Stall-ing

[Kim]

Stall-ing is difficult with little kids. Nope - I'm not referring to delaying an answer or even a treat. I'm talking about the difficulty of taking a young child to the use the restroom while away from home.

 

I am convinced that all restaurant, mall and auditorium bathroom stalls are designed by adults who are childless. The stalls, no larger than a coat closet, are not made to comfortably fit even a larger adult, much less an adult with toddler in tow. To compound the issue, the doors to the stalls mostly push IN. That means difficulty squeezing into the tiny space without actually standing on top of the toilet. (No, I've never tried that...) Once inside, there's finding a place to hang or sit a bag that doesn't involve it touching the floor, a germy toilet seat to cover with strategically placed toilet paper, a tiny tot to lift onto the seat and room to stand while all this takes place. Superman changing clothes in that phone booth had nothing on us!

 

If you manage to get through all of this without issue, you're left with the exit strategy. Now that you're inside the stall, try opening the door INWARD with two people, a TP dispenser, a toilet, a bag, etc. inside. Yikes! Inevitably there are bumped heads, elbows and knees in the process.

 

A handicapped accessible stall is required in public restrooms, but not always available. Those of you who've ever had a potty-training toddler understand the value of the seconds you would waste waiting on that stall to open up. Other privately owned establishments may not have a larger stall available.

[Erin Morgan]

This is one of my biggest frustrations, especially now that I am 35 weeks pregnant and as big as a house.  It is nearly impossible for my daughter and me to squeeze into a stall, do our thing, and squeeze back out.  It reminds me of the whole "clown car" routine, only there is a circus elephant trying to join in the fun as well.  I usually breathe a huge sigh of relief when I walk into a restroom and the handicapped accessible stall is available.  Oh the joys of motherhood!   

[Karen Martin-Wilkins-Ethan's Mom]

Boy I am sympathizing today!  I went to a family restaurant on Easter Sunday with the extended family, including my 21 month old son.  Well as Murphy's Law would have it, my son had a dirty diaper....and I don't mean just the number 1!  I have changed his diaper standing up in front of me if it's just a urine diaper and there is no changing table.  Of course that is not possible when you are having to do a "full cleaning job".  Of course, the bathroom had NO changing area and I had to change a wiggly toddler with a dirty diaper while trying to balance him on the back of the toilet tank!  I should have just gone out to the car, but gosh darn it....you just assume a family restaurant would have things that are essential to families with small kids.  Very frustrating!

[Amber Gunnels]

I'm potty training my soon to be 2 year old daughter so she doesn't use the potty in the stall yet but I hate that most places don't even have a changing table for your kids. We're originally from NC so when we make the 2 1/2 hour trip to visit family and we stop at gas stations for our potty breaks, there isn't anywhere for me to change her. Plus if I have to go, I suffer from having to squeeze the two of us in a little stall unless a handicap stall happens to be open, if there even is one. It's rediculous that the world caters to single childless people as much as it does and forgets about those of us already battling the everyday challenges of having small children. It's like a miracle to find a restroom with a changing table or even a stall big enough for an adult and child.