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.

[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.

[LynetteScavo]

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

[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.

[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!

[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.