It's a Mom's World Home

a boy of 8 y/o is not that young anymore to go to a ladies room with a mom but still he's a kiddo and i absolutely think that on those ages, no malice has ever been occupied their sub-conscious. but if you think that bringing him to a ladies room can make other ladies think it's an inappropriate, you could just let him go to men's room instead but be sure you'll be waiting outside to guard him off until he comes out. it's just so hard that if you go first, you need to leave him outside too, just be sure a guard will watch over him until you're through and if there is no one to look over him (no strangers other than security guards), don't get shook off with how ladies reacted when you bring him inside ladies room. you suppose to protect him from strangers at all cost.

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It is good to be cautious. I have started letting my son, he's 5, go to the mens room but I tend to stand outside the door and talk to him when possible as the door opens. I have usually been watching the bathroom for serveral minutes just watching who comes and goes before I let him go in by himself. If we are somewhere that I get a feeling I don't let him go in by himself. Trust your instinct.

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My son is 9 and I have the same issue.
From about 8.5 if it is a ladies change room, like at swimming pools etc, I take him to the disabled/family facilities or we wait to come home to change. If the centre is smart they usually design the change rooms so you can access the toilets without having to walk into a shower change area, although this is not always the case!

I read somewhere that the World Health Organisation considers that you are a child if under the age of 10.

If it is at a public place and no family facilities are available then he comes to the ladies toilets. I have spoken to him about privacy and he simply stands outside the cubical if I need to go, or I stand outside the cubical when he needs to go. I don't believe that most people have an issue with boys under 12, coming into a ladies toilet room, if they are well behaved and respect their privacy. If someone does, then too bad, my child safety is more important.

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I agree with you... my son is six and i'm not comfortable letting him go in the mens by himself.. i always try to take him into the disabled toliet or parent room if i can, and i would rather explain to everyone in the ladies toilet y he's in there...

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If my husband wasn't around, my son always came in to the bathroom with us - the ladies room has doors so what's the problem. I could see if he was 16 ... but I remember an older woman saying, "the boys room is right around the corner!" And my response was, " I realize that but I am not sending my child in to a men's room without his father! He was 7.

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I totally understand where you are coming from. My son is 7 but looks as though he's 9 but I still send him to the ladies restroom or make him go with me. When I thought it was too much I allowed him to go to the boys restroom and was horrified when he walked out talking to an old man and splilling all of his private information. He still doesn't understand stranger danger...I went right back to the ladies room. I couldn't help it...I want him safe.

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