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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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3 year old peeing in a potty in the corner of a museum

361 replies

Griddlesizzle · 16/10/2021 18:41

As it says in the title. Mother just whips the potty out and the child pees away, without the mum even asking anyone if there was a loo nearby. As a side point, the loo was less than 10m away…

Ai by - it’s pretty vile
Aibu - what else are you gonna do?

OP posts:
DeepaBeesKit · 16/10/2021 19:12

I don't see why parents ever see this as appropriate.

If it's the difference between
a) puddles if urine in the floor
b) waiting until children are about four to potty train (and creating landfill nappy mountains)
c) occasionally using a potty in an an antisocial location in an emergency

I would pick c, personally.

AliceinBorderland · 16/10/2021 19:14

Most cafes wouldn't be happy for people to go in just to use the loo.

They could buy a drink you know. Rather than using an office door step as public toilet.

Shelovesamystery · 16/10/2021 19:14

It's disgusting! I'm shocked at how many people on this thread think it's OK Shock

DroopyClematis · 16/10/2021 19:15

But the parent will have to go to the toilets , WITH THOSE TERRIBLE HAND DRYERS , in order to dispose of the contents of the potty.

My daughter works in a very popular museum in London. The totally stupid , illogical and entitled tales that she has regaled us with is truly eye-opening.

Winterismyfavourite · 16/10/2021 19:15

My ds3 has an awful fear of dryers so yes I completely understand the portable potty, what would you rather them do? Piss all over the floor. Jesus Christ. Hmm

Greenmarmalade · 16/10/2021 19:16

It’s fine.

Are you ok with said child weeing in their nappy in the museum?

Stop making people’s lives harder with your unnecessary judgment.

CreamFirstThenJamOnTop · 16/10/2021 19:17

Wouldn’t bother me in the slightest!

lnsufficientFuns · 16/10/2021 19:18

What’s wrong with you all? It’s disgusting!

enjoyingscience · 16/10/2021 19:18

Absolutely gross and totally unnecessary.

Clocktopus · 16/10/2021 19:19

I've potty trained eleven kids as a nanny and never needed to whip out a potty in public. If they are at the stage where you are taking them out and about, then they should be able to hold on for a few minutes to get to a loo. Also, I consider the child's dignity - as an adult I wouldn't be happy using the toilet in public, so why make a child do it.

All of this post.

I've potty trained four DC including two with additional needs and one with a congenital urinary tract disorder, they ranged in age from 2yo to 3.5yo when potty trained. I've never had to get a potty out in public. If they aren't reliably aware of when they need to go or able to hold it for long enough to find a toilet then they aren't ready to be out of nappies when out in public places (and by reliably I mean the majority of the time, all small children will have occasional accidents but this shouldn't be frequent).

Glassofshloer · 16/10/2021 19:19

@Greenmarmalade

It’s fine.

Are you ok with said child weeing in their nappy in the museum?

Stop making people’s lives harder with your unnecessary judgment.

But when it’s in a nappy you can’t see/smell/hear it Confused it’s absolutely not fine, it’s vile. Plus anyone walking around the museum with a camera (as people often do) probably would’ve felt very momentarily uncomfortable. Grim.
highstreetdiestreet · 16/10/2021 19:20

@KingsleyShacklebolt

Horrendous and completely inappropriate.

No excuse.

What a massive overreaction.
Clocktopus · 16/10/2021 19:21

Are you ok with said child weeing in their nappy in the museum?

A nappy contains all of the wee inside itself, the child's genitals and bottom aren't exposed, and there is no need to carry an open container of human waste around to somewhere where it can be emptied. It's not the same thing.

My ds3 has an awful fear of dryers so yes I completely understand the portable potty, what would you rather them do? Piss all over the floor. Jesus Christ.

Take the potty into the baby change, it'll probably still have a hand drier but you don't have to use it.

MaryShelley1818 · 16/10/2021 19:22

Completely vile...use training pants if that desperate.
DS is 3, I took him out when I felt he could, I used every single toilet we passes for a long time. I never needed to carry a potty about with me fgs.

Keladrythesaviour · 16/10/2021 19:22

As someone who has worked in a lot of museums, I really wish people didn't do this. It's not nice for anyone involved. However it isn't the worst thing to have happened in a gallery Sad

I'd put it up there with mums who think it's okay to change nappies on café tables.

Innocenta · 16/10/2021 19:22

This reply has been deleted

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highstreetdiestreet · 16/10/2021 19:22

@DeepaBeesKit

I don't see why parents ever see this as appropriate.

If it's the difference between
a) puddles if urine in the floor
b) waiting until children are about four to potty train (and creating landfill nappy mountains)
c) occasionally using a potty in an an antisocial location in an emergency

I would pick c, personally.

Exactly
NigellaSeed · 16/10/2021 19:23

Sounds like the mother is doing her best and doesn't need any strangers judging her?

highstreetdiestreet · 16/10/2021 19:23

@DroopyClematis

But the parent will have to go to the toilets , WITH THOSE TERRIBLE HAND DRYERS , in order to dispose of the contents of the potty.

My daughter works in a very popular museum in London. The totally stupid , illogical and entitled tales that she has regaled us with is truly eye-opening.

Well no, a travel potty has bags for disposal later.
highstreetdiestreet · 16/10/2021 19:24

@Clocktopus

Are you ok with said child weeing in their nappy in the museum?

A nappy contains all of the wee inside itself, the child's genitals and bottom aren't exposed, and there is no need to carry an open container of human waste around to somewhere where it can be emptied. It's not the same thing.

My ds3 has an awful fear of dryers so yes I completely understand the portable potty, what would you rather them do? Piss all over the floor. Jesus Christ.

Take the potty into the baby change, it'll probably still have a hand drier but you don't have to use it.

You've never heard of a potette then.
Innocenta · 16/10/2021 19:24

@NigellaSeed

Sounds like the mother is doing her best and doesn't need any strangers judging her?
She could not do incredibly weirded and disgusting stuff that affects other people. Then she wouldn't be judged by strangers (or not more than anyone is).

I presume everyone agrees there is some degree of antisocial behaviour that it's all right to judge...?

Adirondack · 16/10/2021 19:24

A friend of mine proudly told me she’d whipped out a potty for her dd to do a poo in the FOOD AISLES AT TESCO. I was Shock

Clocktopus · 16/10/2021 19:24

I never carried a potty either. I had an emergency nappy with me so that if they were utterly desperate and there was no toilet nearby I could discreetly put the nappy on under their clothing (can be done without pulling any of it down) and they could use that then we'd go to the baby change and clean up. I only ever used the emergency nappy a handful of times.

DeepaBeesKit · 16/10/2021 19:25

If they aren't reliably aware of when they need to go or able to hold it for long enough to find a toilet then they aren't ready to be out of nappies when out in public places (and by reliably I mean the majority of the time, all small children will have occasional accidents but this shouldn't be frequent).

Maybe this was the occasional accident?

My DS is nearly 5 but has the odd time when he needs to go urgently (related to certain food additives etc, it's not always easy to know when he's had them). I have a potty with us a lot because DD is absolutely tiny and can't climb onto toilets and also falls into them, so she uses a potty inside the cubicle.

I can imagine someone being a similar position and having a 3 yr old who was normally very reliable but maybe over excited by the day out, had a fruit shoot in the cafe as a treat etc and was suddenly bursting.

highstreetdiestreet · 16/10/2021 19:25

@Clocktopus

I never carried a potty either. I had an emergency nappy with me so that if they were utterly desperate and there was no toilet nearby I could discreetly put the nappy on under their clothing (can be done without pulling any of it down) and they could use that then we'd go to the baby change and clean up. I only ever used the emergency nappy a handful of times.
Yeah, that doesn't sound discreet at all actually.