As someone who doesn’t have kids but does use public facilities: it depends?
In a bathroom with multiple stalls, I could not care less. As long as his mom keeps him contained (preferably in the stall with her, but at least not roaming the bathroom and peeping in stalls or something), I do not care. It’s a bathroom. As long as we’re all doing what we need to do (and the vast, vast majority of people in public bathrooms are doing that), it’s fine.
In a locker room? It’s a little more dicey, sort of. I want to say maybe when he starts to look like he’s six or seven? Or behaves that way? Maybe they get more leeway if they’re relatively well-behaved and not looking around or making kid-style commentary about the people around them? Regardless of how his mom and he feel about changing in the middle of the locker room, probably she should bring him to a stall to change if he’s much older than a toddler?
But again: I’m not a mother, and I’m also not the kind of person who’s going to go off on someone in public unless something absolutely out-of-hand is going on.
I personally don’t feel there is an age limit. At a certain point, I just assume there is a reason a mom is bringing their grown child into the bathroom and she feels safer doing it in the female vs. male bathroom.
Agree with the other poster about toilets with separate stalls – as long as they behave, take ‘em with you as long as needed.
Locker rooms is a different story. I’m fortunate that I rarely have to share a locker room, but when I do, I just don’t want any boys around, no matter what age. The idea makes me very uncomfortable.
Puberty I’d say if it’s changing area / naked area. Usually they say 8-9 they can go men’s locker –
Personally we went got changed in the bathroom when needed as my son is Special needs
Age 5-6? Whenever they reach an age (or attitude, or personality,) where they can be given instructions and follow them reliably. (ie: please go potty in the mens room, wash your hands, then wait for me right here. (designated waiting spot) and don’t move until I come out. Caveat for emergencies, kid can run into the ladies room if they need help, or just panic.
depends honestly. 8-10? around then. just curious though because a lot of places have family locker rooms.
I think as long as your child is disrespectful then it’s fine. Someone said depends on the country and I do agree with that different cultures different things I feel like in the US people have courses about things like this, but nudity isn’t sexual. also, locker rooms typically still have stalls.
I also think it depends on how well your child is able to take instructions and would they be able to do various things on their own and do you trust the environment that you’re in that nothing would happen to your kid
It’s not so much about the age, more about when they stop needing assistance/help using the bathroom and/or when they understand privacy and personal space.
I think some people are ignoring scenarios when MOM needs to pee.
If I could stand outside men’s room I would send boys in around 6-7. But up until my son was 8 (maybe closer to 9?) if we were in a busy area I’d bring him into the women’s restroom with me if I had to go. He couldn’t see anything with stalls, and I was not going to leave a child unattended outside the women’s restroom with hundreds of strangers going by.
He can be even 58 and without mom, as long as he doesn’t touch me or stare intensely at my private parts (for which he would have to get into my stall/changing room and generally get close to me in a way that women in these rooms don’t get).
I take my 8 year old with me and his little sister in the locker room at any theme park because I don’t trust strangers and men around my son, too much weird kidnapping and also SA that goes on and I wouldn’t be there to knock the fucker out cold haha
Depends where we are. If we’re traveling or in a crowded, unfamiliar area, my 10 year old son is coming in with me and I don’t care who doesn’t like it.
I do not trust society or people. My son turns 7 this fall and he still comes with me in the bathroom whenever we are out. I have two smaller kids as well.
We honestly never go anywhere that requires a locker room, we have our own pool, and if we do dad is with us and of course he goes with his dad. When it’s just me though? No.
When will this stop? When I know he is able to fend off someone. Call me paranoid idc. This world is full of crazies
Personal growth issue instead of age issue Prepare your child to do things independently and practice them at home first Standing directly outside the door and saying to the ones entering that you’re waiting for your child Reassure the child you are there There’s the family bathroom option where available Clothing should be manageable for child as well Just suggestions Not arguments
If you take an elementary aged boy in the women’s locker room and they encounter naked female classmates, how is that fair to the girls? I think more locker rooms with changing rooms/stalls and/or more family changing rooms is the answer. I had a parent who did not respect my desire to not change clothes around peers, so I have strong feelings about this.
The locker room is more of an issue. I think I’d ask how old is too old for a daughter to use the locker room with Dad? If they’re alone without Mom then what are they doing? The same standard should apply to boys.
Boys in a women’s locker room are looking around. There should be a reasonable expectation of privacy from the opposite sex when changing in a locker room. There can be girls and women changing in a locker room who don’t want to be exposed to some mom barging in with her son.
I think moms need to remember that women’s locker rooms are not equivalent to family locker rooms. Their family needs should not trump the needs for privacy of the girls and women removing their clothes in a locker room designated for them.
My local gym had to put an age limit (7 years old) on the woman’s changing room because one woman kept bringing her 11 year old boy in and he was behaving badly.
I’d say 6/7 MAX because no girl deserves to have to be seen without clothes against her will, in a space made for her, by a boy at any age.
As a regular gym goer I’ve seen far too many women bring boys into the changing room that are far too curious and active in their investigation about strangers bodies.
For a restroom I don’t care ever, I have the privacy of a stall and anyone can use their own stall. No matter who you are you are expected to be respectful of one another’s privacy.
For locker rooms, 9-10? Idk really, they need to understand to keep their eyes in their personal space just out of respect to the people around them, but I’d recommend that behavior in your own gender restroom. If a boy is bigger, it feel most comfortable if his mom covered his eyes until they got to their spot and he kinda kept his eyes down or at locker until they were ready to move on. I think there are plenty of reasons it may sometimes not be safe for any child to go to a locker room along, thinking if they are mentally a little delayed or something like that.
I don’t mind mixed bathrooms personally anyway, but otherwise: as long as a boy is with mom I can’t see any problem. Unless the boy feels deeply embarrassed, then he can use the men’s as soon as he’s old enough to leave the place not a mess and someone outside in case help is needed.
Lockerrooms are slightly different.. I’d say once they start staring out of more than general human curiosity in other humans. I don’t find little girls stares any more comfortable than little boys.
Speaking as a mom of 1 child who is a boy, 15 (a joke, don’t yell at me). My son is 11 now and I still sit in a panic when he goes into a men’s restroom. Luckily my husband is usually with me and I can ask him to go with him. People are messed up out there and boys are not immune to their disgusting behavior.
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This is a tough question when the kids took swimming lessons at school 5-6 they used the correct locker room. Waited outside for my daughter
As someone who doesn’t have kids but does use public facilities: it depends?
In a bathroom with multiple stalls, I could not care less. As long as his mom keeps him contained (preferably in the stall with her, but at least not roaming the bathroom and peeping in stalls or something), I do not care. It’s a bathroom. As long as we’re all doing what we need to do (and the vast, vast majority of people in public bathrooms are doing that), it’s fine.
In a locker room? It’s a little more dicey, sort of. I want to say maybe when he starts to look like he’s six or seven? Or behaves that way? Maybe they get more leeway if they’re relatively well-behaved and not looking around or making kid-style commentary about the people around them? Regardless of how his mom and he feel about changing in the middle of the locker room, probably she should bring him to a stall to change if he’s much older than a toddler?
But again: I’m not a mother, and I’m also not the kind of person who’s going to go off on someone in public unless something absolutely out-of-hand is going on.
It depends a lot on the country.
I personally don’t feel there is an age limit. At a certain point, I just assume there is a reason a mom is bringing their grown child into the bathroom and she feels safer doing it in the female vs. male bathroom.
Agree with the other poster about toilets with separate stalls – as long as they behave, take ‘em with you as long as needed.
Locker rooms is a different story. I’m fortunate that I rarely have to share a locker room, but when I do, I just don’t want any boys around, no matter what age. The idea makes me very uncomfortable.
Puberty I’d say if it’s changing area / naked area. Usually they say 8-9 they can go men’s locker –
Personally we went got changed in the bathroom when needed as my son is Special needs
Age 5-6? Whenever they reach an age (or attitude, or personality,) where they can be given instructions and follow them reliably. (ie: please go potty in the mens room, wash your hands, then wait for me right here. (designated waiting spot) and don’t move until I come out. Caveat for emergencies, kid can run into the ladies room if they need help, or just panic.
Disabled? No age limit.
No disabilities and fully neurotypical? Around 10.
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You’ll know. They start looking AT things rather than towards things. Usually 5-7.
depends honestly. 8-10? around then. just curious though because a lot of places have family locker rooms.
I think as long as your child is disrespectful then it’s fine. Someone said depends on the country and I do agree with that different cultures different things I feel like in the US people have courses about things like this, but nudity isn’t sexual. also, locker rooms typically still have stalls.
I also think it depends on how well your child is able to take instructions and would they be able to do various things on their own and do you trust the environment that you’re in that nothing would happen to your kid
In my opinion, when they can go into the men’s restroom alone. If they can’t go by themselves, they have to go with you.
It’s not so much about the age, more about when they stop needing assistance/help using the bathroom and/or when they understand privacy and personal space.
I think some people are ignoring scenarios when MOM needs to pee.
If I could stand outside men’s room I would send boys in around 6-7. But up until my son was 8 (maybe closer to 9?) if we were in a busy area I’d bring him into the women’s restroom with me if I had to go. He couldn’t see anything with stalls, and I was not going to leave a child unattended outside the women’s restroom with hundreds of strangers going by.
Im 62 and still use the ladies room to do #2’s.
When they are old enough to go alone… cause what is a mother supposed to do until then?
6-7 is the line imo
He can be even 58 and without mom, as long as he doesn’t touch me or stare intensely at my private parts (for which he would have to get into my stall/changing room and generally get close to me in a way that women in these rooms don’t get).
seven or eight at the eldest, imo
Whenever they’re at the age where they can independently do everything on their own. Use the bathroom, wipe, get dressed
I take my 8 year old with me and his little sister in the locker room at any theme park because I don’t trust strangers and men around my son, too much weird kidnapping and also SA that goes on and I wouldn’t be there to knock the fucker out cold haha
Depends where we are. If we’re traveling or in a crowded, unfamiliar area, my 10 year old son is coming in with me and I don’t care who doesn’t like it.
Where they reach the age where watching mom change clothes makes them uncomfortable
The other option is to go to the men’s room. Extremely unlikely that anyone will bat an eye if a mom comes in.
4-5 for the locker room—whatever age they start to stare at other women and/or ask questions. Maybe another year for the bathroom.
I do not trust society or people. My son turns 7 this fall and he still comes with me in the bathroom whenever we are out. I have two smaller kids as well.
We honestly never go anywhere that requires a locker room, we have our own pool, and if we do dad is with us and of course he goes with his dad. When it’s just me though? No.
When will this stop? When I know he is able to fend off someone. Call me paranoid idc. This world is full of crazies
Personal growth issue instead of age issue Prepare your child to do things independently and practice them at home first Standing directly outside the door and saying to the ones entering that you’re waiting for your child Reassure the child you are there There’s the family bathroom option where available Clothing should be manageable for child as well Just suggestions Not arguments
If you take an elementary aged boy in the women’s locker room and they encounter naked female classmates, how is that fair to the girls? I think more locker rooms with changing rooms/stalls and/or more family changing rooms is the answer. I had a parent who did not respect my desire to not change clothes around peers, so I have strong feelings about this.
The locker room is more of an issue. I think I’d ask how old is too old for a daughter to use the locker room with Dad? If they’re alone without Mom then what are they doing? The same standard should apply to boys.
Boys in a women’s locker room are looking around. There should be a reasonable expectation of privacy from the opposite sex when changing in a locker room. There can be girls and women changing in a locker room who don’t want to be exposed to some mom barging in with her son.
I think moms need to remember that women’s locker rooms are not equivalent to family locker rooms. Their family needs should not trump the needs for privacy of the girls and women removing their clothes in a locker room designated for them.
1m35 or 10 years for me.
i mean he can be 9 but if he’s 1m60 that’s weirdly uncomfortable.
My local gym had to put an age limit (7 years old) on the woman’s changing room because one woman kept bringing her 11 year old boy in and he was behaving badly.
I’d say 6/7 MAX because no girl deserves to have to be seen without clothes against her will, in a space made for her, by a boy at any age.
As a regular gym goer I’ve seen far too many women bring boys into the changing room that are far too curious and active in their investigation about strangers bodies.
For a restroom I don’t care ever, I have the privacy of a stall and anyone can use their own stall. No matter who you are you are expected to be respectful of one another’s privacy.
For locker rooms, 9-10? Idk really, they need to understand to keep their eyes in their personal space just out of respect to the people around them, but I’d recommend that behavior in your own gender restroom. If a boy is bigger, it feel most comfortable if his mom covered his eyes until they got to their spot and he kinda kept his eyes down or at locker until they were ready to move on. I think there are plenty of reasons it may sometimes not be safe for any child to go to a locker room along, thinking if they are mentally a little delayed or something like that.
When they’re past the toddler stage, around 5 or6.
I don’t mind mixed bathrooms personally anyway, but otherwise: as long as a boy is with mom I can’t see any problem. Unless the boy feels deeply embarrassed, then he can use the men’s as soon as he’s old enough to leave the place not a mess and someone outside in case help is needed.
Lockerrooms are slightly different.. I’d say once they start staring out of more than general human curiosity in other humans. I don’t find little girls stares any more comfortable than little boys.
Once they are in school they can use a bathroom by themselves in my opinion
it depends. Some kids mature faster, some dont.
my sister took her son into the ladies room until he was about 6 or so if family bathrooms weren’t available.
Speaking as a mom of 1 child who is a boy, 15 (a joke, don’t yell at me). My son is 11 now and I still sit in a panic when he goes into a men’s restroom. Luckily my husband is usually with me and I can ask him to go with him. People are messed up out there and boys are not immune to their disgusting behavior.
When do you consider the privacy needs of the women and girls? Primarily in a locker room, which I think is more of a concern.
When do your daughters not want to change in front of boys?
My daughter was 7 when she didn’t want to change in front of her dad or brother.
Baring any medical needs. I’d be wary of any male child over the age of 7.
I don’t want to be peeped on through stall gaps because he’s curious. Irritating but tolerable.
If he’s 9-10 he’s probably entering puberty and wants to peek for entirely different reasons.
In our local pool it days age 7