To put the camping toilet in the shed?!

[delorisvancartier]

So it's my DD2 Birthday in a few weeks & we usually have a bbq for all her friends & drinks for the parents. Our house is a 2 bed end terrace so not very large at all but we do have a large garden which is fab. The last few years with only having one toilet & up to 12+ kids under 10, well you can imagine the state the toilet/bathroom gets in! AIBU this year to use our chemical camping toilet in the shed for the kids to use? I think it's ok but I'm not sure the more I think about it. Obviously we would make the shed child friendly etc?

12 under 10s isn't loads of people.
I'd far rather clean a bathroom that empathy a chemical toilet at the end.

I’ve never used a chemical loo to know if it operates differently but I’d say give both that and house loo as an option. Also, many antibacterial gel doesn’t kill viruses or clean hands with dirt on (which they might be if out in the garden) . I recommend the brand clinell wipes and gel for being good for killing nasties. They use this brand in hospitals. You can buy on amazon. A hand wipe at least would wipe off dirt.

Christ on a bike. Why is everyone so precious here!

OP I TOTALLY get where you are coming from!!!!! It's lovely the some of mumsnet have such well behaved friends of their children. Gold stars all round!

I've worked with kids of all ages and I can categorically say that in the real world, loos get messy when kids use them. I have a niece and nephew (who are not feral) and they get wee on the seat and tend to put the taps on full pelt so we end up with splashes up the wall and floor. Inevitable that then a bit of loo roll might get trodden in to make a soggy mess. Multiply that by 12 times and a muddy/ messy bathroom you have! Especially a problem if your bathroom is upstairs too.

We have had big family parties in the garden ( 80 people) and hired toilets because one just isn't enough. I think the problem with the shed is that if a child wees on the floor, it will simply absorb into the wood

Most people I know wouldn't really give a toss about one evening of using antibacterial handwash though. Ok, it isn't a great substitute for hand washing but plenty of places use it instead of (I'm thinking about hospital corridors/ animal farms and petting zoos etc).

So, on balance you can see that a few people on here would be deeply offended at your toilet set up and lack of proper hand washing facilities. Most people think it's fine. I would go with what a few people have suggested and set it up but tell people "to ease the toilet situation, we have a made a toilet in the shed. You are welcome to use either that or the loo inside". I think that should cover everybody's needs!

I'd love to know what the result is

Antibacterial gel is not a substitute for proper hand washing.

I'd have thought it less work to nip in to the house toiket a couple of times during the party and give it a quick clean. It take a few moments.
I'd prefer to do that than deal with a camping loo that had been used by loads of people.

You asked for opinions, people tell you it’s a ridiculous idea and not sanitary and you kick off. One begs the question why even bother asking if you’re not actually looking for opinions?
Why is it hard to believe that children of that age and adults can use the toilet properly? Christ.

@GhostRidersinDisguise I agree some camping toilets are more sophisticated, even having a flush, some are essentially a bucket enclosed in a seat.

However it will still need cleaning and emptying, happy to empty my own but not a party full.

I’m a regular camper, a bucket is fine for an emergency night time wee but any other time I just use the camp toilets.

Can I just put it out there I have never had a poo in a bucket

I'd do it. If anyone doesn't fancy it, they can use the house one.

I know you don’t actually want any opinions OP, unless you agree with them, but for the record I think it’s weird and unsanitary. Just give the bathroom a once over every now and then (or delegate that task to someone else - I’d ask my husband to do it on the basis that I’d likely be arranging the food or whatever).

I think it's a great idea. I don't know about the practicalities of emptying etc.
I get where you're coming from with the mess of multiple people traipsing up and down the stairs.
I don't get the hysteria over the hand washing facilities. I bet half the kids don't bother washing thier hands after using the loo anyway.

I couldn't wee in a glorified bucket in a shed with the noise of a party right outside the door and no washing facilities even if you paid me. WHY would anyone choose this over an actual fully functional bathroom?!
Honestly as a guest at this "party" of yours i'd be offended at the suggestion that i was too "uncivilised" to use your bathroom, and think you really rather rude no matter how you packaged it as an "option".

Not to mention no running water, how disgusting that you'd WANT people to forego proper hand washing then be in your house, using your crockery/cutlery etc and dipping in shared food! And unless your shed is airtight, the smells are going to be wafting around the party area/food etc, especially if you apparently have guests coming that miss the bowl and don't clean up!

Our shed isn't a clapped old clapped place, We would provide antibacterial handwash & toilet paper & be sure to put the chainsaw out of reach! There is electric in there, it's not like I'm asking kids to pee in a dark & dangerous place

Hand sanitizer is not a replacement for soap and water. I'd find that pretty rank to not provide proper washing facilities.

I'd just have the normal bathroom in use, I put roll and stroll down on my stairs and flooring up to our bathroom when we have parties as people don't take their shoes off and I don't like my carpet getting ruined you could even put it on the bathroom floor. A loo is easily cleaned as is a sink.

Op said handwash, not hand sanitiser, so I assumed she meant soap and water?

As bumblingbovine said it’s fine IMO to have it as an option, as long as the house toilet is available to use as well.

even in a bathroom you cant be sure these kids will wash their hands
and no one will do a poo 99% sure of that

I think it's fine!

I take large groups of tweens and teens camping. We staying sites that have a shower/toilet block but always take a couple of camping toilets too. The kids all choose to use the camping toilets instead of the actual loos!

I'd have a pee only rule though.

Id would be pretty irked if someone invited me to their house for a party then told me that i wasnt allowed to use the toilet in the house and had to use a temporary one in a shed because they thought i couldnt be trusted to use a toilet properly.

Im fairly laid back but would think this was odd and a bit precious. I know some people that would take proper offense to it. If you dont want lots of people in your house or to clear up after them, then dont invite them!

If offered as a "to save you going inside", i would consider using it though

I would add that id have no problem using camping toilets camping, or in a field (my own wedding had camping style toilets as it was in a huge garden) but would feel very unwanted as a guest if i was sat in someones garden and not allowed to use the house toilet

Sounds like a sensible idea. However there will always be some who won’t like it. we have a big garden where people end up peeing behind trees at parties

I agree. Make it a boys toilet.

I don't get the hysteria over the hand washing facilities. I bet half the kids don't bother washing thier hands after using the loo anyway.

Absolutely, people are lying to themselves if they think their very careful hand washing and high hygiene standards are followed by children and, lets face it, many adults!

I think its a great idea.
You would use one when camping,and I do not remember people looking down their noses at the idea.
Just make sure theres a bin and wet wipes.

My DC were very fastidious, they wouldn’t even wee in the sea or behind a hedge if we were on a long walk. There is no way they would have weed in a shed at a party.

I think it's a great idea but I think you will get people who have used it who want to wash their hands coming in to wash them at the kitchen sink . . . make sure you're ok with that.

It's a bonkers idea unless you've got a sink in there. I'd be pretty if my kid came and told me they'd had to shit in the shed.

I'd go with it, but would internally think it was bizzarre and mean, going to such lengths to stop children from using your indoor bathroom.

Like PPs have said, it's fine as a 2nd option - some kids will probably love it!