Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let toddler play in dirty garden

34 replies

notevensure12 · 03/04/2023 19:13

Bit of backstory - am pregnant in my third trimester and was always the one to pick the dog poos up in the garden beforehand. I pulled my back out a few weeks ago and DH has got really lazy with this job. I can't bend down to do it, and basically he'll go out into the garden and do a mass poo exodus every week or two - so it's massively grim and built up a bit. (Sorry I know that's vile but just being honest here!)

Now it's getting a bit warmer DH wants to spend time in the garden with the toddler - and has decided that raking and churning up the earth (with all the embedded dog sh*t) is the best approach, and he's going to lay new soil and plant new grass to fix the areas of damage.

I think this is disgusting personally, and feel like I don't want Dc playing in the garden until it's all cleared up.

So I'm looking for an objective opinion on this. DH says I am being obsessive, over anxious about hygiene and that she is being a toddler.

My brain says that although I'm ok with playing outdoors, getting a bit dirty and basically... being a toddler - that this is quite frankly grim, and I shouldn't be allowing it until the garden is cleaned up. AIBU?

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 03/04/2023 19:14

It’s dog shit. It’s dirty, and should be picked up immediately when the dog has gone to the toilet. It’s also (outside of being dirty) quite dangerous if the child touches it.

MrsBunnyEars · 03/04/2023 19:14

Yuk.

My toddler is covered in any amount of mud, but you can’t let them get near dog poo. It’s not just unpleasant, it’s dangerous.

Yellowrosesmakemehappy · 03/04/2023 19:22

He needs to rake it up into bin bags and get most of the top soil up then lay the new soil and grass.

Also he’s a dickhead for not taking care of his pet properly and I would be telling him so. It’s so disgusting when neighbours don’t clear their dog shit up.

VivaVivaa · 03/04/2023 19:24

Disgusting and dangerous.

He’s going to lay new soil and plant new grass to fix the areas of damage

If he can’t be bothered to pick up a poo once a day, like hell he is actually going to do this.

Sairk · 03/04/2023 19:41

Gross. You're not overreacting. How awful for you.

Jubaju · 03/04/2023 19:41

Does he understand the bacteria and parasites found in dog poo? It doesn’t fully decompose. It’s classified as a biohazard

your toddler could get very ill. It’s disgusting

Writeandroll · 03/04/2023 19:58

VivaVivaa · 03/04/2023 19:24

Disgusting and dangerous.

He’s going to lay new soil and plant new grass to fix the areas of damage

If he can’t be bothered to pick up a poo once a day, like hell he is actually going to do this.

This!

My two boys are constantly filthy from the garden but I’d never let them play in dog shit. Bordering on neglectful to both the kid and the dog. Dogs don’t like a dirty garden either.

BertieBotts · 03/04/2023 20:04

Absolutely not ok to let toddler play in dog poo. I thought it could make them go blind?!

I'm very relaxed about bacteria but this is not something to be relaxed about.

Thelnebriati · 03/04/2023 20:05

The roundworm eggs in dogs feces take 2-4 weeks to hatch out, so its not safe for him to do that. The soil will be contaminated, the eggs can lay dormant for years. You should have the top layer removed and lay new turf, and confine the dog toilet in one area that you clean every day.

WildAloofRebel · 03/04/2023 20:07

That is foul. She could get ill. gross gross gross. Tbh the 2-weekly poo pick is gross too, surely it smells? Your neighbours must love you!

BadgerFacedCoo · 03/04/2023 20:07

Urgh man can't look after a dog and he's got another kid on the way.

A shame that it all falls to you OP. Tell him to pick it up. I came in to say dirt is good for kids and they need more of it, but not dog shit

NuffSaidSam · 03/04/2023 20:09

Sorry....your question is are you being unreasonable to stop your child playing amongst dog shit?!

Erm. No. No, you're not unreasonable.

Your DH on the other hand....

MajorCarolDanvers · 03/04/2023 20:12

You cannot let a child play anywhere near dog shit.

It is very hazardous to children and can cause blindness.

And OMG its disgusting.

statetrooperstacey · 03/04/2023 20:14

No I wouldn’t be happy with this, however if your garden is full of dog shit it’s inevitable that your dog is already walking in it and bringing it into your house on its paws . So anywhere your dog goes in your house probably will have traces of it. Tell him he’s a lazy bastard.
there is a new business near us that clears dog shit from gardens you can pay for a one off clean or have them regularly. Maybe have a Google see if there’s something like it in your area.

NotCopingWell1 · 03/04/2023 20:17

No that's not OK.

I've got three dogs. They are trained to go on the gravel, but the little one often goes on the patio. None on the grass where the toddler plays though. Having three dogs who poo when they feel like it means we don't always spot every poo straight away but do a poo pick morning and evening and go and check before we go out to play.

DoneByWeds · 03/04/2023 20:18

www.nhs.uk/conditions/toxocariasis/

I wouldn't let my kid play in a garden that a dog regularly shat in - there is a health risk as well as it being gross.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 03/04/2023 20:20

I was sick in my mouth reading this. Absolute madness.

MarshaMelrose · 03/04/2023 20:20

Even my dog doesn't want to be in the garden if I haven't picked up his poo.

elm26 · 03/04/2023 20:22

Tell him to get off his lazy arse and pick up the dog shit seeing as you physically can't due to your pain, I feel for you!

No way would I let my child play in dog poo, it's disgusting and dangerous.

I have a spaniel and can't imagine leaving a dog poo if I've seen it (I'm lucky that he poo's when I walk him) so I only have to pick up probably twice a week from my garden. I'm 32 weeks pregnant and have severe Hyperemesis so if I can manage it, your partner can!

Justmeandthedog1 · 03/04/2023 20:24

There’s dirt and there’s dog shit. A bit of general dirt, digging in cleanish soil, making mud pies etc.. won’t hurt a child but dog faeces can transmit diseases, some of them serious.
Make sure your dog is up to date on worming and vaccinations and tell your DH to get his arse in gear and clean up daily.
( Hope your back gets better soon)

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 03/04/2023 20:26

Does he realise your toddler could go blind? It's not 'dirty'. It's a health hazard.

And your neighbours must hate living next to you, it must stink. There's a house I sometimes walk past that don't pick up their dog shit and even in winter it stinks. I actually go a different way in summer as it's unbearable.

Venturini · 03/04/2023 20:30

This has to be a joke.

CheeseMcKnees · 03/04/2023 20:31

Do I let my children play in dirt? Yes
Do I let my children play in dog shit? No

Get a poo scoop, I have two dogs and an acre of garden so I use a hand rake and poo scoop.

BeatriceFranklin · 03/04/2023 20:32

This can’t be a serious post, no-one is stupid enough to consider allowing a child to play in a garden which has dog shit raked into it.

Cosyblankets · 03/04/2023 20:33

Surely this isn't real
Firstly him for saying it and secondly OP for coming on to check