No – there are so many men being the stay at home parent these days – what is the problem.

No never felt unsafe in any public facilities.

• • 
  • • mom93821 replied
    • 18 Feb 2018 , 7:45 am

  ---

  I am very aware of people with cameras in public spaces and not backward in telling people to put them down – children need our protection.

Very scary- that would freak me out. I have never had anything like this happen. That being said I think people need to be careful before jumping to conclusions (obviously not in this case) as I have also read more than one article where dad’s have been abused when tending to their babies’ needs.

Wow, no I haven’t but many years ago they weren’t so common. Parents just need to be vigilant. This woman did all the right things. I don’t have the answer. A pervert or creep such as this man will always find a way. We just need to be vigilant and report and take action.

So just recently I walked into a parents room to fill our water bottles (I have 2 young boys) and did get a few weird and unwelcome looks, I thought it was me until I realised it was because my kids were not with me. I would not want any fellow mums to feel uncomfortable in a parents room, so the question is is it ok for me as a mum to go in alone or is that just as weird as a man being in there alone?

Yes, that would be unsettling indeed. There is usaully a duress button in the parents room but I often feel it isn’t very helpful if they take too long to come.

That’s very worrying indeed, thankfully I have not had an experience like this.

I had a similar creepy incident recently but not in a change room. I allowed my son to play in a semi enclosed toddler play area at a local Westfield shopping centre. I was no more than a step away the whole time (call me a helicopter mum, I don’t care!). Another very much younger child wandered into the play area alone & climbed into the 2mtr high structure getting stuck at the top & started crying. He was too young to ask where his mummy was & I couldn’t see a mum looking for him anywhere, nor could I reach him.
A man walked up & leaned on the wall surrounding, watching this little boy. I walked up, while hold my son’s hand & asked if he was the Dad of the other child. He ignored me & kept watching him, it was like he had zoned in on this child & couldn’t hear me but I knew he did. This scared me but I raised my voice & asked him again “Are you this little boy’s dad?” He glared at me & said “No!” then walked away but still stood nearby. It took another 5mins for the mother to realise where her child was & come with his twin sister to get him down, but still let them both wander while she sat & had coffee with friends even after I told her of the man pointing him out walking away with a lady. These babies were no more than about 16mths old I’d hate to think what would’ve happened if I wasn’t there.

Very unpleasant. Can imagine you feel unsafe after an incident like this. Adults without children have no business there !

I know some Dad have to use the parents’ room to change their baby’s nappy.
It must also be difficult when a Dad has to take his little girl to the toilet. He should be allowed to use parents’ room then too. I will not let a not quite 5 y.o. boy go into the Mens’ Public Toilet alone, especially if it is not my child. Sooner or later if I am caring for him I will have to. I will be standing close to the entry/exit door until he comes out.

I wouldn’t think that any adult – male or female- would need to enter a parents room without a child?

That’s creepy and scary. The woman was very brave to follow him and confront him.