When are they old enough to use a public restroom alone?

When I was kindergarten, it seemed like our teacher, Mrs. Summerfield, would only allow one child to go to the bathroom at a time. But on one particular day, I remember sharing the bathroom pass with a little girl from my class named Rose Alba. We went to the bathroom, did our business, then started washing our hands. Rose Alba decided to fill up the sink after washing our hands. I thought that was pretty funny. Then she got wads of toilet paper, soaked them in the sink water, then threw them up at the ceiling, where they stuck like glue. I thought that was hysterical. So I tried it myself. We kept at it for quiet some time, and managed to get a considerable number of paper wads stuck to the ceiling. At some point, I guess we got tired of it, and went back to the classroom. Amazingly, we never got caught for our bathroom mischief. I don't recall the name of our school janitor, but let me just throw out a cyber apology right now for the mess we made in the Roy de Shane Elementary School girls' room back in 1972.

Now, my oldest is just about to turn six. And she's already told me about some bathroom hijinks the kids have gotten up to at her school. I'm glad that she's fairly responsible and cautious, and has so far managed to keep out of the principal's office. But it got me to wondering about my habit of escorting her to the bathroom, as I did at the public library today.

Obviously, she can manage the whole bathroom thing on her own, and does so regularly at home and at school. So is it really necessary any more to go to the bathroom with her? Is there an age when you felt your kids were mature enough to go to a public restroom on their own?

Comments

[lilah]

I am glad that you brought this up, Renee. I am not comfortable letting E go into the restroom by himself unless I can stand there with the door a jar. I have gotten a few looks when taking him into the restroom with me when other women are in there. The looks usually come from other Mother's who have brought their girls into the restroom with them. I think another year will be it for us....except when I have to take S to go potty, I can't leave E waiting alone in a store or such.....maybe I just do what I feel comfortable with and smile back at the other women's disapproving looks.

[Heather K]

I have a 9 yo girl, a 6 yo boy, and an 11 month old girl, and we all pile into the ladies room together, unless my 9 yo is willing to take my 6 yo, and then they either go to the ladies room together, or she waits outside the mens for him, but even then I really prefer if it's a place that has a one person restroom rather than a large room full of stalls. Sure, they go alone fine at school, but they have security at school to keep strangers to a minimum, but you can't say that about the mall or a restaurant.

[JillyBean]

I won't let my soon-to-be-6-yr-old daughter go into a public restroom unless I know it's empty and remains empty; I've let D.H. know he needs to do the same. I tried it about 3 mos ago at Costco. We were very close to the cashier in a reeaaaallllly long line and she was desperate. I agreed to let her go on her own after she assured me it would be just fine, but I just couldn't take it. I paid and ran like the wind to the bathroom and yelled for her. She came out looking at me like I had just grown 2 extra heads.
Decided right then I wouldn't put either of us through that again. I'll be nonchalantly accompanying her until she's in college or has her own can of mace.

[kari]

I have two girls 8 and 4 and going to a public bathroom alone has been sort of a right of passage for my 8 year old (and me!). Depending on the venue, of course, I do allow my 8 year old to go to the bathroom alone or with her sister. Some times I check to make sure it is empty. If we are in a familiar restaurant, local library, or similar evironment I am okay with it. I do, however, perch myself in a position that I can watch the door and close enough that I can hear in case of an emergency. This seems to have helped build the confidence of my 8 year old, who most of the time is afraid to be away from me. If they are in there for an extended period of time...I always check in to make sure everthing is okay and then go back to my perch and let them get on with their business.