i constantly see moms taking their young sons into the women's bathroom with them. i, myself, do this too. he also goes with his dad from time to time. however, i've never seen dads take their daughters into the men's restroom, until today. the girl looked about 5 or 6. is that a common practice? i've just never thought about it. i guess i wouldn't give it a second thought if it wasn't for the case of open urinals. our daughter is only 15 months so there's no bathroom duty for her yet. what do you think the cutoff age should be for taking your opposite sex child into the bathroom with you? 

Ohh I never thought about that, but I'm a Mama with only a daughter so far. I can say that my husband has never taken her into the restroom with him. Personally, it makes me slightly uncomfortable when I see a boy over the age of about 5 in the women's restroom. 

my son is 4 years old. i still take him but we go directly into a stall. if my husband's available to do it, he takes him. he likes going with daddy better because, in my son's words, it's for "big boys"! lol! 

If the dad was by himself I can see why he would take her in there with him. I wouldn't leave my child unattended at that age either. 

If the dad was by himself I can see why he would take her in there with him

he wasn't. the mom was there. we were at a restaurant and they were sitting by us. that's why i was wondering. i totally get the idea of doing it if you're by yourself but i didn't know if it was a common practice for men to take their daughters. 

My best friend has 2 daughters full time so he had to do this when they were young. I'm sure there are lots of dads that do. 

There were times that my husband took my daughter to the restroom. He stopped when she was about 5 or 6. If there were men using the urinals he'd just cover her eyes when passing by them. 

I take my 3 year old daughter into the men's restroom with me. I never thought of it as a big deal. She goes straight into a stall ,does her business. 

I dont think its a huge deal, honestly. I went with my dad. I knew what the guys were doing. Its not like 99% of guys drop trough to their ankles or paint the walls. 

There are some girls who want their dad's to take them. My best friend's daughter was this way. If her dad was with them and she needed to go to potty she would refuse to go unless he took her. I see it as no different then a mom taking her son into the women's restroom. 

If my husband is not there to take my son to the bathroom he will come with me until he is older. He's 6 right now. My cousin was sexually molested in a men's restroom when he was 8 while going to the bathroom alone. I don't know what the age will be, I suppose I'll just know when it's time. I would dare some woman to say something to me about my son using a stall in the women's restroom. Mostly 'cause I think it's different in a women's restroom. We don't pee in the open with our business out for all to see. It's behind closed doors. 

This is why I like family bathrooms and I wish more places had them. 

It only becomes an issue when people make it an issue.

When did it become so taboo for a parent to be honest with a child? Men do go potty using their penis pointed at a funny looking contraption against the wall. Big deal, get over it. 

My oldest is 5 1/2. If it is just me, I take him with me in the women's. Id feel extremely uncomfortable leaving him outside by himself. I'd think that other women in the bathroom would understand that children of the opposite sex need to go in there with their parents.

My son HATES that I make him go in the women's. I always get, "but Mama, I'm a boy!" He is just still too young, IMO 

I hate, make that HATE women who bring their older (6+) sons into the ladies room. Disgusting and disrespectful to everyone else! 

LOL I will not leave my 6-year-old Kindergartner alone, outside the ladies' room, while I take in my 2 and 5 year old girls because YOU are disgusted. What a ludicrous statement. 

I'll take ensuring the safety of my child over being "disgusting and disrespectful" any day.

When i was out with my daughter i'd take her into the men's room if she needed to "go". I'd cover her eyes if needed, till we got to a stall.

Once she was older (8+) she'd use the ladies room and i'd wait outside the door for her.

Yes, i got some looks, but nothing trumps the safety of my children. I'll be "disgusting and disrespectful" all day long if need be. 

I hate, make that HATE women who bring their older (6+) sons into the ladies room. Disgusting and disrespectful to everyone else! 

Oh good. Well in high-risk situations I will continue to bring my 9 yr old into the bathroom (who is very respectful and well-behaved) and will know that your disgust is more important to you than his safety. 

Once she was older (8+) she'd use the ladies room and i'd wait outside the door for her.

Honestly I would be more comfortable with a girl of that age going into the ladies' bathroom alone than a boy going alone into the mens' in high-risk situations. 

I'll take my son into the ladies restroom until we BOTH feel comfortable with him going alone. To be honest, I don't give a shit if you feel disgusted, his safety is more important than your feelings. 

I hate, make that HATE women who bring their older (6+) sons into the ladies room. Disgusting and disrespectful to everyone else!

Then be disgusted, but I will NOT leave my 6 year old of either sex outside if I have to go to the restroom, and my husband is not with me. I would expect the same from my husband too, if he is out with our daughter alone I would expect him to take her into the restroom with him, even at 6.

nothing trumps the safety of my children. I'll be "disgusting and disrespectful" all day long if need be.

x2 

Well if i see yall with your preteens in the bathroom i will most definetly say something to you and surely give dirty looks and snide remarks. 

Google Matthew Cecchi who was slaughtered in Oceanside while his aunt waited just steps away and then try to tell me that my son's safety is not important. That is just one story, children are assaulted in bathrooms all across the country. If he needs to use the restroom in a location where I can not make sure the bathroom is safe for him, he will do so in the womens' restroom. 

I would be ok if my husband had to take my girls in , however there is alot more for a little girl to see in a mens room and a boy in the womens restroom. I see no problem taking your children in with you , there are alot o sick people out there ! 

I never cared about older boys in the women's bathroom until I was sitting there peeing and looked up to see some 7-8 year old boy peeking through the crack in the stall at me. At that point I was kind of upset. But I also understand, I would much rather have them be safe. Maybe go over proper public restroom etiquette with the older kids (this goes for girls too!) 

When I gotta pee I gotta pee! Im not worried about who is in the bathroom, and how old they are. I just need to get my business done, and Im out! If parents take their kids in there, thats on them to explain why men are standing or women are sitting. LOL 

I never cared about older boys in the women's bathroom until I was sitting there peeing and looked up to see some 7-8 year old boy peeking through the crack in the stall at me. At that point I was kind of upset. But I also understand, I would much rather have them be safe. Maybe go over proper public restroom etiquette with the older kids (this goes for girls too!) 

IMO the parent should have done a better job. My son is either inside a stall or standing in an out-of-the-way place near the door or sinks anytime he is in the bathroom with me. My youngest son goes in the stall with me, but he is still pretty young. They are well-versed on inappropriate behavior and my expectations. If that happened to me I would be upset as well, but I would rather deal with that than have a child put in danger. 

Well if i see yall with your preteens in the bathroom i will most definetly say something to you and sure as shit give dirty looks and snide remarks.

A 6 year old is not a preteen, and I wouldn't care if you said anything, dirty looks or snide remarks to me or not. I would tell you the same thing I am saying now. My child's safety is my number one priority, either suck it up and deal with it or get over it, I am NOT putting my child in danger for YOU or any other person in this world. If you feel it is "disgusting and disrespectful" so what, I couldn't care less! 

I let my 6 year old son use the restroom alone. He gets 2 minutes and then I'll pop my head in to check on him. No shame there. lol He doesn't like going in the womens restroom.

My niece lives with her dad and he refuses to take her in a male restroom. He has a portable toilet and a curtain he uses in the back of his suv for her to use the restroom. (she's 3.)

Different strokes for different folks. It's okay to have a difference of opinion. You're opinion isn't right, or wrong. It's just yours. No need to argue to "prove" anything. 

Accountnickname- I agree I would definitely deal with that vs. A child being injured or kidnapped. It was just very shocking to me that he was in there basically unattended. Someone could still take him while she was in the stall. Not all predators are men.