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Potty training

Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

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

289 replies

bubble30 · 10/07/2012 20:34

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.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
FartBlossom · 10/07/2012 21:42

FellatioNelson I didnt think such a thing exsisted when I was toilet training and Ive not finished yet (have 3 DC's youngest 9month), are they worth getting then? Im thinking not.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 10/07/2012 21:42

I am about to PT DC 5.
Never took a potty out with me with any of the others, will not be taking one with DC5.
You have to be prepared for a few accidents, take spare clothes with you, plan your trips a bit more carefully for a few weeks and wait until the child is ready before starting.

TBH I dont think I have used a potty at all after DD. They seem a bit of a waste of time (unless you have a DC who is scared of the big loo).

It seems a bit counter productive to take a potty and just whip it out in the middle of a shop. Its not really toilet training is it? Its like taking a big round, plastic nappy out with you.

TheEnthusiasticTroll · 10/07/2012 21:43

Grin. i swear to bloody god they did. Im pretty surev they where local too..posh bastrads think they can just piss where ever they like.

VivaLeBeaver · 10/07/2012 21:45

Good on you for taking it on board.

EverybodysDoeEyed · 10/07/2012 21:45

OP - well done for coming back and taking the comments in good spirits!

(not sure what susie said)

AKE2012 · 10/07/2012 21:45

Its called 'toilet' training for a reason. You teach your child to use the toilet. Its not called 'let your child wee where it wants' training.

What about adults with bladder problems, is it ok for them to go in the middle of a shop coz they cant hold it in?

Can not believe tesco actually got it right for once Hmm

EmpressOfTheSevenOceans · 10/07/2012 21:46

OP, have a Wine for coming back and taking everyone's comments on board. Not many people handle a first flaming that gracefully.

Welcome to Mumsnet.

TalkinPeace2 · 10/07/2012 21:47

Well done to OP for coming back

and whatever else you learn from this, you found a way to unite Mumsnet in favour of Tesco - which HAS to be a first (and hopefully) last

RESULT !!

Springforward · 10/07/2012 21:47

Hate to say it but I kind of agree with tesco here, but then I also object to potties whipped out in cafes and play barns too....

FamiliesShareGerms · 10/07/2012 21:48

YY what TalkinPeace2 said!

QuintessentialShadows · 10/07/2012 21:49

Glad you have seen sense.

Letting a child use the potty in the middle of a shop is wrong on so many levels, not just hygiene, but in terms of boundaries and privacy issues too.

BettySuarez · 10/07/2012 21:50

Seriously well done OP for coming back Smile just chalk this one up to experience Grin

stressheaderic · 10/07/2012 21:52

And thanks for posting regardless, I'm potty training my DD (age 2.6) at the moment and I've picked up quite a few tips from this thread!

MarzipanAnimal · 10/07/2012 21:53

I'm impressed you came and posted again OP. I think I would have logged off and hidden under my duvet after that flaming!

hermionestranger · 10/07/2012 21:55

Port a potties are handy. We had one and used it twice. Once whilst stuck in a traffic jam on the way from JFK to Connecticut. Bladder of iron boy wouldn't go on the plane/immigration/car hire rental place. No. He had to go once we were stuck on the car after a "rest stop"! He still has a bladder of iron now. shame I don't

The other was in London. Next to a fountain. The one opposite Buckingham Palace! GrinBlush

We still have it for ds2.

The handiest thing we ever had was the folding loo seat thing. We still have that too. Grin

worriedwretch · 10/07/2012 21:56

:) an OP with grace. Cool.

I think those potty things are essentially a good idea. Much like a shee-pee thing though. You wouldn't want me whipping one of those out in the dairy aisle would you ;)

enjoyingscience · 10/07/2012 21:59

They let you she pee in Lidl. One of the main reasons I go there.

GrassIsntGreener · 10/07/2012 22:05

The porta potty is fab we love it too.

Never used it in a shop though. Like other we waited a couple of days to make sure dd was okay to give at least 30 second warning, then we'd make a big game of run run run to the toilets (I'd grab her pick her up and leg it lol).

If a child can't give a little warning they're my ready to be out in public. I don't agree with pull ups and such things so for us it was all or nothing. Dd was 2 1/2.

Gunznroses · 10/07/2012 22:05

Well done OP! you just need to anticipate when he might need a pee and ask him before he asks you, easier said than done i know, but it works.....most of the time Smile

princelypurpleparrot · 10/07/2012 22:06

I'm going to go against the grain he but I did get my potette out in the supermarket a couple of weeks ago Blush. As we entered I asked DS if he needed the loo, he said he did, do we walked over to the loo ( there's only one in a single room) and there was a long queue. So I huddled him into the corner, nowhere near any food / staff/ shoppers, blocked the view with the pram, and he had a wee. Surely that was better than the inevitable puddle on the floor? And there is nowhere discrete outside the shop either as it's on a busy high st ( with no public loos, of course)

EmpressOfTheSevenOceans · 10/07/2012 22:06

I wonder if Mario's DH ever peed in Asda?

bubble30 · 10/07/2012 22:15

Thank you for being so nice to me when I came back and I have never had so many replies to a post before. The porta potty has been ditched. I never thought of it that I'm not teaching him to wait and learn bladder control. At least I've got to know people on here even if it's not been for the right reasons. Hope you'll take my word for it that I'm not a nutcase. Lots of love and lots of laugh x

OP posts:
ValiumQueen · 10/07/2012 22:17

I think sales of that potty will go up because of this. Stick it on eBay! Also impressed with your grace.

perfumedlife · 10/07/2012 22:18

Good on you bubble Wine I don't even see the point in regular potty's, to me it's adding another stage for kids to learn then unlearn.

perfumedlife · 10/07/2012 22:19

Potties Blush

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