Parenting in Public in a Public Restroom

Our little ones usually have to go when we are out in public initiating a parenting in public moment. Heading into a public restroom is one of the great unknowns. Will it be clean? Is it unoccupied? Will there be toilet paper? Will there be soap? Will there be paper towel (rather than an air dryer)?

Today my issue is washing hands. Not whether or not to wash your hands, but how can you do it with a little one. We all have step stools in our bathrooms at homes so our toddlers can be independent. In public restrooms, the luxury of independence is gone.parenting in a public restroom

An entrepreneurial flight attendant developed the Step ‘n Wash (www.stepnwash.com), which provides a flip-down step stool. But what if the proprietors have not elected to install the device?

Parenting in Public: A built in solution

For years, I have been able to quickly and simply solve this problem. My 3-5 year old boys simply ask, “Dad, can I stand on your foot.” Without the foot, they cannot reach the soap, the water or come close to washing their hands. Worse, they are usually drowning their arms in the water left along the sink.

By simply standing back, lifting up your toes, your little ones can hop up and wash quickly as if they were at home.

This solution beats trying to wedge your kids or place them in a precarious position to wash their hands.

Now that my youngest is 4, I am going to miss providing this ‘foot up’ for them. I hope this helps you get through another of parenting’s great challenges. Although I know that as they grow I will be faced with new parenting in public opportunities.