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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think its wrong to use potty out in the open

159 replies

Edinburghmummy12 · 27/08/2014 12:08

Walked past a women and her child sat down in a potty useing it on a very busy street . What do you all think cos part of mes thinking fair enough but the other parts thinking no

OP posts:
Mintyy · 27/08/2014 13:33

hollie84
I keep saying it - where are all these public toilets that are a few minutes away? Do I have to repeat myself again? There are none on my High Street.

hollie84 · 27/08/2014 13:35

Bringing a potty out with you means you're expecting to use it - an emergency wee is quite clearly an emergency.

Barbarian - no wonder potty training took several weeks if your kids couldn't even go 30 minutes between wees!

Armi · 27/08/2014 13:36

I haven't done it in a busy street, but am happy to whip out the travel potty when it's needed. I'd rather my daughter had a quick wee in public than wet herself, which she finds distressing (and so do I as I have to clean her up and change her which some snotty MNetter would then start a thread about 'My deeee-hars! Today I saw a FAT WOMAN in PUBLIC changing her CHILD's CLOTHES!!!! Not only was she SIMPLY ENORMOUS but her poor little girl was SOAKED IN URINE and were FORCED to watch her being STRIPPED DOWN IN THE STREET!!!!!') Grin

hollie84 · 27/08/2014 13:37

No shops or cafes with toilets at all Mintyy?

Gen35 · 27/08/2014 13:37

I can't see how letting the child wet or soil themselves is better. I'd be a bit shocked to see it but I've had a few close calls with dc1 and she was easy to train, I'd probably just ignore it. Clearly in a cafe or somewhere with a loo then it's just bonkers.

Mintyy · 27/08/2014 13:37

Bringing a potty out with you means you have emergencies covered. Am finding this argument a bit surreal but quite entertaining.

SaucyJack · 27/08/2014 13:37

Only with your PFB hollie

I can't see Michael Gove granting me a week off school for DDs 1&2 just to potty train their baby sister (when the time comes)

Some people even have these job things I've read about on MN. I get the impression not turning up for work for a week just in case a DC might need a wee en route to nursery wouldn't be the done thing either.

Mintyy · 27/08/2014 13:39

Yes, cafes with toilets, yes, indeed, but I wouldn't take my toddler in there to have a wee. They are for customers and the staff tend to get a bit Hmm about that.

hollie84 · 27/08/2014 13:39

How long is the school run/route to nursery that a child can't go before they leave home and go when they get there?

hollie84 · 27/08/2014 13:40

Buy a drink then Mintyy Grin

BarbarianMum · 27/08/2014 13:41

hollie They've never been able to defecate on command either. Boys, huh? Smile

jacks365 · 27/08/2014 13:41

Hollie my dd goes about 3 hours between wees but can't wee to order so yes it is possible that in a specific half hour she could need the toilet, I do get more than 3 second warnings but that is no use if the nearest available toilet is at home 20 minutes away.

hollie84 · 27/08/2014 13:43

jacks - get her in the habit of going for a wee before you leave the house, it will make your life much easier.

Mintyy · 27/08/2014 13:43

Pat answer, well done. Luckily potty training is years behind me now (I am one of those ancients who always did it better when they had babies/toddlers, and whose tiny children never ever suddenly wanted the toilet at an inconvenient moment don't you know).

SaucyJack · 27/08/2014 13:44

Our school run is 30 mins in the morning at the least. If they're late out after school/from an activity/I need to speak to a teacher or another parent it can be anything up to an hour just to "pop" to school and back.

Even I'm about to piss myself sometimes when I get back in- never mind a small child.

Methinks some of you are in for a shock once you have older/multiple kids.

hollie84 · 27/08/2014 13:44

Honestly "my child needs to wee every 20 minutes and can't wait more than 30 seconds" = not ready to potty train.

CharethCutestory · 27/08/2014 13:46

Not a problem at all in my book. Chillax everyone! (sorry, that's the most irritating word ever Grin )

Fixitagaintomorrow · 27/08/2014 13:46

Dd is dry and has been for about 6 months. I take the potty every where though, she will not wee over a gutter or behind a bush it has to be a toilet or a potty. Every time I have tried to hold her over a gutter she has held it in til her tummy hurts and then wet herself. So I'd much rather her sit on the potty in the street than have that happen, although I would always get her somewhere more discrete as she can hold it. Also, getting them to a public toilet isn't always the end of it, most public toilets round here are disgusting! So even if we're going somewhere where I know I'll be able to get her to a toilet in time the potty still comes with us in case they aren't fit to sit on.

Pipbin · 27/08/2014 13:46

I haven't got children, so can't comment on the whys and wherefores of potty training.
However I can say that I have never seen a child us a potty in public before. Is this another one of those 'only on Mumsnet' things?

Mintyy · 27/08/2014 13:47

Perhaps you should start a Potty Training bootcamp/advice thread Hollie?

Number 1 - take your toilet training child to the toilet before you leave the house.

The ignorant masses on Mumsnet would be eternally grateful, no doubt! It would probably make Discussions Of The Day.

hollie84 · 27/08/2014 13:48

Pipbin - I think you're right Grin

hollie84 · 27/08/2014 13:49

Mintyy - most people seem to manage already.

jacks365 · 27/08/2014 13:49

Hollie I always encourage her to go before I leave however it isn't as simple as you seem to think.

Fixitagaintomorrow · 27/08/2014 13:52

Hollie small children don't wee on command. There's been many times I've done my best to encourage dd to have a wee before we've set off and she's been adamant she didn't need to go then 5 minutes after we leave the house she tells me she needs a wee. Children are unpredictable and I don't see anything wrong with trying to be prepared.

PamBagnallsGotACollage · 27/08/2014 13:54

I can't believe people are so angered by the thought of a toddler needing a wee immediately. Well done to you if your children could hold it in for 10 minutes while you hunted for a loo but not all children are the same.

Some simply just don't tell you they need to go until they are about to go. And I refuse to accept that this means they are not ready to be in pants. Potty training just takes longer for some children. And it is sometimes the stretch of potty training between being able to say you need a wee then and there and being able to give advanced warning.

I'm not staying in while my son learns to give me ten minutes notice of a bladder or bowel evacuation. And I'm not keeping him in nappies as he is able to use a potty and soon enough will be able to use a toilet.

Again, massive congratulations on your children with superior bladders but you know that's not really down to you don't you? It's just nature and, naturally, children are all different. Never judge the development of other children by your own.