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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask the etiquette for potty in public place?

135 replies

WhenZogateSuperworm · 30/05/2019 21:15

I’ve read some posts on here really against using a potty in a public place so need some advice. DS is 2 and we have just started potty training. I need to go to the supermarket tomorrow. When he needs to go he needs to go right now.

I have a travel potty and usually would be one saying whipping it out in the supermarket is gross- but it’s going to be that or a puddle on the shop floor which is surely worse?

So... potty in public- when/where is an absolute no no and where is it ok to try and use discreetly?

OP posts:

CheshireChat · 30/05/2019 21:49

Ah, got you

nespressowoo · 30/05/2019 21:49

I saw a family take one off the shelf in Tesco, their DD did a wee and they carried it round with them til they paid for it at the till. I wasn't bothered and neither were other shoppers.

Original poster

WhenZogateSuperworm · 30/05/2019 21:49

@TeenTimesTwo Possibly in the same town as supermarket but I’m not sure which so it’s better to go to the supermarket and run in and out than spend time searching for a garage that has some.

OP posts:

MrsArnott · 30/05/2019 21:50

I would not like my child to wonder around in a wet outfit so I'm afraid a potty in a supermarket would have to do. If you have warning then obviously ditch the trolley and try to carry the potty and child as far as you can away from food, but honestly if anyone kicked up a fuss they're a bigger dickhgaed than you! (You wouldn't be a dickehead) x

SoftSheen · 30/05/2019 21:50

Ideally, shop on-line so that you can stay in for a few days. But if you can't do this, then take DS to the loo immediately upon arrival at the supermarket. Do your shopping as quickly as possible and then take him to the loo again before you leave.

It isn't ok to get out a potty in the middle of a supermarket though (and definitely not a restaurant/cafe!).

SoftSheen · 30/05/2019 21:53

Mrs Arnott Obviously you wouldn't leave a child to wander about in a wet outfit. In the early stages of training you carry a couple of spare sets of clothes, and in the event of an accident you proceed rapidly to the nearest loo.

Fundays12 · 30/05/2019 21:53

It’s a no go I trained both my boys just after there 2nd birthdays and never took a potty anywhere. It’s disgusting to whip out a potty on a supermarket etc though we all know a toddler may have an accident.

I wouldn’t give your little one a drink for an hour before you go then take them straight to the toilet when you get to the supermarket. Also plan a quick shop not a big one so only get what you really need, take them to the toilet before you pay and leave.
You could put pants on then a pull up over the top so they still feel like they are wearing pants. I did this as pull ups on there own are no different to nappies in terms of how they feel but pants feel different.

JonSnowsFurCoat · 30/05/2019 21:57

Just take him when you get there, do a mad dash, and take him again when you’re done.

Sevo7 · 30/05/2019 21:58

I’ve potty trained 2 boys. The first I waited until he was truly ready and he was dry within days and could hold it for a good 15 minutes by day 7 so never needed pull ups or a potty. The 2nd one took longer to get it so we would use a nappy or pull ups of going somewhere he might get caught short or somewhere he was distracted like a play centre,it didn’t affect him long term and he too was reliably dry and could hold it when required after a few weeks. It may be the case hes not quite ready yet OP.

Fannydango · 30/05/2019 21:59

Never in public, always in a toilet. Part of potty training is surely teaching them to hold it til they get to a loo - I don’t see how whipping a potty out on the spot does them any favours.
I never used a potty with my kids- went with a toilet seat from day 1 so never had to bother with the whole transitioning from potty to loo business.

hidinginthenightgarden · 30/05/2019 22:00

You need to use the toilet at every step of your day. Before you leave, as you arrive, every time you pass the toilets. Before you get back in the car, as soon as you get home etc.

Ivestoppedreadingthenews · 30/05/2019 22:02

Some people are being a bit hysterical about potties. I carried one everywhere for a while and we used them mostly in toilets but also in parks with no loos, the zoo, round an alley on a walk from one place to another.

Frankly, my child’s contained wee is no more offensive than a dog who wees, so I’m not going to worry too much about. The people who are likely to be deeply offended by a potty training toddler are also the ones who will be outraged by a non potty trained child. So best to discount them.

I wouldn’t use a potty in an aisle except in dire emergency!! We used pull-ups sparingly, but I would wear one for this trip but still bring a potty and try for a wee on arrival and before leaving. Good to get him in the habit.

TheInvestigator · 30/05/2019 22:03

I potty trained both my kids without taking a potty anywhere. I never even owed a "travel potty" (whatever that is).

Put him in pull ups. If he has an accident then he has an accident but he wont be soaked through... that's what the pull up is for. Part of potty training is making them understand that they need to hold it until they get to a toilet. If they aren't ready for that then you stay in or stick to trips which are no more than an hour. It doesn't take long to get them used to holding for a toilet. They will still have accidents, especially if it's a huge shopping centre and toilets are fee and far between buy just keep him in pull ups for trips like that.

justmyview · 30/05/2019 22:03

We used toilet only, never a potty. And no way would I use a potty in the middle of a supermarket. I'm surprised you're even considering that

MyKingdomForBrie · 30/05/2019 22:06

I've got the potty out in car parks, the safari park, and in friends houses. I wouldn't in an indoor public space, definitely wouldn't feel comfortable doing that.

Whoever said two is too early - it's not really about age it's just readiness, my dd is 2.5 and totally dry, took a couple of days to get to 90% dry. She was just ready for whatever reason, some kids won't be til three but some will.

MyKingdomForBrie · 30/05/2019 22:08

Oh and the reason we used a potty is in the first week she wasn't very good at asking to go but if the potty was visible to her she never had an accident as she'd just go over to it and then say she wanted to go on. By the next week she was able to ask every time and used the toilet from then on. She's very verbal so it wasn't that.

Mendips · 30/05/2019 22:09

Online shop or use in the loo. Using on the supermarket is not nice

Bugsymalonemumof2 · 30/05/2019 22:11

If he isn't capable of the mad 60 second dash to the public loo in the supermarket then he either doesn't go or he goes in a jappy/pull up. Pulling a potty out in an aisle is a foul idea

Bookworm4 · 30/05/2019 22:15

Is this carting a potty about a new thing? I've got 4 DC and never owned one, train them to go to the toilet, always having a potty to hand doesn't teach them control but they can pee anywhere.

Diamondbean · 30/05/2019 22:15

We bought a fold up seat from Boots for dd1, it was amazing. It fit into my handbag in its own little bag so could turn any toilet into one suitable for her as it just places on top of an existing seat.
We used it so much we kept it just in case, and now we have dd2 I know it’s going to come in useful again.

Boots still sell them, have a nosey!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 30/05/2019 22:19

”Frankly, my child’s contained wee is no more offensive than a dog who wees, so I’m not going to worry too much about.”

And if a dog wee’d in the aisle of the supermarket, that would be just as disgusting as a child using a potty there, @Ivestoppedreadingthenews!

Listlover · 30/05/2019 22:19

Thank goodness I’ve never seen anyone doing this.

Champagneformyrealfriends · 30/05/2019 22:24

Do you have any swim nappies? DD is only 3 weeks out of nappies and I’ve resorted to a swim nappy as an alternative when I can’t take the potty and there won’t be toilets. They are very pant-like.

HagridsBigToe · 30/05/2019 22:26

No, never ever in a public place.
Put them in pull ups and if they have an accident on the way to the toilet, change them.

I swear this wasn't a thing a few years ago.

BeckyAnnLeeman · 30/05/2019 22:26

I saw a family take one off the shelf in Tesco, their DD did a wee and they carried it round with them til they paid for it at the till.

I hope they used the self service till and didn't hand the receptacle of warm piss to some poor shop assistant.

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