Scared to poop- what to do????

kgail11

We're on Day 4 of the 3 Day potty training thing - and it went pretty well. He told us 90% of the time yesterday when he had to pee - only 1 accident.

My prob is the poop. The first two days - he pooped like a champ. Sat down and pooped in like 3 seconds... it was nuts. I was so shocked/proud. I sat him down for his daily poop bc he ALWAYS poops at the same time (after lunch) - I know I was sposed to wait til he asked to go, but I didn't.

Yesterday he did not poop during his normal time. and he didn't the entire rest of the day - we could tell he wanted to but he was scared to push it out... didn't want to sit on the potty more than 2 seconds. We tried EVERYTHING - books/games/songs/etc...  he threw an EPIC fit at bathtime/bedtime bc he was in pain from constipation... and he finally pooped in his undies at 2am last night (after crying on and off all night long - not normal)

I have GOT to get him to poop today so we can sleep tonight! And of course so he won't be in pain. any tips???????  tia

Pesky

Book called "Everyone Poops".  Basically it talks about how everyone poops -- adults, kids, babies, animals.  It's normal and everyone does it.  What I tell DD is that her tummy can feel funny and may even hurt but once she pushes the poop out, she'll feel a lot better.  I also encourage her with noise, telling her to listen for the ploop, ploop in the toilet.  I tell her to push hard and squeeze my hand while she does so.  Sometimes she will read on the toilet because I've told her sometimes poop takes time.  I also have upped the ante for poops -- she gets a gummy saver or a hershey's kiss or two (or a Lindt truffle if I have those around) for pooping in the potty.  So when she wants to hop off and not poop there I just ask surprised "oh, you didn't want a big chocolate?"  She usually sits right back down and finishes the job.

ETA:  Oh and worst case scenario, if I need her to poop and am worried about her getting constipated, I give her some apple juice.  Works like a charm and I know that within 30 minutes of having some, she's gonna have to go and runs for the toilet.