Ok, NOW I've Seen It All!

[nannyde]

I would just be honest with her and tell her that you can't have urine in the sinks. She's welcome to sit her on the potty when she arrives to pick her up but you can't have her peeing in the sink. You can do it in a way that gives her the option to either go home to do it or use the potty.

I have never even attempted to potty train a kid that young. I don't do sign language with the kids and don't accept any potty indicator other than the WORDS from the child "I have to go potty".

I can't imagine what it would take in a group setting to have an adult THAT engaged to be able to tell the pee "sign" for a sixteen month old in a center. The infant/toddler rooms I watch on camera are REALLY busy. There is hundreds and hundreds of times a day the kids are on the opposite end of the room of the adults and there is SO much traffic in and out of the rooms. To be THAT engaged with a child at that age in that setting would be impossible.

Not to be gross but the pee from the kid isn't going to be as germ filled as what comes off their hands in a wash BUT that's assuming the child is perfectly healthy. Because nondisclosure of illness is SUCH a problem in a paid child care situation, it would be impossible to know on a day to day basis whether or not the peeing kid was sick or not at any given time.

[SilverSabre25]

Sounds like the mom is doing EC or Elimination Communication. It is actually rather successful and I agree with the pp that said that if the girl is able to sign it she's probably able to do it, at least part of the time.

I've never gotten the sink part of it though. I wouldn't be happy with that either and I'm a pretty crunchy mama.

[PitterPatter]

OMG I have ver heard of such a thing and I have some ignorant parents! Are they hillbillies or backwoods type people or something? I can't even imagine what I would say but it sure as heck would come out loud and rude because I just know I couldn't help myself. I put up with a lot but that, no way no how!

This reminds me of the scene in Steel Magnolias where M'Lynn says "Oh Weezer, Drum would never point a loaded gun at a lady! And Weezer says "Oh He's a real gentleman! I bet he takes the dishes out of the sink before he PEES in it! ::::::

[SilverSabre25]

OMG I have ver heard of such a thing and I have some ignorant parents! Are they hillbillies or backwoods type people or something?

Probably just the opposite--the super natural, super attachment parenting, super granola/crunchy parents.

[littlemissmuffet]

Well... the hubs and I just did some serious research and yep - many parents who use EC instead of potty training are fond of holding their littles over the sink to pee and POOP... it appears that Scrubbing Bubbles is the choice cleaner for these folks. ::

OMG.

[permanentvacation]

Who in the world pees in a sink?!?!?!? Where did this woman get that idea?!?!?!? I think I would have simply said while in shock something to the effect of "ummmm...... I can't watch your child anymore!" The family is too weird for me! Obviously the parents have different child raising beliefs than I do and there will be too many issues that arrise if I continued watching the child.

[littlemissmuffet]

This is an interesting/informative read on EC...

http://freetoec.webs.com/mythologyreality.htm

Myth #4: It's unsanitary

One of the most common reactions I get to the pictures of EC is people freaking out about peeing in the sink. This truly amuses me for several reasons:

First, URINE IS STERILE! That means that urine is free of bacteria and bugs that could possibly make you ill. It's unappetizing to think about, but you could drink my baby's urine and would not be made sick from it. But don't just believe me, believe Healthlink: "Normal urine is sterile. It contains fluids, salts, and waste products, but is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi."

Second, we of course clean and wipe the sink down after each pee. I would be more worried about germs from someone's mouth that spray all over the sink when spitting after brushing your teeth... the mouth actually harbors bacteria, urine does not.

Third, I hate to pop your germ bubble... but unless you put the toliet LID down each time you flush, a fine mist of urine, feces and whatever else was in there gets sprayed all around your bathroom. You put the lid down, you say? But does every person visiting your bathroom? I don't mean to freak you out, but people who are completely calm about handling money, touching public doorknobs, letting their kids hang on to grocery-cart handles etc will have a royal fit about how gross and unsanitary EC is.... can you see me rolling my eyes? ;-)

Fourth, for the people who find the idea of my breast-fed healthy infant peeing in the great outdoors distasteful and unsanitary, I wonder if they have any idea how many animals (and probably people!) have done their business on their own lawn.....

In my experience, this is usually an excuse not to think about EC any further, and to label people who do EC as "primitive" and "unclean".

[Country Kids]

I've never seen the movie but remember from a preview that the lady in "Baby Mama" or something like that was going to the bathroom in the sink. Immediatly turned me off from wanting to see the movie. Now though after reading this thread I keep picturing this child doing this as an adult!

[Hunni Bee]

http://freetoec.webs.com/mythologyreality.htm


Myth #4: It's unsanitary

One of the most common reactions I get to the pictures of EC is people freaking out about peeing in the sink. This truly amuses me for several reasons:

First, URINE IS STERILE! That means that urine is free of bacteria and bugs that could possibly make you ill. It's unappetizing to think about, but you could drink my baby's urine and would not be made sick from it. But don't just believe me, believe Healthlink: "Normal urine is sterile. It contains fluids, salts, and waste products, but is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi."

Second, we of course clean and wipe the sink down after each pee. I would be more worried about germs from someone's mouth that spray all over the sink when spitting after brushing your teeth... the mouth actually harbors bacteria, urine does not.

Third, I hate to pop your germ bubble... but unless you put the toliet LID down each time you flush, a fine mist of urine, feces and whatever else was in there gets sprayed all around your bathroom. You put the lid down, you say? But does every person visiting your bathroom? I don't mean to freak you out, but people who are completely calm about handling money, touching public doorknobs, letting their kids hang on to grocery-cart handles etc will have a royal fit about how gross and unsanitary EC is.... can you see me rolling my eyes? ;-)

Fourth, for the people who find the idea of my breast-fed healthy infant peeing in the great outdoors distasteful and unsanitary, I wonder if they have any idea how many animals (and probably people!) have done their business on their own lawn.....

In my experience, this is usually an excuse not to think about EC any further, and to label people who do EC as "primitive" and "unclean".

I....dont....care!!

Just kidding.

But seriously...let them pee in their own sinks. And when little Sarah busts her forehead open from trying to climb up on the sink by herself and pee, or alternately rips the sink from the wall from standing in it....they own that responsibility themselves too...

[mom2many]

This is seriously bizarre! I would be freaking out if I caught a parent allowing their child to pee in my bathroom sink! I just do not comprehend this...Why in the sink?! Mine is definitely not accessible to a 16 month old and I agree, they'd probably end up injuring themselves climbing up there on their own! This is pure insanity! Just when I think I've heard and seen it all...something new crops up! That is why I love this forum. ::::::::::

[MamaBear]

YUCK! That is so disgusting!!!!! I think I've heard it all now! Wowzers!

[MissAnn]

Ok......why the sink? Will she be climbing up on the sink? I'm worried about head concussions! Am I missing something? Why not pee in.....say.....a toilet?

[Meyou]

I have no problem with EC. I have several friends that practice it and one DCF. However, none of them are allowed to let their children urinate in my sinks. They hold the kids over the toilet if they're here. My EC DCF only practices EC at home...baby wears cloth here.

I don't find the EC gross but I do find the lack of respect to be horrible. I don't care what you do at home...but you don't go to other people's houses or places of business and let your kid pee in a sink. It's pee and it's gross no matter how "sterile" it is.

[CheekyChick]

I completely understand how you feel... If I were close with the mother, I would feel a bit betrayed.

So... I would write her a little note and hand it to her when she picks up her daughter today. In the note, I would reiterate that she is welcome to put "Jane" on the toilet or potty chair when she picks her up, but that using the sink for elimination is strictly prohibited.

[wdmmom]

Asking someone to not pee in the sink is like asking people not to throw their diapers in certain trash cans. There's always going to be one nasty that can't/won't follow the rules.

And, to do it AFTER you told her not to?! That's just plain disregard for your policies. I would hand her a warning violation. 3 strikes, you're out!

I also like the idea of handing her the bottle of Clorox Clean-up and some paper towels...have at it or charging the cleaning fee.

Either way, I'd nip that in the bud right away before you find feces in there and/or used toilet paper! Ewww!