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Original poster

portable potties - great idea or waste of money?

30 replies

alicet · 31/05/2008 19:37

What is the consensus?

Saw one today and it looks like a good idea (esp the fact that they go into a bag which you can then just bung) but are they really any better than carrying a normal potty about?

My concern is that if ds wants to go when we're in the middle of the park for example that it wouldn't be very nice to have to take a shitty potty home in a bag! But loathed to spend the money if they're a waste of time...

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Seona1973 · 31/05/2008 19:43

I bought one and used it once so it was a waste of money for me. I never carried a potty with me either. I always made sure dd had a wee before we went out and she always had great bladder control (better than mine!!).

maygirl · 31/05/2008 20:14

I use mine loads, but don't use a buggy much, so need something that can fit in a small bag when out and about with toddler. Use ordinary nappy sacks, kitchen paper in there if need to soak wee on something! I guess could always line normal potty with a bag if know a poo is on the way!

CarGirl · 31/05/2008 20:19

try and get one 2nd hand, I think they're handy and not really that expensive for the convenience. don't buy the refills nappy sacks and value sanitary towels do the job. I keep mine in the car. It also depends on how well your dc potty train, how many other dc you have etc. Dragging 4 dc to the loos 5 10 minutes from the playground is a pain!

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NotABanana · 31/05/2008 20:20

Good idea. If it only saves you once it is worth it imo.

Slubberdegullion · 31/05/2008 20:23

Brilliant. We have ditched the pushchair and go out and about a lot, so much easier than the mad scramble to get to a public loo.

mymblemummy · 31/05/2008 21:15

I take it you mean the Tommee Tippee Portable Potette type of thing?

Ours was fantastic, it took up next to no space, and saved so much hassle on days out.

No waiting in queues with a toddler who can't hold on, no being stuck with really nasty public loos, and great on long car journeys - you just pull over in a quiet spot, instead of begging the child to hold on until the next service station.

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 31/05/2008 21:20

I got slagged rotten for buying one of them by a couple of friends until last summer when we all went on a picnic and EVERY child used it when their dd's were desperate for a wee and one a poo they were glad I had it then
DD potty trained well and we never needed it out and about generally but for days at the beach, the park or a picnic it has been a godsend because dd didn't like being held up to pee for a long time she preferred to sit.

madamez · 31/05/2008 21:23

Well I bought one and have never used it, because DS never really bothered with potties: trained straight onto the loo and now uses loos wherever we go.

SO if I can find ours, you can have it for a couple of quid

BirdyArms · 31/05/2008 21:26

I have one and haven't used it a lot but I have been pleased to have it for the odd al fresco poo. I imagine you would get more use out of it for a dd rather than a ds - mine has delighted in weeing against trees since he's discovered weeing standing up.

Original poster

alicet · 31/05/2008 21:34

Yes hadn't thought about the weeing standing up thing - I have 2 ds's.

Thanks madamez - give me a shout if you find it!

Otherwise think I'll have a look on ebay as it sounds like they are a pretty good idea!

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MerryMarigold · 31/05/2008 21:36

we are planning on taking one to the beach in the summer. a nice poo blob in the sand would not be easy to clean up!

FruitfulOfFruit · 31/05/2008 21:43

I bought one for dd, and she refused to sit on it. And then demonstrated that her bladder was made in Scotland from girders, by not weeing till we got to the loo even though she was crying cos she was so desperate to go!

I haven't used it for ds - he likes watering the trees too much. In any case, a small plastic bottle and a spare nappy take up less space than the potty thing.

CarGirl · 31/05/2008 21:56

you see I have 4 dds.........

squeaver · 31/05/2008 22:02

good ime. Don't buy too many of the liners tho

Tiggerish · 31/05/2008 22:03

we used ours yesterday for the first time in years (literally)-it lives in the car in case of emergencies. Out on a country walk ds (6) needed a poo and it was really the only option. Sure he's a bit big for it but was very glad of it nevertheless

Clairef29 · 31/05/2008 22:08

Very handy I think, saves agro when dd suddenly needs to go in the most inconvenient place!! Has saved us from many disasters!

mawbroon · 31/05/2008 22:11

I didn't think I would buy one, but my ds will not pee on a toilet, or anywhere outside. It has to be the potty or he will just hold on until he bursts.

I go everywhere on the bus and use a back carrier for him, so needed a lightweight/compact option rather than lug a normal potty around.

BTW, don't buy the bags, they are £2.99 for 10. Get some cheap pedal bin liners and really cheap sanitary towels. Slashes the cost to 2.5p per pee.

Twinklemegan · 31/05/2008 22:14

I'm struggling to imagine the incredibly heavy potty made of solid lead which isn't portable

Nemoandthefishes · 31/05/2008 22:17

I bought one just before DS was potty training yet neither he or DD1 has used it yet I keep it hanging around in the car just in case..however also have a normal potty in there which again has not been used.

jingleyjen · 31/05/2008 22:18

we never had one. don't plan to get one for DS2.
potty training was very straight forward for us, but I guess as the old phrase goes DS1 was just ready. good luck

CarGirl · 31/05/2008 22:19

They are much smaller to carry than your standard potty and you don't need to find anywhere to empty it out - that being the big bonus!

lovecamping · 31/05/2008 22:22

i always carry mine around, just in case because you know when you need it most, you wont have it.

we also use ours for camping and the kids need a wee during the night!!

imaginaryfriend · 31/05/2008 22:30

I had one for dd. We didn't use it an awful lot but there were many occasions I was really glad to have it. I wouldn't have carried a normal-sized potty around plus as you say how would you empty it out?

If you get one, buy nappy sacks and sanitary towels to use with it as the replacement liners are ridiculously expensive.

lovecamping · 31/05/2008 22:34

i've found that i cant get the old style refills and the new ones dont fit properly around the potty. its a real pain.

Dragonhart · 31/05/2008 22:37

I bought one for ds and I have used it loads. The one I got came in a thick plastic bag with a drawstring top so I just squashed a toilet roll an put it in, then it is useful for wiping bottoms as well as soaking up the wee.

I just used normal nappy sacks too but take my advise and get the better quality ones as I learnt after having a leaky value one and an enormous wee

I still have it in the car for if he is desperate or if I have strapped dd2 into the car and he decides he wants a poo! Although his legs and bottom are a bit big for it now.

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