I am so glad two of my three children are potty trained. So, so glad.
However.
When I am out and about with my three darlings, the last thing I want to do is find a way to go to a public restroom.
Can you blame me?
At least Bito is fairly easy since he is five and a boy. He takes care the whole process himself and he can do it alone. However, I have yet to let him use the men’s room all by himself with me hovering outside the door. I just haven’t reached that point yet. Mothers of boys, tell me I will eventually. I will, right?
Cupcake is pretty independent and seems to think she can handle her potty business alone. This is so far from the truth it’s not even funny.
And BabyMuffin is, well, still a baby. Wherever I go, he goes (at least when we’re in public). If I have to change his diaper in public, I’d prefer to find a clean, quiet location since that makes the process easier for me.
So that leaves me schlepping all four of us into a bathroom stall when one, two or three of us need to go. I pray as we approach a bathroom that there is a large, handicap-use stall available for us to use. That makes it somewhat easier.
BabyMuffin is a new walker, which means he’s toddling about and exploring everything. Um, no thank you in a public restroom, so into a stroller or shopping cart he goes. This, then, leads to the problem of parking the lumbering apparatus in the restroom while helping being with Cupcake.
Imagine my surprise to discover a local mall had family restrooms available. There were two bathrooms, with a shared common area. The common area held a nice diaper changing station, which BabyMuffin and I appreciated. Inside the each of the bathrooms (which had their own locked doors), there was a regular toilet and a child-sized toilet. Cupcake was delighted to use a toilet her size, and I was glad for it as well since I didn’t have to worry about her toppling over or into the commode (yes, it’s happened). Bito opted for the normal sized toilet since he is a Big Boy.
A stepstool was at the sink, which allowed my short daughter to reach the faucet, soap and paper towels herself. And the bathroom was large enough for BabyMuffin’s stroller to easily fit and still allow us enough room to manuever around. The entire area was clean and well maintained. Not that I’d let BabyMuffin crawl around the floor or anything…
Bravo, I say. Now that I know this family restroom exists and works well for our needs, I am more likely to choose going to this mall and not be anxious about taking my brood to the potty!
I plan to rate this restroom here as soon as they have their submission form operational again!
I still don’t let my 8 year old son in the men’s room. He comes with me. I try to use family rooms when they’re around but if not, they all make the trip into the bathroom. Now that everyone is potty trained it becomes a regular destination. It’s a given that someone needs to use the bathroom when we’re out.
Very nice! I wish more places had this.
very cool! I dread the whole potty ordeal when we are out – i still make logan pee in the travel potty in the van before going into stores
Interesting web site on subject
http://americanrestroom.org/family/index.htm
Once I had my daughter, I began to realize how important public restrooms were. Then I had my son and it became even more important. Thankfully, every mall we go to has a couple of these “family” restrooms. Definitely a life-saver!
That’s why I *heart* Nordstrom – fantastic family rooms and nursing areas. We always park there when we head to Dulles Town Center.
P.S. – Added bonus of Dulles: you can ride the train, ride the carousel AND see the Nordie’s fish, all while enjoying the nice bathrooms.
Oooh, I forgot to mention how awesome Nordstrom is! However, we rarely get to the malls that have them.
Family restrooms are definitely the way to go!
I did get a Potette for when we there is not a public restroom available. Have you seen them? Very convenient: http://www.potette.com/