Page 9 | 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!

FourPlasticRings · 27/07/2020 17:53

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.)

And the landfills are full of disposable nappies as a consequence. It's worth training earlier for that reason alone IMO.

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:53

@Viviennemary

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

What would you do instead? Public loos aren't the height of hygiene either, last time I checked..

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LA115 · 27/07/2020 17:53

Laughing at some of these smug replies 😂 its a normal part of potty training for most. Just chuck a potty under the buggy, and find a quiet spot behind a tree if toddler needs it. When they are that age most can't wait very long.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 27/07/2020 17:54

I did carry a potty in the pram whne potty trainin my daughter - she was about 18 months I think. It was only for a week or so, used it just a few times, but glad I had it!

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:54

@FourPlasticRings

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.)

And the landfills are full of disposable nappies as a consequence. It's worth training earlier for that reason alone IMO.

Yes. And I followed the Oh Crap method that advises to train between 20 and 30 months.

Oops hope I didn't offend people with typing out months!!! Qué horror!!

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QueenofmyPrinces · 27/07/2020 17:55

I haven't taught him to wee standing up

They don’t need teaching do they?
You just pull their pants down, angle their penis so the urine streams away from them and then tell them to wee?

To be fair, my DH used to do all the “bush wees” so maybe there is an element of teaching that I’m not aware of

Viviennemary · 27/07/2020 17:55

Behind a bush is what you do. I couldn't imagine carting a potty round a park. Whatever next.

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:56

@QueenofmyPrinces

I haven't taught him to wee standing up

They don’t need teaching do they?
You just pull their pants down, angle their penis so the urine streams away from them and then tell them to wee?

To be fair, my DH used to do all the “bush wees” so maybe there is an element of teaching that I’m not aware of

I will try in the garden first I reckon!

OP posts:

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 17:56

@Viviennemary

Behind a bush is what you do. I couldn't imagine carting a potty round a park. Whatever next.

Joke or serious? Potties are pretty small!

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 27/07/2020 17:58

If you're trying to teach a child to go in a potty then it made sense (I thought) to be consistent and have that out with us to go in. And a little bit less undignified than hanging her over the gutter, tho I don't really think there's anythign wrong with that, either tbh.

JassyRadlett · 27/07/2020 17:59

And the landfills are full of disposable nappies as a consequence. It's worth training earlier for that reason alone IMO.

Consider my wrist slapped! I assume you have children without nappies from birth? Otherwise how did you live with the environmental impact (cloth being about as carbon intensive as disposables...)

One of mine trained early and the other was hugely resistant and trained quite late, so I probably even out. But both were totally ready without ‘methods’ or competitive parenting smuggery.

Thesearmsofmine · 27/07/2020 18:00

We never took a potty out with us, If really caught short then we would hide behind a tree or bush for a wild wee(they don’t have to know how to wee standing up, you hold them or angle them).

I did wait until dc were ready rather than training them so they were able to hold the wee for a little while. I would think it a bit odd if just was out in the open, instead of finding somewhere with a bit of privacy.

QueenofmyPrinces · 27/07/2020 18:00

I will try in the garden first I reckon!

That will give the neighbours something to gossip about

Poetryinaction · 27/07/2020 18:01

Why not get him to squat behind a bush in the first place?

CheetasOnFajitas · 27/07/2020 18:01

Wow, some of the responses here are really unexpected. I wouldn't bat an eyelid at seeing a Mum with a potty in the park. We were at a 4 year old birthday party in the park the other week and at various points pretty much all of the little girls had wees in their potties (discreetly, in the bushes). My son can wee standing up but I still take out our Potette in case of a poo emergency and wouldn't think twice about using it.

I learned that the hard way. Once when he was younger (just turned 3 or thereabouts) we were about 10 mins away from home and he said "Mummy I need a poo". There was no way he was going to be able to wait until we got home, but I had no potty with me. Fortunately we had been shopping and I had a multipack of juice cartons wrapped in plastic with me - ripped off the plastic, found a quiet spot in the bushes and knelt down with him essentially using my knees as a potty seat while he crapped in the plastic bag. The Mummy-as-potty stance. Took it home in the bottom of the buggy to dispose of. I was pretty pleased with my resourcefulness.

I think that you know when they can and can't wait and it's cruel (and foolhardy) to force them to hold it in when so young.

NB OP you say you have a Potette. When you are more able to use public toilets they are brilliant to use as a little seat to keep them comfortable and clean.

Just keep doing what you are doing!

SecretDancer · 27/07/2020 18:01

I still have a potty in the car for my 46 month old it's for emergency wees when there's no public loo nearby and she's desperate.
We've also had a few wees behind bushes if needed.
I don't see the big deal. When they're just learning it takes a while to get the 'holding' bit. As long as it's not in the middle of a supermarket aisle and you try and retain a bit of privacy for the child and people nearby.
I'd perhaps work on getting him to wait a bit longer as he gets older..."ooh let's find the best bush cab you hold that wee wee in for a minute" rather than whipping it out as soon as he needs to go but otherwise I doubt anyone would bat an eyelid ...although I'm not too sure now after reading this thread.

Aegna · 27/07/2020 18:02

Good grief what's wrong with half of the people on this thread? When did the anti-potty brigade become a thing?! Have you even had children?! Or even met grown men who need to toilet at ten seconds notice?!

I have a My Carry Potty which I used for my DS and was incredibly useful to whip out when needed. In fact I am completely unapologetic about the fact that I am using it again now despite him being nearly 5, because in the middle of a pandemic I can't imagine anything more germ ridden than children putting their hands all over public toilets. So surely it's much less risk to avoid an enclosed space with dirty surfaces?! Plus the queues at most toilets are horrific at the moment. Come on then... bring on the haters😉

Codexdivinchi · 27/07/2020 18:02

Yes did for both of my youngest. Took nappy bags incase they had a turd. With girls they can’t whip a willy out, they end up crouching and weeing on their legs.

I really wouldn’t of cared if anyone objected but no one ever did - vocally

JassyRadlett · 27/07/2020 18:02

Oops hope I didn't offend people with typing out months!!! Qué horror!!

OP, if you weren’t behaving like such a smug arse on this thread, I wouldn’t dream of pointing out that it’s quelle horreur (French, not a weird Spanish/English hybrid.) Not sure if there’s a ‘method’ for that.

Original poster

garfieldrec · 27/07/2020 18:04

@JassyRadlett

Oops hope I didn't offend people with typing out months!!! Qué horror!!

OP, if you weren’t behaving like such a smug arse on this thread, I wouldn’t dream of pointing out that it’s quelle horreur (French, not a weird Spanish/English hybrid.) Not sure if there’s a ‘method’ for that.

It's the same thaang

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Sirzy · 27/07/2020 18:05

@Codexdivinchi

Yes did for both of my youngest. Took nappy bags incase they had a turd. With girls they can’t whip a willy out, they end up crouching and weeing on their legs.

I really wouldn’t of cared if anyone objected but no one ever did - vocally

Don’t worry boys just end up weeing on their shoes!

JassyRadlett · 27/07/2020 18:05

There you go! I’d never encountered it before and I apologise profusely for being a slightly smug arse myself.

terriblyangryattimes · 27/07/2020 18:06

I've potty trained 2 kids, one of each and never took a potty anywhere but camping. We stuck close to home in the first few days and when they had it down I explained sometimes they had to hold it before we could find a loo. I didn't want them to think they could pee whenever they wanted to, as in 'real life' it's not the case. Both do quite enjoy a 'wild wee' in the woods tho 🤔

Yadbu to still be counting your child's age in months too.

Ginfordinner · 27/07/2020 18:07

And the smug replies continue.

Poetryinaction · 27/07/2020 18:07

OP you keep saying you are asking about etiquette. Lots of us are saying it's poor etiquette. We don't like seeing kids on potties and don't think it's necessary. I'm another who toilet trained 3 small children without carrying a potty around.