I’ve worked at two medical facilities with a Unasex. He goes with you until he says I can go in alone. No big deal. We’re all in a stall unless its men’s room anyway.
I tell him to shut his eyes and if I see them open he’ll be in trouble. Then he goes in the stall with me and stands by the wall so he can’t see through the cracks or anything. When we’re both done we go wash our hands and I hold him higher so he can wash his hands.
My son is 7 and, depending on where we are, I still bring him in the ladies room with me sometimes. He’s allowed alone in the men’s room in uncrowded places with only one door (like a restaurant). But, if we’re somewhere like a baseball game or theme park, he can’t go in alone. don’t send him in the men’s room alone until you’re comfortable. When you’re ready, have a friend take him in and teach him about urinals, though when he’s young and alone, he may be better off going into a stall anyway.
Somewhere in that 6-7 range is when I start letting them go in by themselves. Now there are still places that I won’t let my 9 year old go into the men’s room by himself (like highway rest stops).
100% depends on the location. Sometimes I take my 7 nd 9 year old boys in with me still…and really too bad for whoever doesn’t like it. They aren’t there to look, they are there to be safe and use the restroom. My kids are big for their ages and look older, but no one has ever given me a hard time or a look.
If it’s a place where we are comfortable, then I let them go alone.
At the gym we go to, 6yos need to use the gender-appropriate locker room. But, that’s a locker room where women and other girls are actively dressing/undressing. In a bathroom with individual stalls, the age could be higher.
Don’t care what anyone thinks - just do what is right for you and your son.
If it means taking him in until he’s 10, so be it. Be strong!
Take him with you unless you feel comfortable other wise.
I’m lucky I have a 16 year old boy that is 6 feet tall so when we are out and about I always send him with his younger brother who is 12 just because. I know that no one is going to mess with my young one when there is a “man” with him.
I’d like for you to think about ways to bring men into your sons’ life. Do you go to church? When he’s a little older he could belong to groups that have fathers that are volunteers and would be great roll models. When your son is old enough I highly encourage you to involve him in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. It is very difficult as a woman to teach a young man to be a man. How could we know how, we aren’t men.
Best of Luck
Definitely not too old yet and I really think a boy going in a women’s room is different bc of stalls. I think it’s a tougher call when girls should stop going with their dads given urinals… You are totally fine for quite a while so don’t even worry about it. I can’t believe people give you looks. Just look right back. I don’t think any mother would look oddly. We understand.
Thank you all for the advice!! I’m glad to hear that some have children older then mine who are also uncomfortable leaving their kids alone, or who understand their own children still need help. I plan on ignoring the looks and keeping him with me for at least another year. I don’t know any males who could help him, but maybe I will find some videos or photos to help me explain about the men’s room.