It's an issue most parents face when children reach a certain age.

Are they old enough to go into a public restroom alone?

This is a particular problem when you're traveling, shopping or at a sports stadium alone with a child of the opposite sex, and he or she is too old or balks about going into your bathroom.

Travel + Leisure Family magazine addresses this problem in its September issue.

Dr. Kate Cronan, a Philadelphia pediatrician and medical editor at KidsHealth.org, suggests that you should stick with your kids until they are 10 or 12.

Children younger than that may be able to use the lavatory on their own, but they're not mature enough to handle an emergency, Dr. Cronan says. When kids are old enough to be left at home alone, then generally they can handle using a public restroom on their own.

Still, children should stay within shouting distance of you and should be reminded never to talk to strangers. If they feel uneasy or are approached by someone, they should leave immediately.

Dr. Cronan suggests practicing using public restrooms in places that you're familiar with, such as restaurants that you visit often. It's important that children learn to be quick and not dilly-dally.

Better yet, look for a "family bathroom," usually a single, unisex room with a door that locks. These are becoming more common at amusement parks, stadiums and airports.

-- Virginia Linn, Post-Gazette lifestyle editor