I usually don't care about boys under six in the women's room. But I used to change at the same time a class of five year olds got out of class. This mom would bring her son in the locker room and change him behind a towel. It was weird - if he's old enough to feel uncomfortable changing in front of women, then he shouldn't be seeing me get changed.

My 5 yo DS cannot get out of his wet swim clothes and into dry clothes (he's sticky after the pool) alone. He will continue to come with me into the women's changing room. I make sure he is facing me and focused on getting dressed. We hurry for everyones' sake.

At our pool club, there are no boys 5 or over allowed in the women's locker room. There have been too many incidents with boys that age acting up, so the owners were very responsible in making the majority feel comfortable. OP, you have to suck it up. I would bet you are the type to not watch your kid, either. I would get you thrown out.

I do not have a husband and I just took my small 9 yr old into the womens' bathroom with me at a rest stop on 95 a few days ago. I usually allow him to use the mens' room nearly everywhere else but not there. As long as your son isn't staring at women/girls while they are changing, I don't see what the big deal is.

Anonymous wrote:You should find a family locker room. 5 is too old to be in the ladies' room. If you ignored a polite request, I'd be in the manager's office. It's against the rules in most places.

Too old why? He's not looking at women sexually. The most you could say is that another 5yo girl might not want to change in front of him.

A mother gets to take her 5yo to the pool without a male escort.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should find a family locker room. 5 is too old to be in the ladies' room. If you ignored a polite request, I'd be in the manager's office. It's against the rules in most places.

Absolute garbage.

Just curious--What is the age for a boy to stop going in the ladies' room?

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn't bother me as long as he was behaving.

A few years ago, a woman brought a boy into a fitting room I was in and he kept walking around peeking under curtains and pulling them back. When a woman complained to the mother, the mother kept saying, "It doesn't matter. He's only 5." So if he behaves himself and doesn't peep, then it's fine.

That is not a gender issue, that is a behavioral issue.

It wouldn't bother me as long as he was behaving.

A few years ago, a woman brought a boy into a fitting room I was in and he kept walking around peeking under curtains and pulling them back. When a woman complained to the mother, the mother kept saying, "It doesn't matter. He's only 5." So if he behaves himself and doesn't peep, then it's fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe these aren't the best years for you to be taking your male children to the pool. Don't you have a husband?

Not the OP but this is ridiculous - husband or not a 5 yo boy should be able to use the women's locker with his mother. I take my 4.5 yo to swim lessons and my husband rarely comes. I don't want to wait for ONE family/handicapped changing room nor tie it up when there are people who really need it.

I"m not the PP you quoted, but I disagree. If a trusted adult male is available to take the boy into the men's room, they should do that. I find it really weird when older boys go into the women's room with their moms while Dad waits outside. I say this as a mother of 4 sons, whose husband was in the military when they were growing up and deployed often. When I was out alone with my boys, and there was a "family room" option, I always used it.

So yes, OP, if there is a family room available, seek it out.

If u take him in, advise him not to stare and maybe keep him facing the lockers.

Anonymous wrote:You should find a family locker room. 5 is too old to be in the ladies' room. If you ignored a polite request, I'd be in the manager's office. It's against the rules in most places.

You have no right to dictate policy. You do not send a child into a restroom alone. That is neglect. I would report you for neglect if I found a five year old alone.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe these aren't the best years for you to be taking your male children to the pool. Don't you have a husband?

Yes, I do. Do you? and he takes our child swimming often but during the summer we go daily and it is not practical. No one has ever given me grief and there is no way my child could go alone as he still needs help. It would be great if places had family restrooms but most do not.

Some people look for something to get outraged about.

Anonymous wrote:You should find a family locker room. 5 is too old to be in the ladies' room. If you ignored a polite request, I'd be in the manager's office. It's against the rules in most places.

Absolute garbage.

You should find a family locker room. 5 is too old to be in the ladies' room. If you ignored a polite request, I'd be in the manager's office. It's against the rules in most places.