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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is gross.

32 replies

Momdeguerre · 16/06/2010 13:42

I took my DS to our local country park today which has a great, safe play area, loos, cafe etc.

I was really disgusted to watch two different mums allow their children to wee in the play area. The kids were about 3 years old.

The loos were open and are right next to the play area. One let her son pee against a big tree stump the kids climb on and another helped her daughter squat on a grass play area.

Am i a total prude for being so shocked at this? I am potty training DS and I know kids can decide they need to go 'right now'! But I carry a travel potty for emergencies and at this park the loos are right next to the play area.

Loads of money was spent to stop the dogs from messing in the play area and I am just surprised that some patents felt that human mess is any better!

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 16/06/2010 13:44

Are the toilets clean and in good condition?

TubbyDuffs · 16/06/2010 13:47

YANBU, if the toilets are in good clean order then its just bloody lazy of them to let their children do that.

I have two boys who quite often need to go "right now" but I manage to get them to the toilet if there is one available (even though they would love to water the plants).

Original poster
Momdeguerre · 16/06/2010 13:47

Yup, all nice and new.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 16/06/2010 13:48

No excuse then

muggglewump · 16/06/2010 13:51

YANBU.
I hate this.
If they can't wait a few minutes then they shouldn't be out of nappies.

mnistooaddictive · 16/06/2010 14:03

YANBU but can I ask how many children you have? I have 2 and if DD1 needs the toilet, I have to grab DD2 and get them both to the toilet, often with DD2 kicking and screaming as she was having fun. I couldn't leave her hopwever as this was not saafe. I can imagine the more children you have the more difficult it is. With a recently potty trained child by the time you get there it is too late. I used a travel potty most of the time but occasionally forgot it and we had to use a tree. It was an out of the way one though!

backtotalkaboutthis · 16/06/2010 14:05

Yes it's revolting. Not the same as using a random tree in a wood in an emergency. Lazy and inconsiderate.

slhilly · 16/06/2010 14:06

I personally find weeing in the play area unacceptable, but weeing in a bush in a park not a problem -- if there are not loos readily to hand.

Original poster
Momdeguerre · 16/06/2010 14:18

I accept there are emergencies. This just seemed like habit and I have two children -Ds1 23 months and DS2 10 weeks.

OP posts:
RunawayWife · 16/06/2010 14:21

Nasty, just nasty

islandofsodor · 16/06/2010 14:31

Yesterday I saw one mum allowing two toddlers to wee in the doorway of a very busy Wilkinsons. The large public toilets were in the same street and I have always found them to be well kept.

Disgusting.

thesecondcoming · 16/06/2010 15:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sidge · 16/06/2010 15:42

I think weeing outdoors when there are public toilets available is just horrid.

UnquietDad · 16/06/2010 15:50

Public weeing is vile.

minipie · 16/06/2010 15:54

Seem to remember a similar thread a couple of weeks ago.

Most thought it was grim and loo should be used except in dire emergencies.

A minority said child's pee isn't a problem as it's "angel wee"

SydneyB · 16/06/2010 15:58

Umm, I don't think it's that bad. DD was a nightmare to potty train and sometimes just had to go there and then. In order to get her to the toilet I'd then have to scoop up crawling DS and bundle everyone into buggy and charge off to the loos by which time it would be too late. Surely a little wee behind a tree isn't that much of a big deal...?

thesecondcoming · 16/06/2010 16:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pigletmania · 16/06/2010 16:04

YANBU if there are perfectly clean servicable loos very nearby there is no excuse just lazy, the whole point of potty training is for kids to learn bladdar control and that sometimes they have to wait a few mins. YABU however if there are no loos nearby, and the child is a toddler/pre schooler as they do not have the bladdar control of an older child/adult, than discretely behind a bush or folliage is fine. Mugglewump I dont agree, when potty training at first when the child is leaning they will need to go 'now' does not mean at all that they need nappies, as they get on than bladdar control will develop. How are they going to develop good bladdar control being in nappies .

pigletmania · 16/06/2010 16:06

My dd 3.3 years is potty training, and I found that when i put her in proper knickers she learned to hold it for longer instead of just wetting there and then.

pigletmania · 16/06/2010 16:10

I agree secondcoming, but if you are out especially in the woods or country or park when there are no loos than a wee behind a bush or folliage will surfice espcially if they are very young as they dont have the control. I do carry a travel potty with me, and think that more parents should much better and more sanitary, espcially if a number 2 creeps out .

SydneyB · 16/06/2010 16:11

Well, for whatever reason, it took a long time for DD to get the hang of holding it in.
Still don't think, in the scheme of things, iits that much of a big deal. Obviously in the minority though so shall consider myself ccorrected!

LionsAreScary · 16/06/2010 16:14

From your description of the circumstances, sounds as though YANBU - they should have taken the children to the loo as weeing in a play area is gross.

Nothing wrong with the occasional outdoor pee though, if in woodland / the countryside and there are no loos nearby.

Sometimes kids just wee where they want though, especially under 3s. Soon after potty training, DS1 once dropped his pants in a pub beer garden to 'water the plants'. I was utterly mortified but it was too late to stop him mid-flow. Even more embarrassing, my friend's daughter immediately copied him, also trying to wee standing up, and made a mess of her clothes in the process. We left in shame straight away.

The mum letting her kids wee in the shop doorway is horrible.

Lauries · 16/06/2010 16:18

Eurghhh how repulsive!!
I seriously think that is vile.
How unhygenic and disrespectful to other park users!
More importantly though, when parents and police are SO insistant on keeping children safe from paedophiles; to the point of even not allowing parents to photograph their own children in pools and things is it not somewhat irresponsible to present a young child with their private parts exposed to the world? Or is it just me that thinks that?

diamondsandtiaras · 16/06/2010 16:23

at weeing in a shop doorway.........if it were my shop and i witnessed it i think i would have had harsh words with the mother and possibly even called the police tbh.

Weeing in a kids play area is just awful. In a park behind a tree/bush is fine IMO if there are no loos.....our local park has no loos and is a 15 minute walk from home.......DD2 can't hold it that long yet. I would never in a million years let her wee in the play area though......I think I'd rather she had an accident if it came to it!

SpawnChorus · 16/06/2010 16:24

Pretty lazy considering the loos were nearby.

That said, even if owners clear up their dog's crap, they still let them piss everywhere, so I can't get too het up about kid wee (dog wee is far more revolting imo).