When are kids too old to be in an opposite-sex washroom?

Let’s say you’re shopping with your little ones’twin boys, 8, and a girl, 5’at the mall, when suddenly those three venti lattes kick in and nature starts to call. You book it to the washrooms only to discover that there is no “family” option, only a women’s washroom and a men’s washroom. What do you do with the kids?

Bringing your infant or toddler along to a public washroom with you wouldn’t make anyone bat an eye, regardless of the sex of your child. But as your kids get older, a grey area begins to emerge. An article from the Associated Press has me thinking this morning about the pros and cons of taking older children into public washrooms. On the one hand, as a parent, you always want to keep your children safe‘and in today’s world, that sometimes means not letting them out of your sight in a busy public place, even for a bathroom break. On the other hand, you still have to take into consideration the other people using the washroom, who may not be comfortable with your 8-year-old twin boys hanging out in the ladies’ room. Not to mention that your kids might not be comfortable, either. So, what’s a parent to do?

How old is too old for a child to use an opposite-sex washroom? And do the same rules apply for both boys in the women’s washroom and girls in the men’s washroom?

Related:
‘ 5 myths and truths about public washrooms
‘ News: Let’s (not) talk about sex