Public Washrooms

[ebhappydc]

On the occasions I've been at a play centre, I take all the kids with me to the washroom if someone needs to go or be changed. I'm always surprised when parents or providers bring only the one that needs to go to the washroom, and leaves the rest unattended for several minutes. I was also at the library washroom once and a little girl in there was struggling to reach the sink, so I helped her and asked her age - 3. Her mom was with sibling way over in children's section.

On another occasion a baby was left crawling around (one of 5 dcks) while provider left for washroom and baby ended up chewing on small sunscreen bottle attached to a ladie's purse on the floor. Staff noticed and helped baby and then frowned at provider when she came back.

I know it's not legal to leave kids in cars but what about public places? I know it's inconvenient to bring everyone, but I'd take everyone no matter how hard.

[Wonderwiper]

I don't take my kids to play centres.

However, if I did, I would certainly be taking all of them with me if anyone needed the washroom!!

[torontokids]

I don't go out to play places too often because it is too stressful I find. I do bring them with me if someone needs the potty though. I have had offers from another provider or parent but never felt comfortable with this.

I told a provider that I thought one of her kids was poopy (I think she may have just been ignoring this fact so she didn't have to deal with the hassle while out.) She asked if I could watch her kids for a second while she quick changed him? I told her I wasn't comfortable with that as I don't know her kids and I would be over ratio then. She said "OK, I understand" and left them anyways and took the one kid with her. I ended up watching them anyways because I was in the room and clearly wouldn't have let one of them take off etc. I left the library with my kids as soon as she got back from the bathroom without a word to her.

[AmandaKDT]

I take my kids to public places, like play centres, at least once a week. I always take all of them to the bathroom every time I go. I have never even thought about leaving any of them behind, they are my responsibility.

[Fun&care]

I saw this happen on a regular basis back when i attended playgroups with my kids. It drove me nuts, and I feel those providers make all of us look bad. This is one of the reasons why if i were a parent, I would not choose a provider who goes on outings because time and time again I have seen providers struggle to keep track of their group and I couldn't stand it. I am not saying this is how all providers are...I have seen some really great ones but they were far and few.

[5 Little Monkeys]

My kids never go to the bathroom when we are out....I don't know why lol. The ones that are in diapers very rarely need to be changed either but when I have had to change them, they all come with me if my husband isn't with us.

However, there are a few places we go that we run into people we know and I would have no issue asking them to watch the kids for me or if they asked me to watch theirs, I would. It's nice to help out each other when we can because we often know what it's like to be in their shoes.

[mickyc]

It would depend on the place. I have taken my kids to our play place in town. I have left the kids playing while I take the youngest to the bathroom. I usually tell them where I am going. I never go when it's busy and have never taken more than 3 kids with me. I have also never gone with more than 1 infant so my older kids were capable to go alone. They also have a short sink for the little kids to reach. The play place is also set up so that the kids cannot get out so no worries of anyone taking off.

I have taken my group to the splash park once. Older kids were able to go alone and my 1 infant I just changed on our towel.

Our mcd's in town used to have a bathroom in the play area but once renovated the bathroom is quite far from the play area. The play area also has a door that leads to outside. For this reason I would never leave a child in the play area while I take one to the bathroom. Very stupid setup!! For this reason we never would play there. I have had total strangers ask if I could keep an eye on their child while they took another to the bathroom there. I guess I look trustworthy! Lol. I get it, by the time they get the older one down the younger one would likely have peed their pants already.

We all know how hard it is to juggle multiple kids at multiple ages so I try to help out others when I can.

[AmandaKDT]

I guess it is all what you are comfortable with and feel capable of doing. I take 3 potty trained two years olds and a 5 year old out all the time to play groups and the bathroom is never close by, and even when some weren't potty trained they would come along too. It just becomes part of the routine to have to all go to the bathroom atleast one time, I try to be proactive about it and not wait so long that someone has an accident. They know the routine and they know to come right away without a fight when I tell them it is bathroom time.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I not take my kids out to these places. We are limited in what there is but also, I see provider leave their kids all the time and I not like it. There one place local where lot of provider go, snack is included and the provider sit around chatting and the kids run riot. I not comfortable with lack of supervision and so I not go.
I lucky in have a relationship with local school so we do go there for science fair and concert practice as they do that in day time for extended family. Evening limited seat based on capacity of gym so extended family is invited to day time practices and we go too.
If I need to take a child to washroom, I would take all my children with me but I lucky and if I needed to could leave extras with the Administration and just take the child who needed to go into washroom. But I would not leave children unsupervised, ever.