Potty in pub

[Mammyloveswine]

Went out for lunch with a friend today, went to a family friendly pub for lunch as has a new baby and i have a toddler.

A group were sat on the next table with older toddlers who were pottering around a little play area.

Anyway one of the toddlers went over to their mum and said she needed a wee. The mother then got a potty out from under the pram and popped it on the floor where the toddler promptly sat on it and had a wee! We were eating at the time!

I couldn't help myself saying "you know there's a toilet right there and they have a little seat for toddlers?" She looked at me and said "oh do they? Well I've got this as this is what she is used to!". I wish I'd said something about people eating but I was just astounded! She then went to the toilet to empty the potty!

I'm just shocked that someone would let their child use a potty where people are eating!! No one else in the group batted an eyelid!

Is this a thing? When I potty trained my eldest we stayed in a few days until he could hold it in enough to make it to an actual toilet! I certainly never carted a potty round with me!

I could understand taking a potty to use in the actual toilets but to use it in the middle of the pub!!

Anyone else experienced this? I wouldn't change a nappy in the middle of a pub so definitely wouldn't let my child use a potty!

When we were potty training dd, we carried a portable potty around. We were house hunting and out for hours at a time. We used it a couple of times on the street when there was really no other choice.

What your friend did was disgusting and avoidable.

That's vile and there is nothing rude about what you said!

DisappearingGirl You tell that story like you had no options. A visit to a museum is lovely but no hardship if you had skipped it, and what’s the worst that happens if you’re kid pees themselves while you find the loo?

Just take a change of clothes like every other parent does, and most of them manage to toilet train without doing it in public.

That's almost on par with my sister getting a jug out of my cupboard and letting my nephew wee in it ...... in the kitchen whilst I was dishing up dinner. What's worse is where she wanted to pour it out

I'm with the young man at the museum

Well fair enough - perhaps I did it wrong - but what would have been right? Should I have aimed to get her to the toilet instead even though there would definitely have been a wee on the floor? Or genuinely not left the house for a few weeks with 2 small children? What about needing to do the supermarket shopping etc, and there may not be a toilet there? I guess going back to nappies for trips out is an option, but mine were pretty resistant to this?

V happy to be told I'm wrong, but not sure what the answer is during this short stage except carrying a potty around (and using it if needed)? Or do people really not leave the house for weeks?

DisappearingGirl You really, genuinely cant work out what you should do?

Have you never noticed that there isn’t loads of kids peeing in potty’s when you go places?

I'm with the young man at the museum

Young man at the museum did the right thing.

Eeeew.

My kid was totally reliant on a potty for ages and I wouldn't dream of doing this.

Oh @DisappearingGirl you take her to the loo before you go in!
You take her every time you walk past a toilet!
You take a bag with several changes of clothes in it incase of accidents!

No, honest question, what is right to do in that stage? The museum thing was a split second decision but I'm 90% sure there would have been a wee on the floor if I'd tried to zoom her to toilet! It's a genuine question, I don't mind being wrong but would be interested in the answer! Though I'm past that stage now thankfully :)

My friend insisted on bringing a potty everywhere when ours were 2. It was so embarrassing. She took it out in a cafe once.

You let them pee as you’re running to the toilet!
It will mop up!

Yes I was trying to take her to the loo but she was having a tantrum over it, until she said she needed a wee NOW. Otherwise yes I agree with the regular toilet trips, we did this at every opportunity. Also yes absolutely we took loads of changes of clothes everywhere. But if the wee on the floor would have been better than the potty, maybe I should have gone for that option!

@DisappearingGirl

usually when potty training the first few days you're inside. If they begin to get it you start venturing out to places where you know that toilets are easily accessible and remind the kid to go when one's available. After a while they get the hang of things and can usually last until a toilet can be found. If they don't pick it up you go back to nappies and try again when they're ready.

I do sympathise though it's not easy when you suddenly have a wriggling child in full tantrum!

What would you do in a supermarket etc with no toilet though? Obviously older kids can wait but not potty training ones. I guess it's immaterial to me as past that stage now, but just interested! I was really embarrassed if I ever had to get the potty out but thought it would be preferable to a toddler wee on the floor! (this was a very short stage, we're not talking years here :))

G R I M

What the actual hell? If the child is used to a potty, there was nothing stopping her taking the potty to a toilet cubicle!

Yeah I guess, I must have been in the wrong then. But I did try and do all the things on that list - but was frequently thwarted by strong-willed toddler! (refusal to go at suggested times, holding on to wee for hours, suddenly needing it). But happy to accept I was in the wrong.

Absolutely revolting

What would you do in a supermarket etc with no toilet though?

Follow advice as given above from FrancisCrawford

Re supermarkets - there are always toilets for staff and in an emergency most shops will let a child use it.

Potty training a child means them having enough control to be able to find a toilet surely not just a whip a potty out wherever they are and allow them to crack on. That is not training them

We never took a potty out with us with our eldest and we are currently going through the same with our youngest and very reluctant three-year-old but it will be a cold day in hell before I get a porta potty