A crowded mall, a child with a full bladder, and restrooms are closed. What do you do?

Question

This happened today, and my poor daughter wet herself because she had to go so badly after waiting until the last second to tell me she had to go potty.

Answer 1

When your shopping in any crowded mall or store. Take her to the restroom every hour. Even if she tells you that she doesn't have to go. YOU go, then tell her to SIT on the pot and TRY! and explain to her that you don't know when the next time you will be able to rush to the restroom, so tell her to try to get a little out.

I had to do this with my daughter all the time. She always told me that she didn't have to go but every time I asked her to just TRY, she sat down and sometimes just a little came out and she asked me, "how did you know it would come out mom?"
I smiled and told her, "Because when you TRY, your brain will tell your body to release even the littlest bit because your brain is TRYING to allow it to happen even if you didn't feel like you had to go, SOME will come out eventualy, and as always, "good job for trying" I told her!

Just be persistant, eventualy, she will pick up on the fact that before you get so deep into looking at everything, she will TRY to let some out EVEN if she doesn't feel like going, Then, she'll want to TRY and SEE if any will come out! Always praise her for trying too!

This helped me with my daughter. She's 9 yrs old and still doing the TRY and SEE thing so that she won't have sudden urges at the last minute! (she knows NOT to wait until the last minute cause she knows we're always on the go!) Started this when she was 3 and it's been very successful and rewarding for both of us!

Good luck!

Answer 2

All the restrooms were closed? NO way! The food court and the ones around the mall. The area that I live in has a small mall but I know there are at Least 4 bathrooms. Since I have boys I may have just let them go outside and pee on the bushes....hahaha just kidding. I would have asked to use the restroom in a store or something.

Answer 3

I think the answers that others have given are reasonable. Just use this as a teachable moment.

She needs to know that she can do even when she doesn't "have to". When you are out or at home, monitor how long it takes for her to need to go after she has eaten or had something to drink. Then, before that time has elapsed, take her to the bathroom.

What I would have done after that is to take her home immediately and into the bathtub. Remind her that everybody has potty accidents and even grown ups do when they laugh or sneeze if their muscles are not strong.

If it was not possible to go straight home, buy new panties and socks and get her into a bathroom and wash her down dry her off and dress her again. Put her on your lap and tell her that it's no big deal and that we have to do better in the future about the warning signs.

Of course, if your daughter is 16 and not a preschooler, there is a bigger problem here. :)

Answer 4

Hey, parenting isn't easy...I remember being a little kid and wetting myself in a K-mart because I didn't want to tell my mom I had to go, since she was so intent on finishing all her shopping errands. I thought I could hold it, but by the time I realized I couldn't, it was too late...I remember her being angry with me, wondering why on earth I hadn't just told her!

The first key is to convince your daughter that no matter how busy or distracted you seem, you want to know ASAP when she thinks she has to pee that you can find a washroom quickly.

The second thing is to show your desperation - if it comes down to it, use a restroom sink, or ask restroom-goers if you can cut ahead in line for your daughter (most if not all people will say it is ok), plead with large department employees, or make use of men's washrooms.

Finally, see if you can estimate how long between pees your child has, so that you can say, "Well, in an hour she'll have to go, so I'll make sure I'm near a restroom that's open at that time."

But the truth is...worse things could happen to kids in crowded malls than wetting! Your daughter will hopefully realize she's lucky to have a mom who pays attention.

Answer 5

I have a 3 year old. I still put her in pullups if I know we are going to be in the car for a long time or if we are going somewhere where it might be hard to get to the restroom. I have also used those really thick underwear before- they won't hold it all in like a diaper, but they absorb pretty well so that it isn't running down her leg and you can't see that she had an accident right away. She is probably embarrassed- this happened to my daughter a few months ago when we were at a family reunion and she was playing with her cousins- she started crying and was really upset because it embarrassed her that she had an accident in front of everyone- I just quickly pulled her aside, took her to the restroom, changed her clothes, told her "it happens" and sent her on her way. I told her "nobody has to know- if it ever happens again, just come find me and we'll take care of it. She'll be ok- good luck.

Answer 6

A lot of the bigger department stores have bathrooms, and so do restaurants around the mall. If it really is an emergency potty situation, then I'm sure the employees wouldn't mind letting you use their restroom. Otherwise, although this is more difficult with a girl, take her outside and find a secluded bush. I've never done it, but my unlce makes my little cousin pee in bushes if it comes to that, although he's a boy. That really is horrible, though. I babysit a lot so I've encountered similar problems. Good luck next time!

Answer 7

I feel so bad for your daughter and for you. I do believe you should complain to the mall and find out why they are locking the bathrooms.
When my kiddo was younger I always carried extra clothing, and a cup---or coffee can--- when we were where there was no bathroom I would find the best off the beaten path and let them do their thing. I always carry handy wipes. Then I would just throw the can or the cup away and go on. Of course I would make sure the lid was on tight. That worked very well.
That way the kiddo kept their self esteem and I kept my sanity and no one was hurt.
I still carry coffee cans and toilet paper and handy wipes in the trucks when we travel. You never know when you may need them.
Give your little one a hug and a kiss and remind her that it's not her fault this time, she did the best she could and that is all that anyone can expect from her.

Answer 8

A mall will have plenty of restrooms, some will be for their employees only. Go to a big department store. There will be some there. Every area where there is food also is required by law to have restrooms.
It is impossible to not find one. If the mall closed every single restroom and still keep the mall open, and if I was a parent with a child in desperate need for facilities, you will be hearing my voice throughout the mall.
Your child is your first priority, and as you grow into the parenting role, you will learn to ask them every 10 minutes if they need to go potty.
You were not the first parent nor will you be the last to have such traumatic experience with toilet training. Dont make a big fuss of it. Hug her and say sorry sweetie, lets mop it up and well change into dry pants as soon as we get home.

Answer 9

He is something that you might want to check into about what happen to your daughter speak out about it because I had the same problem with my 6 year old daughter and they need to have restrooms open in a mall at all times ...Hope This Helps

We have a major national newspaper who is doing a story on restroom access and they are looking for people who would like to talk, publicly about an experience you may have had in trying to use a restroom in a store, and being denied access to the restroom?? Was it a major store??? How were you treated??? How did that make you feel??

If you're interested, please email Jill ... at [e-mail]. Please include your name AND phone number in the email.

Answer 10

Watch her more closely, suggest potty breaks after meals, beverages, when you pass restrooms. I wouldn't be afraid if they were available to hold a little child up to pee in the sink if that was the only option available...others may giggle, but would understand. I'd also make a big deal to clean up the sink if there are lookers-on, at least with the soap that they have in the restroom.