How I was treated by Tesco for putting my son on the potty!

[bubble30]

My son turned 2 in May and we are mid potty training. Been in to places like Boots and M&S and got fold away potty out in store for my son to have a wee. I've also used it in Tesco with no complaints from them. This morning I went in and my son was crying 'wee wee'. Got him out of the buggy and put him on the potty - I wasn't in the middle of an aisle and went t clothes section where we'd be more hidden away as that section was close by to us. My son did a wee but come to get him back in the buggy and he had the most hideous tantrum. Once I got himm back in the buggy, I stood up to find 2 members of managerial staff stood over me. They told me that there was a toilet in the store where I should have taken my son to. I explained that he's just started potty training and when he needs a wee it has to be then and there and I don't have time to get him to a toilet. They told me they undestood that but that there was a toilet I should really have used. So again I explained that I don't have time to get him to the toilet. The woman then said 'it's not nice for our customers to see, it's not nice for your son and now you've just caused a big scene in the store'. I said 'well now you've made me feel absolutely rubbish' and they both walked off. I walked out of the store but thought 'no I'm not having that' and I went back and gave it to them both barrels that I was disgusted with the way I'd been treated, I'd been talked to very rudely and spoken to like I was a child myself. The senior manager came down and was very apologetic and I asked her of Tescos policy was that if there's a mother with a tantrumming child, do you train your staff to go over and tell the mother she's created a big scene in the store. She was very apologetic about the way I'd been treated. I'm still fuming. I've used the portable potty in other shops without complaints and I've seen other mums do the same in shops too - that's the whole purpose of the portable potty being invented. I just wanted people to know how badly Tesco have acted in this instance towards a mother potty training her 2 year old. Can anyone else recommend best places to post to make sure Tesco know I'm letting people know about this? Thanks.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Mmm, sorry but I kind of see their point.

[NervousAt20]

I kind of see there point too!

[mogandme]

I can see their point.

I speak as a nanny who has potty trained alot of children.

[wishiwasonholiday]

I see their point too and to be honest if I saw your dc pooing or weeing near the food I was going to buy it would put me off buying it.

Why not rush to the loo when he says he needs to go and use the potty for out of the store.

[Sirzy]

I am just potty training DS and I would never consider just getting a potty out in the middle of tesco that is rude and unhygienic - there is a time and a place for everything and the middle of a supermarket isn't the place to wee.

What did you do with the full potty afterwards?

[Dropdeadfred]

Sorry but use pull ups if you can't wait to get to a toilet

[newnetcurtains]

I've potty trained 3 children now and wouldn't even consider putting one of them on a potty in the middle of a shop. Quite frankly, people don't want to see it and what happens if the potty is knocked over. I don't understand why you didn't ask a member of staff if there was a toilet you could use, I think that you'd find that in most cases the shop staff are very helpful (and often mothers themselves).

[BettySuarez]

I will probably get flamed for my less than sympathetic response here but I have never seen anyone allow their child to use a potty in the middle of a store, ever!

I'm sorry if you felt unfairly treated by the staff however but really don't think it is worth making a fuss over.

Good luck with the rest of the potty training though

[seeker]

I nev thought I would hear myself saying anything in support of Tesco, but I'm on thief side!

[MayaAngelCool]

Yup, sorry, I too think you're the one who's being unreasonable there, OP.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

I see their point too, sorry.

[drjohnsonscat]

It wouldn't occur to me to use one of those in a shop. I wd probably head for the door and find somewhere in the car park despite the weather! Sorry that's obviously not what you want to hear and to be fair I wasn't brave enough to try potty training at just turned 2. We're doing it at nearly three so probably a bit more controllable.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Don't use it in shops - I can't believe you think this is a reasonable thing to do - it's not, it's really, really not.

Go to toilets, go out less until he is potty trained, piss against a tree if you have to but for the love of fuck pissing and pooing in the clothes section of Tesco is beyond minging.

[newnetcurtains]

Lots of posts while i was typing, I think you know the general view now.

[firawla]

I can see their point too. If your dc really can't last long enough to make it to the toilets, maybe you are training him too early?
Perhaps try to make sure every shop you go in, you mentally check out where all the toilets are so as soon as he mentions it you can dash straight there, or take him to toilet first before looking round the shops, if he is not able to hold it for very long?

[TheBuskersDog]

I agree with Viva, have never seen anyone get a potty out in the middle of a supermarket.

[babyheaves]

Yuck.

I've potty trained two and never, ever took a potty out in a shop.

[Laurarj84]

Whaaaaaat!!!! That's a terrible experience, I'm so sorry. I too am in the middle of potty training with a portable potty and have done exactly what you've done in numerous shops. I would have been so embarrassed if staff/managers said that to me. I'm sorry I don't know where you should go to make this more visible but you have my full sympathy.

[miaowmix]

I agree with Tesco.

[ShirleyKnot]

I would have to side with Tesco.

[mogandme]

I can't imagine you would be more than 3 minutes run from a toilet in Tesco.

[Anypointinseeingdoc]

Tesco is a food shop. We had one of those foldaway potties but we only used it by the roadside on long trips, never in a shop.

[CurrySpice]

Sorry but YABU. I totally agree with Sirzy. I think they handled you quite calmly, with valid points.

[susiemumof]

Never heard such rubbish in all my life!

No way have you seen other people doing this as well as you?

You sound completely barking

[Ormiriathomimus]

I don't blame them.