Acceptable to let 3yo DS wee at edge of playground?

[Anticyclone]

Is it deemed acceptable to allow your (not long out of nappies) 3yo to have a little wee in the bushes in the corner of the playground, to avoid having an accident? For context, the playground is semi-rural and has lots of greenery along two edges to soak up aforementioned piddle...

OK or not OK?

Yes. Absolutely let your DC wee al fresco. My DD1 has a bladder problem which means when she has to go she has to go immediately - she's peed in all manner of places outside. Avoiding soggy pants more important than not causing various MNetters to get the vapours.

Totally fine. Ignore anyone who says otherwise!

It's a small,child having a tiny wee - although I can't see a school wouldn't let you use the lavatory.

My 7 yr DS still gets caught caught short occasionally. No biggie.

I cannot believe some people consider this unacceptable FFS. We're talking about a 3yo who's just out of nappies!

I hate this. My local playground is mostly AstroTurf, and all the middle class mummies just take little Odin or Sylvia to the edge of the swings and let them wee.

It might bother me less if it was rural, but this is East London, and the pee just sits there.

Better than at the top of the slide (and yes, I speak from experience).

Even now when DD (4.5) needs to go, she needs to go. We don't have 5 minutes - so I can get her to the bushes, but not much further.

Did the people saying 'this is disgusting' not have toddlers?! You realise that your average child just out of nappies CANNOT hold on until you find a toilet?! What do you think would be a better solution? Wetting themselves and making a big puddle on a swing instead?

Yes fine, only a little toddler potty training, will be washed away.

LOL - I think some people have assumed it's a school playground? If so then No, local park should be ok.

Imo the joys of a ds are that accidents are less likely!! Aim and fire!
Dd had to have a proper toilet!! Bloody diva!!

Ooh I like the dog rule! Yes this is a fenced off playground so perhaps a trip outside the dog fence is in order.

BTW I totally agree that there is a big difference between what I'm proposing and doing similar in an urban setting which is all astro turf and concrete with nowhere for the wee to go.

Thanks all. Although the fact that a vocal minority strongly oppose this means I'm going to be a bit careful. I've only just moved here and want to make friends not enemies!

Those of you saying no, what do you suggest?

I have a two year old, and I have one of those ladybird potties that can be closed and hung on the buggy. When DS needs to pee he uses that, and so far he's given enough warning to leave the playground before doing so.

I'm wondering what you all do when you're on the tube, or on a bus in traffic? In a big supermarket 5 mins from the loos?

For most play areas here I'd suggest walking out of the play area then using a Bush nearby. Ours are often in bigger parks or have trees nearby though.

As per dog rule above really! I just wouldn't actually in the play area bit.

Those who are saying it's not OK are presumably OK with a full wee through pants and trousers done IN the playground.
Ground gets just as wet that way.

It's better to find a bush because if they have an accident they could end up leaving a big wet puddle at the bottom of the slide like my child has done when she didn't tell me she needed a wee

Totally fine as long as you make some effort to be descret and don't pee up the slide! Although I will never ever forget the day we stopped on the side of a motor way going to the seaside to let potty training dd wee and she started doing a massive poo!

Oh God yes, don't stress about it. All the primary kids here nip to the bushes when they need a wee (context, big field off playground, Scotland so rains frequently). It's no Biggie.

In an emergency yes. Otherwise, no.

My kids have also weed in gutters and drains when necessary if there was no bush/grass/tree available.

If it's an emergency fine. However my local playground often stinks of piss, not nice. It may be appropriate to go home and use the loo there?

Hmm I'm 50/50 on this one. I let dd1 go somewhere on the way home from nursery once 25 minute walk with a 3 year old and we were too far away from school to go back. Then for the next month she somehow needed a wee every time we went past said spot. As a one off its OK but I wouldn't be allowing it regularly.

Weeing in gutters and drains is fine, just not a place where toddlers are fondling every available surface.

Of course you can!! Not in the actual playground but in the park yes! In the same way when they were preschoolers if they're desperate they'd have a wee in the back garden