Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get the potty out in public?

57 replies

MrsMagooo · 16/04/2009 13:31

PTd DD about a month ago & all is going well.

I bought one those fold away travel potty to bung under the pram incase DD gets caught short when we're out.

We had gone to the park & were walking home, I had DS (8 months) too, there are no public toilets around & let's face it when a toddler has to go they have to go!

So I parked the pram, got out the travel potty (which has like a large version of a nappy sack inside it so anything that's in it gets tied up neatly & taken home to be put in bin or if one near by goes in a doggy bin) put it behind the cover of the pram & let DD do a wee.

An older couple walked past & the woman had a good old stare & said it was disgusting that I was allowing my child to wee in public.

So, AIBU?

Should I just let her wet herself next time

OP posts:
Doodle2U · 16/04/2009 13:33

No, you did the right thing.

Now if you'd done it in the middle of a shop or restaurant, I'd say YABU but outside, in the park.....bet the old fella who was with her has pissed behind a good few trees in his life time.

Original poster
MrsMagooo · 16/04/2009 13:35

LOL @ in the middle of a shop, I dread that being in a busy shop & DD announcing she needs a wee - will have to run fast in the direction of the nearest loo!

OP posts:
Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa · 16/04/2009 13:50

YANBU in a park!! Ats! least it was contained as well, not just pissing all over the gras

However, if you had done what I once saw a woman do in Tesco you would be VVVVVU.

She took a potty down from display in the baby aisle, inserted (I presume) something similar to the travel potty you mention and her DC proceeded to have an almighty dump there and then. With grunts and screwed up face and everything. I was rooted to the spot in shock.

I eventually stammered "there are flipping toilets here" (they are within yards of the baby aisle!!). She gave me a filthy look.

Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa · 16/04/2009 13:51

Look, I'm still so traumatised that I cannot type - I meant 'At least'

Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa · 16/04/2009 13:52

Oh God. And I meant grass

Original poster
MrsMagooo · 16/04/2009 14:08

OMG that's disgusting!

I wasn't that bad at least lol!

OP posts:
cornflakegirl · 16/04/2009 14:31

Not unreasonable at all. I let DS wee in bushes etc in the early days - it's not for long, and if they wet themselves, it's going to go on the path anyway!

smallorange · 16/04/2009 14:34

DD1 wet herself in the wine aisle of M&S once (during her FIVE MONTHS of potty training.)

I sloped off, hoping they would think someone had spilled some Pinot Grigio or something

mollythetortoise · 16/04/2009 14:35

I have mixed feelings on this. I have witnessed a mother potty training her dd in kew gardens with one of those disposable potties , coaxing her to do a poo in a very public area and I did think, go to the loo with her or at least behind a bush. It stunk and was soooo unnecessary, she seemed to think we would all find this adorable I do think parents should show basic consideration for others having to witness their darling children's bodily functions. I also feel this way about nappy changing in public places.. go to the loos or go behind a tree. It's not that hard!!

Doodle2U · 16/04/2009 14:38

Molly, she tried to screen the child with the push chair.

Original poster
MrsMagooo · 16/04/2009 14:38

Thing is we were on the walk home & there weren't any bushes to duck into which is why I put the pram blocking our way so that at least DD was semi hidden

OP posts:
smallorange · 16/04/2009 14:41

Sometimes it ain't that easy molly.

Believe me, I've watched a friend trying to catch a runny poo in a potty with a panicking two-year-old, a four-year-old running wild and a new baby in a sling.

We did manage to clear up most of the poo on the floor with baby wipes.

I found potty training the most difficult, undignified experience of my four-year parenting 'career.' My two-year-old is 'ready' but I just can't face it

Original poster
MrsMagooo · 16/04/2009 14:45

I've only ventured on small trips I'm dreading a day out, it's usually just me, DD & DS as DH is usually working so I'm dreading having to run DD to a loo whilst juggling DS & the pram too!

That's why I thought the travel potty might be good as I could find a quiet corner, have DS in the pram blocking DD from sight & not have the sheer panic of trying to find a loo with both babies in two

OP posts:
CatHerder · 16/04/2009 14:51

Yeah, potty behind the pram or a bush. What else can you do?

Mine never seemed to need to poo while out, so at least that was easier. And it's a lot easier with boys - you can take a bottle instead of a potty!

Original poster
MrsMagooo · 16/04/2009 14:53

DD hasn't pooped whilst out yet much to my relief I'm sure that time will come though!

LOL @ taking a bottle - shall have to remember that when the time somes to PT DS

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 16/04/2009 14:56

course YANBU

DS has been caught short a couple of times recently and he has had to pee in trees

dreamteamgirl · 16/04/2009 15:03

I dont think YABU

DS once got his own potty out from the bottom of pushchair and used it (thank fully just a wee) whilst in a supermarket. By the time I had realised what he was going to do, I couldnt have stopped him, and at least it was contained. Quite embaressing having to scuttle through supermarket hiding it under my mum's copy of telegraph to empty it ...

Doodle2U · 16/04/2009 15:12

Mine took a pee in the loo of a bathroom display at B&Q once.

Momma23 · 16/04/2009 15:19

No i would do the same.. I would proble come up to you and ask where did you get that handy toilet Little girls that are just trained cant wait for the nearest toilet.

Momma23 · 16/04/2009 15:20

Doodle2U
That is like something my DD 2 would do She is not potty trained yet but i am dreading it!

Original poster
MrsMagooo · 16/04/2009 16:00

PMSL Doodle that is brilliant!

Momma it this one

OP posts:
SarahL2 · 16/04/2009 16:03

...dreading potty training

susiey · 16/04/2009 16:58

not unreasonable at all

my dd had wee'd in her travel potty all over london shielded by the pushchair and discreet as poss but when shes got to go shes got to go!

Original poster
MrsMagooo · 16/04/2009 17:22

Very relieved to hear I'm not along in getting the travel potty out!

Sarah I was dreading it & had felt pressured the minute DD turned 2, I waited til I felt she was right ready (2.9) & literally by the 3rd day she was telling us when she needed a wee & was uing the loo (Poos took a bit longer(.

Lots of people had said to me if you wait til they're right ready you'll crack in less then a week - I didn't believe it so was really shocked at how well it's gone/going.

OP posts:
solidgoldshaggingbunnies · 16/04/2009 17:28

I don't think it's unreasonable at all when in the street/park and you attempt to screen the child. IN a restaurant, cafe or supermarket aisle it would be unacceptable for hygiene reasons, really.
But DC, particularly just-trained ones, usually can't hold on for more than a few minutes and if they wet or crap themselves then you've got the mess/smell/problem anyway.
(DS is 4 now and thoroughly trained but we have now and again had to run into the bushes in parks when the loos are either locked or their aren't any.)