A Child afraid of using a public restroom

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[Post New]08/10/2010 05:59
lisa_ca
Member Offline
My daughter is afraid of using a public/school restroom. How do you teach your child not to be afraid of using a public/school restroom? Also, how do you make sure that your child stays clean when he/she uses a public restroom toilet? Do you teach them to use a toilet seat cover? If a toilet seat cover is not available, do you pack toilet seat covers for them?

Thanks.
[Post New]08/10/2010 07:29
Anonymous
How old is the child? Have you used public restrooms together before? How is she then? And what exactly is she afraid of about it? Germs, other people, getting stuck in the stall?

Toilet seat covers really don't do much for cleanliness. Tell her to check the toilet seat visually for dirt and if it makes her feel more comfortable, to take some tissue and physically wipe it off even if she sees nothing. Then the most important thing is is to wash her hands thoroughly before she leaves.

If you haven't used public restrooms together before, it's probably best to start, and show her what to do, and help her get comfortable. Let her see how "you" use the toilet. Then let her. Start in the stall with her (use one of the family or the handicapped stalls - they are bigger). Eventually get to the point where she goes into the stall alone and you wait just outside it. This of course assumes you are a woman and not a man posting. That could be a bit trickier.
[Post New]08/10/2010 07:34
Anonymous
what's she's scared of? you have to address the specific fear. do you mind sharing it with us?
also, she can make the cover using toilet paper/paper towels available in the bathroom itself. and if it's just #1 she can just squat, no need to sit on the seat.
[Post New]08/10/2010 07:54
Anonymous
Do you know why she is afraid?

Your follow up question about how to keep them clean and whether to use seat covers makes me wonder if you've emphasized how germy and gross bathrooms are and she is afraid because of that.
[Post New]08/10/2010 08:18
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Do you know why she is afraid?

Your follow up question about how to keep them clean and whether to use seat covers makes me wonder if you've emphasized how germy and gross bathrooms are and she is afraid because of that.


My thought too.
[Post New]08/10/2010 09:10
Anonymous
My dd (3.5 and newly potty trained) is also scared to use public toilets. She's worried that the toilet seat is too big and the toilet is too high. I figure this is a fear that she'll outgrow as she gets bigger, so I'm not pushing it (since probably the alternative is her having an accident). Instead, we bring a travel potty and set it up in the handicapped stall.
[Post New]08/10/2010 09:56
Anonymous
My kids were both afraid of the loud automatic flush! It totally freaked them out - maybe that's what your kid is afraid of? If so, cover up the electronic "eye" (I've heard of carring post-it notes in your purse for this purpose) and ensure your child that you won't let the toilet flush until they are out of the stall.

If it's the height, size and depth of the toilet (afraid of falling in) - I have a portable potty seat (it folds up) that I used to keep in the car. We rarely used it, but it was good to have it handy - just in case. Especially when you travel - I hated those yucky toll plaza bathrooms. I actually have that in a pile of things to give away - if your in Fairfax, do you want it? It's clean and in good shape.

Finally, if it's germs - I'd use a wet wipe on the seat as opposed to TP.

Good luck - I remember those days...
[Post New]08/10/2010 10:28
Anonymous
my kids would often say they were afraid, but really just hated the smell (who doesn't?). like the pp's kids, i think mine, at times, were freaked out by the auto-flush, too.
[Post New]08/10/2010 10:36
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My kids were both afraid of the loud automatic flush! It totally freaked them out - maybe that's what your kid is afraid of? If so, cover up the electronic "eye" (I've heard of carring post-it notes in your purse for this purpose) and ensure your child that you won't let the toilet flush until they are out of the stall.

If it's the height, size and depth of the toilet (afraid of falling in) - I have a portable potty seat (it folds up) that I used to keep in the car. We rarely used it, but it was good to have it handy - just in case. Especially when you travel - I hated those yucky toll plaza bathrooms. I actually have that in a pile of things to give away - if your in Fairfax, do you want it? It's clean and in good shape.

Finally, if it's germs - I'd use a wet wipe on the seat as opposed to TP.

Good luck - I remember those days...


Mine is afraid of the same thing, and that is exactly what we do. I also have him cover up his ears so it's not as loud.
[Post New]08/10/2010 16:37
Anonymous
My daughter is also afraid of the flushing - the whole restooom can hear her yelling "don't flush, don't flush!". But, you have to do what you have to do. I just have her cover her ears, and keep talking to her - see, it's not so bad, it's just water, etc.etc. Like previous posters said, you have to find out exactly what the problem is.

Regarding germs, I just keep saying "don't touch anything" the whole time we are there. I always carry a disposable toilet seat protector when we are out, and cleaning wipes.
[Post New]08/10/2010 16:53
Anonymous
My now 4 year old still hates the auto flush. I draped TP over the sensor if possible. He also hates the loud hand dryers. It's a total trauma scene, public restrooms!
[Post New]08/10/2010 16:57
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My kids were both afraid of the loud automatic flush! It totally freaked them out - maybe that's what your kid is afraid of? If so, cover up the electronic "eye" (I've heard of carring post-it notes in your purse for this purpose) and ensure your child that you won't let the toilet flush until they are out of the stall.

If it's the height, size and depth of the toilet (afraid of falling in) - I have a portable potty seat (it folds up) that I used to keep in the car. We rarely used it, but it was good to have it handy - just in case. Especially when you travel - I hated those yucky toll plaza bathrooms. I actually have that in a pile of things to give away - if your in Fairfax, do you want it? It's clean and in good shape.

Finally, if it's germs - I'd use a wet wipe on the seat as opposed to TP.

Good luck - I remember those days...


My 2.5yo is also terrified of the automatic flush. She will often say she needs to go potty but when she actually sits down to go, she immediately wants to get off because she's afraid of the flusher. I have to hold her on the toilet anyway because she's so small, so now I stand behind her, in front of the sensor for the automatic flusher. This has helped.
[Post New]08/10/2010 17:00
Anonymous
There was an article in the NYT over a year ago about kids in mid-potty training being terrified of the automagic toilets. I knew those things were evil. I just didn't know why.

I think the open end of the toilets (to make them male friendly?) also makes them scary to little kids. All our toilets at home are rounder!
[Post New]08/10/2010 17:20
Anonymous
Yep, my DD was (still is a bit) afraid of the automagic flush thing. As PP said, bring something to stick over the motion detector, or stick some toilet paper over it.
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