Page 8 | to use a potty in the park?

garfieldrec · 2020-07-27T14:54:13+00:00

My 29 month old is a month into potty training. When he tells me 'weewee' I grab the potty from under the pram and let him use it. Is this ok? I empty into a bush out of sight etc. Whole process takes about 20 seconds probably!

2bazookas · 27/07/2020 17:36

No need for potty, just pull down his pants pick him up by the thighs and and hold him out .

When/if his penis is big enough that he won't piss on his feet you can teach him to pee standing up. ALL little boys love learning that, it's a rite of passage in toddler world.

isitorisntit · 27/07/2020 17:36

Took all my brain cells to work out how old a 29 months old is! Mine were a little older than your son, about 2yr 9 months. When we tried DS1, he was 2yr 6 months, we gave up and waited a few months as it was clear he wasn't ready. He was hit and miss and the accidents weren't lessening after 3 days.

When they are ready, they're ready and TBH you shouldn't need a potty as they'll know when they need it and be able to hold it a bit better.

I think after the first attempt with DS1, we learnt to really spot the signs they were ready and we had a massive 2 accidents between our 4. That's simply because they were ready, not any magic that we did.

We then taught the boys to wee standing up (lean them forward and rest their willy on your finger until they can do it themselves).

On the other hand, we've friends who tried to train their DC out of washable nappies at 2yrs. Bloody nightmare. Took at least a year each and was really stressful as their kids just peed everywhere (my kids didn't pee all over my house, I don't want someone else's to!). I couldn't understand it as they were washing 4+ outfits a day so why not just keep washing the nappies??!! They carried a potty everywhere and there was about 4 around the house. And stinky-pee carpet.

Good luck!

Ginfizplease · 27/07/2020 17:37

@garfieldrec

I just planned trips when I knew it would be ok to find a toilet near by and when they were ready and could wait a little while.
DC1 trained fairly late (was just after 3rd birthday) but managed well within a few days. DC2 was about 2y9 months (would have probably managed sooner but ended up in a plaster cast so we put it off. I did not fancy cleaning a cast of wee /poo!).

I thought public toilets were open now? They are where I live.

AdditionalCharacter · 27/07/2020 17:37

I'm just offering some suggestions, I'm not criticising you taking a potty out. Simply saying I didn't use one when I had my DC and what I did so I didn't have to.

You did ask the question in AIBU so will get more reactive responses.

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:38

@isitorisntit

Took all my brain cells to work out how old a 29 months old is! Mine were a little older than your son, about 2yr 9 months. When we tried DS1, he was 2yr 6 months, we gave up and waited a few months as it was clear he wasn't ready. He was hit and miss and the accidents weren't lessening after 3 days.

When they are ready, they're ready and TBH you shouldn't need a potty as they'll know when they need it and be able to hold it a bit better.

I think after the first attempt with DS1, we learnt to really spot the signs they were ready and we had a massive 2 accidents between our 4. That's simply because they were ready, not any magic that we did.

We then taught the boys to wee standing up (lean them forward and rest their willy on your finger until they can do it themselves).

On the other hand, we've friends who tried to train their DC out of washable nappies at 2yrs. Bloody nightmare. Took at least a year each and was really stressful as their kids just peed everywhere (my kids didn't pee all over my house, I don't want someone else's to!). I couldn't understand it as they were washing 4+ outfits a day so why not just keep washing the nappies??!! They carried a potty everywhere and there was about 4 around the house. And stinky-pee carpet.

Good luck!

Thanks but this has missed the point of the whole post

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TimeWastingButFun · 27/07/2020 17:38

I think the people clutching their pearls about using the potty instead of public loos might have forgotten that most public loos are closed at the moment, which is probably why this post is here. My toddlers occasionally used them too when we were out and there were no toilets. The portable ones are fine - the liners catch it all and as long as it's disposed of carefully, no problem :-)

Heygirlheyboy · 27/07/2020 17:38

OP I never stayed in while my trained, I had tracksuits, pants and potty and wipes under the buggy and off we'd go. Much more natural imo, no putting them on every hour or whatever and they learned with normal life distractions. Far superior really

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:39

I feel like 'use a public loo' is the new 'cancel the cheque'

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Ginfordinner · 27/07/2020 17:39

Wow! So many posters on this thread trying to outsmug each other

DD's potty days are a long time ago, and for the record, I didn't carry a potty around, but neither did she have the bladder of a camel when she was first out of nappies. Yes, she did do some wild wees when she was small, but often it was because we were more than half an hour away from a toilet. I guess I must be a shit mum then.

How about trying to understand that all children are different instaed of criticising people's parenting? DD had bladder reflux and I was told by her consultant that holding a wee in for ages could cause problems, and possibly cause a UTI, so if she needed a wee it had to be sooner rather than later.

jessstan2 · 27/07/2020 17:40

@Lweji

Is this only for wees? Just let him do it like men do.

Or use the public toilets.

For poos, if you are going to use a potty, then you should use a plastic lining and dispose of it properly.

I used to carry a toilet adaptor in a largish backpack for out and about.

That.

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:40

@Heygirlheyboy

OP I never stayed in while my trained, I had tracksuits, pants and potty and wipes under the buggy and off we'd go. Much more natural imo, no putting them on every hour or whatever and they learned with normal life distractions. Far superior really

Hahaha yes!

I'm not going to be prisoner! We stayed in for the first 2 whole days and I didn't like it, have been taking the potty out ever since

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Elsa8 · 27/07/2020 17:40

I did this when DD had just learned, but wasn’t really confident on toilets yet. Only ever got it out in places that were quiet like parks, country walks, once down an alleyway well away from people when she was desperate! I’d never have done it in a cafe or anywhere public.

Elsa8 · 27/07/2020 17:42

Also I think it’s really hard if they learn on a potty and are then meant to suddenly be fine with a toilet in a strange place! For ages DD didn’t like the drop between the toilet seat and the water below, so we stuck with the potty until she was fine with it. Thankfully we didn’t have to cart it around too much though, it was only a few weeks before she could hold it / learned to wee in a bush (always a joy!)

milveycrohn · 27/07/2020 17:46

This is a very interesting thread. My DC are now grown, and being boys, they quickly learned to pee standing behind a bush. However, I certainly took a potty on long journeys, etc
I also note that the public toilets in our local park closed some years ago, and have since been demolished!
My DC used these toilets when young, so what would parents do now, except take a potty with them.

Heygirlheyboy · 27/07/2020 17:46

It wasn't a hard transition for mine at all. We kept potty in the toilet after first day or two and within a week we were on the toilet, potty only in buggy or car for emergencies. I think I used it two or three times. My friend with twins used the lined one a lot longer as getting the two of them back and forth to toilets was a pain. It didn't have any impact on them at home on toilet etc. My main tip about TT is relax and be ready and the dc will be relaxed too.

KarenKarendson · 27/07/2020 17:47

. How will they ever learn to hold? If there is the odd accident just bring spare clothes

Well obviously they do learn to hold. Not at the start they can't for long though. Better to use a pot until they can, rather than stripping their pissy clothes off, probably in public if there's no loos available, or worse, making them walk home in urine soaked clothes. Who would do that 🙄

Temp123999 · 27/07/2020 17:48

@DivGirl
"Of course you can make him go! Just sit him on the toilet."
It doesn't work for all children you shouldn't generalise.

QueenofmyPrinces · 27/07/2020 17:49

Dump in a bush, a wipe with a dettol wipe

If you dump it in the bush anyway then why not just get him to wee in the bush in the first place?

oiboi · 27/07/2020 17:50

My daughter is 5 and still needs wild wees On longer walks. If you're out for 3 hours with no toilets I'd rather we were out and she has a discreet wee than we were limited by access to a toilet.

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:50

@QueenofmyPrinces

Dump in a bush, a wipe with a dettol wipe

If you dump it in the bush anyway then why not just get him to wee in the bush in the first place?

I haven't taught him to wee standing up, or even just crouching

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Sirzy · 27/07/2020 17:51

I think it’s fine if there is no alternative but ideally you should find a quiet corner and not just whip the potty out in the middle of the park

JassyRadlett · 27/07/2020 17:51

People leave it too late in my opinion. Just my opinion though.

Aye, but those people don’t have to fret about the etiquette of having their child use a potty on a trip to the park because their kids have better bladder control from day 1, more or less. (Or can at least stand to do a wee in the bushes.)

Just my opinion, though.

Viviennemary · 27/07/2020 17:52

No it's not hygienic. I've never seen anybody do this. It's rather disgusting.

Upcycling · 27/07/2020 17:52

I also don't see the need for this - I never took a potty with me

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:52

@JassyRadlett

People leave it too late in my opinion. Just my opinion though.

Aye, but those people don’t have to fret about the etiquette of having their child use a potty on a trip to the park because their kids have better bladder control from day 1, more or less. (Or can at least stand to do a wee in the bushes.)

Just my opinion, though.

There's pros and cons for younger or older training

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