Rest assured, moms and dads who are out with children of the opposite sex shouldn't read too much into bringing their kids into the restroom. But if there's a family bathroom around, that's usually the best option.
"I think whenever possible, parents should seek out unisex or family bathrooms for their children," said Dr. Sileo. "If there isn't a family restroom, I advise parents to go into the bathroom with their children."
Dr. Macchia agrees that seeking out a family restroom is the best option. She also believes it's worth having a discussion with your kids after how the male and female bodies differ once they're old enough to understand.
"As children age, they start to understand differences in their bodies as compared to others, even as young as 4 or 5 years old, so it is important to take this into account when making these judgment calls as well."
If a dad, for example, feels uncomfortable bringing his daughter into the men's room and there's no family restroom available, Dr. Sileo suggests enlisting the help of an older sister, if possible.
"Young children can go into opposite gender bathrooms. For older children, create a buddy system," he said. "Have an older sibling go in with a younger sibling. Teach safety to all your children about expected behavior in public places."
