AIBU to think child might struggle to poop in a hole in the woods?

wldpwr · 2026-09-15T17:56:22+00:00

If you have a child aged 4, 5 or 6... ... full day of childcare in the woods, only option for number two is 1) notify teacher, 2) teacher digs small hole, 3) child poops in hole, 4) teacher covers hole and helps child clean up. YABU = my kid could cope with this, no problem YANBU = this sounds like something my kid might find weird or difficult Thanks!

NewGoldFox · 17/09/2026 18:18

wldpwr · 15/09/2026 20:08

Routine.

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That’s revolting. Surely it is an environmental health issue?

BertieBotts · 16/09/2026 21:01

TBH my children have never especially been keen on pooing anywhere other than at home, therefore this wouldn't be an issue, they would just wait until they got home.

It causes fucking havoc on holidays let me tell you, but we get there in the end.

SALaw · 16/09/2026 20:57

lockinsideout · 16/09/2026 11:27

Surely anyone who has camped outside of a campsite has needed to poo in a hole?? And anyone who does a lot of walking or hill climbing will occasionally need a poo too. It's not the end of the world. Dig a hole, have a poo, bury it. Bury the toilet paper too or bring some wet wipes put in a bag and bring home. I wonder about a world where people have only peed or posed in pristine toilets. Or so many people whose children can't poo outside their own house. That is an anxiety disorder actually.

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I THINK the world can cope with this 🤣. I have a bladder / bowel of steel and so do my kids so I have happily climbed Munros, volcanoes etc and never resorted to pooing in a hole. Even camped whole weekend without using the loo. Felt totally fine.

Yewlez · 16/09/2026 16:25

PlaneOverhead · 16/09/2026 13:51

Generally very beautiful places, it's a shame you're unable to enjoy them.

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Ah you said fun. Now you are saying beautiful, so I'm guessing you mean remote landscapes. Those aren't fun.

OriginalSkang · 16/09/2026 14:27

lockinsideout · 16/09/2026 11:27

Surely anyone who has camped outside of a campsite has needed to poo in a hole?? And anyone who does a lot of walking or hill climbing will occasionally need a poo too. It's not the end of the world. Dig a hole, have a poo, bury it. Bury the toilet paper too or bring some wet wipes put in a bag and bring home. I wonder about a world where people have only peed or posed in pristine toilets. Or so many people whose children can't poo outside their own house. That is an anxiety disorder actually.

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In my daughter's case its autism, actually. Interestingly, I have a diagnosed anxiety disorder and wouldn't have a problem pooing in a hole if I was camping or whatever

PlaneOverhead · 16/09/2026 13:51

Yewlez · 15/09/2026 20:34

What fun places are you thinking of, where you have to poo in a hole you've dug?

Asking so I can avoid them.

Yanbu op I think this is disgusting and weird.

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Generally very beautiful places, it's a shame you're unable to enjoy them.

Original poster

wldpwr · 16/09/2026 13:51

lockinsideout · 16/09/2026 11:27

Surely anyone who has camped outside of a campsite has needed to poo in a hole?? And anyone who does a lot of walking or hill climbing will occasionally need a poo too. It's not the end of the world. Dig a hole, have a poo, bury it. Bury the toilet paper too or bring some wet wipes put in a bag and bring home. I wonder about a world where people have only peed or posed in pristine toilets. Or so many people whose children can't poo outside their own house. That is an anxiety disorder actually.

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My kid can poo outside his own house... just not in the woods (without me).

OP posts:

PlaneOverhead · 16/09/2026 13:49

SALaw · 16/09/2026 07:50

Really?! I’m 47, have travelled a fair bit, camped etc and never pooed in a hole. I did once wee behind a bush half way up a mountain when I was about 19 but other than that I have never needed such a life skill.

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I did say proper camping 😁 If there were facilities to enable you to avoid needing to dig a hole it wasn't really proper.

lockinsideout · 16/09/2026 11:27

SALaw · 16/09/2026 07:50

Really?! I’m 47, have travelled a fair bit, camped etc and never pooed in a hole. I did once wee behind a bush half way up a mountain when I was about 19 but other than that I have never needed such a life skill.

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Surely anyone who has camped outside of a campsite has needed to poo in a hole?? And anyone who does a lot of walking or hill climbing will occasionally need a poo too. It's not the end of the world. Dig a hole, have a poo, bury it. Bury the toilet paper too or bring some wet wipes put in a bag and bring home. I wonder about a world where people have only peed or posed in pristine toilets. Or so many people whose children can't poo outside their own house. That is an anxiety disorder actually.

Sinuhe · 16/09/2026 08:33

ArcticBells · 16/09/2026 06:17

Do you carry a spade on hikes? 😯

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Yeah & 2 wet bag bags for wiping cloths. All needly stored in a special box. It's my crap so I deal with it.
Leave no trace. - I take that seriously... nothing worse than coming across some human shit!

SALaw · 16/09/2026 07:50

PlaneOverhead · 15/09/2026 20:15

I genuinely think this is a life skill that every child should have, just like being able to wee outside. It's limiting to only be able to conceive of toilets and cuts out lots of fun places to travel and proper camping.

Really?! I’m 47, have travelled a fair bit, camped etc and never pooed in a hole. I did once wee behind a bush half way up a mountain when I was about 19 but other than that I have never needed such a life skill.

Imaginingdragonsagain · 16/09/2026 07:22

How do they wash their hands properly. Mine couldn’t do this, I’d look for alternative childcare.

Original poster

wldpwr · 16/09/2026 07:15

maxslice · 16/09/2026 04:36

It’s odd, but if my kid liked and trusted the teacher, he might find it funny. Anything related to poo, farts, wee leaves him laughing til he’s breathless. But I can understand why other children could find it difficult or get upset about it.

I think perhaps this is the missing piece - child needs to really know and trust the teacher.

OP posts:

Anothercake · 16/09/2026 06:34

PollyBell · 15/09/2026 21:54

How on earth did people manage in history, why are we all so precious now

They would just get on with it like every other child that has done in previous years there i suppose

Mostly they got horrible diseases and died.

ArcticBells · 16/09/2026 06:17

Sinuhe · 15/09/2026 20:19

As someone who has done lots of hiking and wild camping, this isn't as alien as it sounds.

Knowing where & how to do a No2 safely in the great outdoors is a basic skill.

Leave no trace!

Do you carry a spade on hikes? 😯

maxslice · 16/09/2026 04:41

ilovepixie · 15/09/2026 19:12

How do they wipe? If using toilet paper where do they put it?

Edited

In the hole to biodegrade?

maxslice · 16/09/2026 04:39

BirdLandedonmyHead · 15/09/2026 19:10

And hiw dies the teacher and child properley wash their hands afterwards?

Hand sanitizer probably.

maxslice · 16/09/2026 04:36

It’s odd, but if my kid liked and trusted the teacher, he might find it funny. Anything related to poo, farts, wee leaves him laughing til he’s breathless. But I can understand why other children could find it difficult or get upset about it.

bridgetreilly · 15/09/2026 23:48

It’s obviously a bit weird, but I don’t see why it would be difficult.

maggisimpson · 15/09/2026 23:00

Shatenoeuf · 15/09/2026 22:52

The natural/biological start point is that young children will not mind this (human beings have evolved defecating outside for millennia). Young children who aren't ok doing it have often had that instinct trained out by obsessive hygiene practices at home, parents who tell them its disgusting or who punish them if it happens.

Even children of 12-18 months will often find a private place to poo in!
The 'natural' start point is irrelevant to modern humans, we're not living natural lives.

SeaToSki · 15/09/2026 22:57

If its a regular occurring activity in the same part of the forrest, its a significant health issue.

the reason we have modern sewage solutions as required in every house, commercial building etc is because human feces is a significant vector of disease.

random holes dug at random depths containing (or not fully containing) human feces in an area where small children are playing, falling over etc is imho a huge red flag

my dc would not be going anywhere near that childcare setting whether they were happy pooing al fresco or not

Shatenoeuf · 15/09/2026 22:52

The natural/biological start point is that young children will not mind this (human beings have evolved defecating outside for millennia). Young children who aren't ok doing it have often had that instinct trained out by obsessive hygiene practices at home, parents who tell them its disgusting or who punish them if it happens.

Livpool · 15/09/2026 22:52

DS is 10 and no chance he would do this.

godmum56 · 15/09/2026 22:50

Shatenoeuf · 15/09/2026 22:46

My kids would manage this but we've camped and hiked in remote places.

You cant just "poo before you go". Its not like you can force one out before you are ready, the body doesnt work like that. Most people have a predictable cycle, given a healthy diet with plenty of fibre and fluid, they will defecate in the morning or after meals due to gastrocolic reflex.

You can wipe with loo roll & simply bury it with the stool. Most people pee when they poo & the liquid helps the loo roll break down or you can pour some water over. Or you can bag it and move on.

Do people realise all animals poo & pee outdoors, all the time?

yup and its vile when you tread in it.

Shatenoeuf · 15/09/2026 22:50

helpfulperson · 15/09/2026 20:27

Surely at that age the number of emergency poos would be limited. I take Beavers out and about for a few hours at a time and I don't ever remember any of them needing a poo. Wee yes but never a poo, unless SEN and then we had a bespoke plan.

This as well, it wont happen often. Most kids will poo in the mornings, and wont need to go while out & about.