Letting kids go potty alone (when in a restaurant)..

What age is appropriate to let a child go alone to the bathroom when in a restaurant.

It caught me offguard but when I was in FL, I saw a 7-8yr old girl in the bathroom by herself, and I was looking for the adult with her and there was none.

My cousin's 11yr old still goes with his dad, my 8yr old niece is ALWAYS taken by one of us....

Just wondering what everyone thought about this.. Even if it's a quiet/empty restaurant, Im nervous when I go to some bathrooms, never mind sending a child in alone.

Maybe Im overreacting.

Message edited 7/13/2007 11:46:26 AM.

Re: Letting kids go potty alone (when in a restaurant)..

Depends on the restaurant, how crowded it was, etc.

I think an 8 year old should be ok as long as it's quick & the restaurant isn't packed.

Re: Letting kids go potty alone (when in a restaurant)..

Depending on the restaurant...my stepdaughter started going alone at around 8.

Re: Letting kids go potty alone (when in a restaurant)..

I was at an Islander game and there was a dad with his daughter (she was about 6 or 7).

He obviously couldn't take her in, so I said I'd wait for her and bring her out to meet him.

What else was he going to do?

I'm sure if I wasn't there, any other woman on line would have done it.

Message edited 7/13/2007 12:02:46 PM.

Re: Letting kids go potty alone (when in a restaurant)..

Re: Letting kids go potty alone (when in a restaurant)..

Posted by anna

Posted by Shroggie

I was at an Islander game and there was a dad with his daughter (she was about 6 or 7).

He obviously couldn't take her in, so I said I'd wait for her and bring her out to meet him.

What else was he going to do?

I'm sure if I wasn't there, any other woman on line would have done it.

That's another issue altogether at what age will my boys have to go in the boys room without me.

True, we have to just be extra careful.

Re: Letting kids go potty alone (when in a restaurant)..

I have an almost ten year old and have recently had to deal with this. As another poster said, it depends on where it is. I usually let my daughter go alone and I have an eye in the general vicinity of the bathroom. I have gotten up to see what's going on when I feel its taking to long (and I'm usually met with "mom I'm not a baby").

This is so hard for me because I'm something of a control freak, but I do believe that you need to start taking little steps toward independence. Last night I let my daughter and nephew (he's 10) get out of my truck and pick up a pizza at a local place where we are known. This was the first time I've ever done this and I was parked directly outside of the door and could see inside. They were so thrilled to pay and bring the pizza out themselves. So I keep telling myself baby steps, baby steps, its becoming my mantra.

Re: Letting kids go potty alone (when in a restaurant)..

OH Lord I don't even want to think about this now...

IF I have to let him go on his own one day then I will be right outside the door! My middle name is PARANOID and also AFRAID, WORRYWORT.