How I was treated by Tesco for putting my son on the potty!

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My son turned 2 in May and we are mid potty training. Been in to places like Boots and M&S and got fold away potty out in store for my son to have a wee. I've also used it in Tesco with no complaints from them. This morning I went in and my son was crying 'wee wee'. Got him out of the buggy and put him on the potty - I wasn't in the middle of an aisle and went t clothes section where we'd be more hidden away as that section was close by to us. My son did a wee but come to get him back in the buggy and he had the most hideous tantrum. Once I got himm back in the buggy, I stood up to find 2 members of managerial staff stood over me. They told me that there was a toilet in the store where I should have taken my son to. I explained that he's just started potty training and when he needs a wee it has to be then and there and I don't have time to get him to a toilet. They told me they undestood that but that there was a toilet I should really have used. So again I explained that I don't have time to get him to the toilet. The woman then said 'it's not nice for our customers to see, it's not nice for your son and now you've just caused a big scene in the store'. I said 'well now you've made me feel absolutely rubbish' and they both walked off. I walked out of the store but thought 'no I'm not having that' and I went back and gave it to them both barrels that I was disgusted with the way I'd been treated, I'd been talked to very rudely and spoken to like I was a child myself. The senior manager came down and was very apologetic and I asked her of Tescos policy was that if there's a mother with a tantrumming child, do you train your staff to go over and tell the mother she's created a big scene in the store. She was very apologetic about the way I'd been treated. I'm still fuming. I've used the portable potty in other shops without complaints and I've seen other mums do the same in shops too - that's the whole purpose of the portable potty being invented. I just wanted people to know how badly Tesco have acted in this instance towards a mother potty training her 2 year old. Can anyone else recommend best places to post to make sure Tesco know I'm letting people know about this? Thanks.

I can't believe you thought you were in the right OP.

At the risk of this post being deleted Are you for real? You really think that it should be ok to let your child use a potty anywhere?

So when toddler does a big pile of stinking poo, you have to carry it through the shop to the loo!!! YUK! and the shop will stink!

I wouldn't dream of doing this, it would be quite off putting as a customer, so I can see their point. Hygiene is obviously going to be a primary consideration for a store which serves food and also has a large number of customers who may be offended by the potty. I know toddlers need to go quickly, but I don't think I would resort to using a fold up potty in the middle of a supermarket.

Abandoning the shopping and running to the nearest convenience might not sound a favourable option, nevertheless it is the one I'd have taken.

If I had stumbled upon this incident in one of tescos main competitive stores im afraid I would have asked you to leave.

Potty training is some thing as parents that we all do, an ld we tend to take time to do it at home etc. I wouldn't expect to let my own child have a wee amongst the shelves in ANY STORE

So what did you do with the wee? Surely you would have to take that to the toilet?

YABVVVU

An entire thread on Tescos side!

But yes, grim grim grim.

Oh I should add, I work in one of Tescos main competitors and I would have asked you to leave instantly.

That's what I should have said before.

Grim. Tesco were right to speak to you about this.

When DS stopped wearing nappies I would put him on the supermarket toilet at the start of the shopping and put him on the toilet at the end of the shopping.
If he asked to wee in the middle of the trip we'd leave the trolley where it was and rush to the toilet again. Or I would have used the portable potty in the car park.

I missed the bit that he'd just turned 2.

Sounds like he isn't ready for potty training. If he was he'd be able to hold it for a couple of minutes to get to the loo. If he isn't able to give you enough warning he isn't ready. Bar the odd accident and obviously these are more frequent in the first couple of weeks of training.

But in the first couple of weeks of training you really need to stay in more. It's boring, etc but we've all had to do it. Apart from to places that don't matter as much such as the park. Get your shopping ordered online. I've never had to use a portable potty, certainly not in a shop. Wouldn't have crossed my mind. Never seen anyone else use one.

I'd be shocked if I did and I'd find it a bit gross.

I have never seen anyone using a potty in Tesco (have seen plent of children wet themselves but that is part of learning to wait and judging when you need to go). Why not just grab the child and potty and run outside with it (would only take 1 minute to get out)? If a child can not wait one minute then surely they should be in a pull up? i kept mine in pull ups when out until they could tell me 5 minutes before they really needed to go.

sorry but that is just grim op, if your ds cant hold on for 2 mins whilst you find your way to the toilet then he isnt ready to be potty trained or be out and about when doing it.

i will let mine wee against a tree etc if necessary but to use a potty in the middle of a supermarket is RANK!

You were in the wrong and however much you bring this to people's attention, seemingly with the hope of single-handedly destroying the mighty empire of Tesco via internet outrage, most people so far seem to agree that you were completely in the wrong so you're unlikely to succeed with that.

YABU. Urgh.

I don't think I have ever seen a thread on MN with such unanimous agreement that the OP was wrong!

Can you imagine what an obstacle course would be if everyone started letting their potty training children stop and wee wherever they were?

You asked the manager about the policy about tantruming child policy, maybe you should have asked about the child pissing in the aisle policy.

If I had been shopping I would have complained about you.

I had a travel potty for my kids, we would use it if they were caught short on a long car journey. It was lined with a bag, did you carry a bag of piss around Tesco.

Maybe the travel potty should come with a use common sense when using tag.

You pick your child up and run to the loo in this situation.

Still at least you gave all the staff a good laugh.

Seriously inconsiderate.

OP - Please come back and tell us how you emptied the potty in Tesco and all the other stores your DC 'performed' in.

Another one on tesco's side here. I guess it's easy to lose perspective on parenting sometimes, but you do need to consider other people when you're out.

If he isn't ready to wait until you find a loo in the supermarket, which is probably a maximum of two minutes away even in a really big shop, then he needs another couple of days in the house, or a pull up on until he is.

for once i agree with tesco! that is just lazy parenting.

THE WEE IS IN A BAG

Sorry to shout but wanted to explain that a porta potty has a bag with absorbent pad and you can tie it up so no spillage risk and smell is contained!

Still shouldn't be done in a shop though. Yes they were invented to enable you to go out and about but they should be used discreetly and hygienically

I started potty training my DD 6 weeks ago at 23 months and we've never had to even consider a situation like this. Every time we go to the supermarket, the first point of call is the toilets. I used a trainer seat the first week, but soon discovered we were fine with me just holding her over the toilet. We have not had any accidents in public using this approach and i only carry a potty when going somewhere without any toilets. I think Tesco have a point, even if the staff could have been more polite. Better planning might have avoided all the aggro.

I have visions of the OP pushing her buggy with on hand,potty in the other to the toilets,which in the case of my Tesco are at the far side of the restaurant,wonder how much wee would be left in the potty by the time she got there.

OP you have clearly not had quite the response you were hoping for but do come back and talk to us some more.

It is easy to feel a huge sense of injustice at times, particularly where children are concerned.

Have the responses to the thread helped you to feel differently about this now?

Ah, Tescos, toilet. So easily confused.

Let me explain the difference, OP.

A supermarket is for shopping in. And Tescos sells food.

A toilet is for pissing in.

See? It's easy once you've lost that massive sense of entitlement, isn't it?
And yes, I've also managed to toilet train (not potty train, my DC have never ever used a potty) my children without allowing them to use a supermarket as a washroom.

How on earth is that toilet training him? If he can just drop trousers and "go" wherever he is then he may as well still be in nappy/pull ups.

You should have used the toilet it was a supermarket for christs sake .......very wrong