Poo-poo in the potty issue!

MamaMandaW

We are officially starting to potty train my 25 month old ds..

he has been using the potty occasionally the past 3 months- increasing this past week, using up maybe one diaper a day.

The issue is the pooing in the toilet- he is scared to! Any tips are advice on how to get him to? He will actually ask to go potty, and then go. Ask for his diaper and then go in a corner and squat.

I'm afraid of him constipating himself if we start going with undies/diaperless at home..

ilovemygirls

You will hear differing opinions on this- this is only mine.  First of all, it sounds like he definitely has an interest- continue to foster that in whatever ways work for him (treats, potty chart, whatever).  It is not uncommon- in boys especially I've heard- to have a fear of pooping on the potty.  You can try going diaperless, but you know, if the kid has to poop just give him a diaper & let him do it there if that is where he's most comfortable for the time being- 25 mos is pretty young so no need to push it.  If he is motivated by rewards, find something that you think might work (something fun that he loves, has been wanting) and tell him he gets it if he goes poop on the potty.  Make it fun- it's all about the reward- and he can choose when he does this.   A lot of times especially when they're 2 it's about control for them, so if you give him the control of when he wants to do it, you might have better results than 'pushing' him about it.  Good luck!

JulieandBen

Do you let him watch you guys poop? This might help him realize we all do it.

fwiw - my pedi told me this is an issue, especially for boys, that can go on until they are three. I was lucky to get over it with my son in one hard afternoon.  

howleyshell

Have you tried a little free standing potty (with a bowl without water in it) instead of a potty topper?

Some books suggest that it helps if they can have their feet on something  (floor or a step stool) during pooping.  Something about the muscles that are used? 

Not sure how verbal he is but I'd ask point blank what his concerns are.

Is it the water splashing his toosh?

Is he afraid of his poop going bye-bye?  Some kids see their poop as a part of themselves and feel a dramatic loss at the thought of it being flushed.

Scraping the poop from his diapers into the toilet, letting him say "bye bye" to it and letting him flush it along with a big celebration may help.

If I've said "poop goes in the POTTY!!" once I've said it a million times.  Every poopie diaper change I ask them "Poop goes in the?????"  and they answer POTTY!!!  Continue reiterating this concept verbally for him.

I also agree that letting him watch you and DH poop in the potty may help. 

Beyond that there's flat out manipulation.

When DS #1 started pooping in his underwear we told him he couldn't wear his favorite pair (Thomas) until he put poop in the potty.

Maybe try very plain underwear but tell him he can wear a special awesome pair once he puts his poop in the potty.  Leave that pair right by the toilet so he sees them (and wants them) every time he visits.

Be sure he's eating enough fiber so it's easier for him to go.

Adding dried apricots daily should help make sure he's not ending up in the "hold it until he's constipated" department.

GL to you! 

queenbone

howleyshell:

Have you tried a little free standing potty (with a bowl without water in it) instead of a potty topper?

Some books suggest that it helps if they can have their feet on something  (floor or a step stool) during pooping.  Something about the muscles that are used? 

Not sure how verbal he is but I'd ask point blank what his concerns are.

Is it the water splashing his toosh?

Is he afraid of his poop going bye-bye?  Some kids see their poop as a part of themselves and feel a dramatic loss at the thought of it being flushed.

Scraping the poop from his diapers into the toilet, letting him say "bye bye" to it and letting him flush it along with a big celebration may help.

If I've said "poop goes in the POTTY!!" once I've said it a million times.  Every poopie diaper change I ask them "Poop goes in the?????"  and they answer POTTY!!!  Continue reiterating this concept verbally for him.

I also agree that letting him watch you and DH poop in the potty may help. 

Beyond that there's flat out manipulation.

When DS #1 started pooping in his underwear we told him he couldn't wear his favorite pair (Thomas) until he put poop in the potty.

Maybe try very plain underwear but tell him he can wear a special awesome pair once he puts his poop in the potty.  Leave that pair right by the toilet so he sees them (and wants them) every time he visits.

Be sure he's eating enough fiber so it's easier for him to go.

Adding dried apricots daily should help make sure he's not ending up in the "hold it until he's constipated" department.

GL to you! 

You always have such good and creative suggestions for potty training! Thanks

howleyshell

queenbone:

You always have such good and creative suggestions for potty training! Thanks

I'd love to take the credit but I've just read lots of books on the subject and had plenty of experience with 2!

Thanks though! 

cateye

I usually lurk on here since DD isn't two yet, but we just ran into this issue, too.  DD started getting really upset about her poop, whether she went in the potty or her diaper and then she stopped letting us change her poopy diapers altogether (she'd run away and cry).  We started talking about how everyone goes poop and then we'd start naming all the people she knows who go poop (mommy, daddy, the dogs, grandma, friends, Elmo, whoever. . .).  It seems to have really helped and she is starting to poop in the potty again.