades that they're in short supply; people now think themselves lucky if there's ANY feasible toilet, rather than having a wealth of options from which they can select their preference.

The government could do a lot worse than forcing local vape shop provision and public toilet provision to swap places!

Hi, thank you for your post. The app also rates commercial loos and reviews are time stamped. All in an effort so that we get the loos that we deserve.

Hi thank you for your post. Great observation. I have added this.