socially acceptable destinations for urine

[wulfstan]

background: DS1 has a phobia of public loos. It's basically the dryers which scare him, but he reckons that sanitary disposal bins contain monsters. So he's not going to go. He's 2.8.

we had some funny looks today when DS1 did an al fresco wee up against a tree in the gardens of a stately home - isn't this ok for little boys? The following are the other outdoor wees this week - I'm not supposed to hang on to the wee and dispose of it at home, am I? Surely it's ok to tip it onto the ground somewhere out of the way?

1. wee in potty in waitrose car park, potty contents tipped down a drain.
   
2. I-need-it-now wee standing on the ramparts of warwick castle (wee directed into wall)
   
3. wee and poo in car park, me fish out poo (ewww) to put in nappysack, tip wee onto grass under car.
   
4. wee against tree in a quiet corner of a garden.

[smoggie]

I take an empty water bottle with me - both ds's (5 & 3) used it yesterday at the beach....discretely whilst facing the windbreak!!!
Potette things are OK, have one in the car, but v flimsy..although did use it once myself when caught short in the car
Very appropriate thread for today as we're having problems with ds2, he's regressed in terms of his weeing (broke his leg in April and had to go back to nappies whilst immobile in bed on traction and in hip spica)...so today in garden whilst desperate he was allowed to pee in the bushes...twice.
Prob wouldn't let them do it against castle wall, but would def take them discretely behind a bush in grounds etc. and let them pee there.

[chegirl]

If a kid has to go he has to go!

With mine I did my best to make sure it wasnt too obvious, kind of like I was making the effort to be discreet!

I live in East London and there are a whole heap (literally) of things on the streets a lot worse than little boy pee!

Up a tree, in a bush, down a drain - all ok. Like someone said I would probably think a bit ewww if I saw a kid pooing in a car park but I would also like to think poor mum didnt have a choice!

[Snowstorm]

I'd second the folding potty - we used it for pees and poos because I have girls but I'd carry it around for a boy's poos ... means you don't have to worry about scraping anything out of anything and is all very neat and clean and you can use it in the middle of shopping centres and supermarkets (whilst potting training and only nano-seconds warning are given by the child), without being left with an open potty full of poo or pee.

If I had a boy and he needed to pee and we weren't near a loo then I'd aim for a tree or go behind a bush or find a drain - I don't think I'd let him wee up any building's wall, if I had a choice in the matter but if your child is properly caught short then you do the best you can in the circumstances, don't you.

[LynetteScavo]

We too have a potette. Have even used it in the car. (DC's, not me)

[LynetteScavo]

The funny looks were probably from American -they seem to have diferent rules about peeing out and about.

If your child is little (like wulfstan's) stand directly behind them, and avoid eye contact with anybody. If your child is older, say 5 like my DS tell them to go "over there in the bushes" adn pretend they have nothing to do with you, while keeping a sneaky eye on them.

[morningpaper]

I wuold be slightly horrified if I saw a small child squatting and pooing in a car park

although mainly I would be glad I was not the mum

[thumbwitch]

My DH still has a penchant for peeing against trees in parks and outdoors
generally (but then he is Australian).

I liked Balloonslayer's answer!

[mawbroon]

I have a folding potty for 2.9yo ds.

Originally I thought that I would just have him pee on the toilet, or outside, but he was having none of it.

Today we were on the bus when he announced he needed to go. We just set the potty up on the floor in front of my seat and I don't even think anyone noticed. I have trained him to shake his willy after a pee to get the drops off, but the bus was shoogling so much that it was shaking all by itself! He found this very amusing.

[wulfstan]

warwick castle's not proper stately: it's got interactive ghosts and people with oversized jester hats - it's not like weeing on some deadly national trust property (shudders at childhood memories of too many visits to blickling and felbrigg...)

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[wulfstan]

thank you, balloonslayer, for removing some of my "infant son pissing away priceless heritage" guilt

[plantsitter]

Frankly though the tutting old lady quotient at stately hoooomes must be pretty high so it's probably worth doing it behind the tree at least.

[BalloonSlayer]

FFS what do you think they did when the castle was built?

They pissed out of the windows, that's what.

Now it's a Stately Hooooome, I suppose that is suppose to make it different, is it?

[mrsleroyjethrogibbs]

well tbh if they need to go, they need to go. accomodate the child whilst being discrete, thats what I do. bushes are fair game imo

[missmollymoo]

My 6 year old pees anywhere and everywhere if he has the need. He does usually try to find a bush or a tree to do it up, but can't always.

If we are near a toilet he uses it, but will pee wherever necessary.

Who cares. Dogs pee everywhere. He knows to be discreet and not announce it to the world mind!!

[ReallyTired]

I would not worry. At 2.8 years old many children cannot get to the toilet in time. I would try and chose a more hidden spot as some childless people might tut.

If you think about it and your child wets his pants the wee will end up on the ground. You might as well have the wee end up in a flower bed than somewhere where like a carpet.

My six year old son still wees Al Fresco occassionally. Obviously he has better control than a two year old, but I would be an idiot to make him wait half an hour.

I suggest putting a flushable baby wipe. (Ie. http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/baby-bath/kandoo-children-s-toilet-wipes/406129/ Kanndo Wopes There are Tesco/ Sainburies equivalents which are cheaper

on the bottom of the potty if your son is going to poo. It makes it easier to get the poo out the potty. If you can get to a toilet I would empty it, but otherwise your nappy sack idea is fine.

[maidamess]

If my boys get caught short outside I try to find somwhere discreet to do it, although I am mindful of the fact dogs do it everywhere!

We have been known to pee down a drain by the side of the road... In fact my boys prefer that to peeing inside.

[littleducks]

stately home is a no, no i would not be impressed if i paid to go to warwick castle to see urine up the walls....sorry

tress are ok though
in a potty and down a drain fine

[TurkeyLurkey]

Haha, I suppose the rain can wash it away. Its hard when they can't hold it til you can get somewhere.

[noonki]

I would actively encourage mine to wee up a castle wall

[pickie]

Think most men still get great satisfaction of weeing outside!

[wulfstan]

it was a choice of either up the castle wall or over the ramparts

[cornsilk]

oh ignore them.

[TurkeyLurkey]

My lad wees in hedges and bushes but I'm not sure I'd let him wee up a castle wall...

[wulfstan]

we only have cloth nappies - I guess I could soak it up with that or a muslin. I just thought it was ok to do it outdoors until I read the posts about wee on the shopping centre thread.