Potty training question with 2.5 year old

WhiteysWifey

I haven't been around in a while. We are all doing well, just busy.

We've been working on potty training our 2.5 year old. She's doing pretty good with peeing, but pooping is a nightmare. She has gone in the potty, but on a daily basis she just poops in her undies. I have no idea what to do, as she isn't a schedule-pooper.

Any ideas? 

Thanks.

HoneyBeeMel

I think this is normal. We are also potty training our 2.5 y/o daughter. We did three days of no pants at home and since then she has not had any peeing accidents but will poop in her underpants. Right now, when we are home, we let her go around without pants and she does poop on the floor sometimes but tells us right away and we continue to explain poop only goes in the potty. I think she is still learning the feeling of having to poop. It's only been a few weeks for us so we are just trying to be patient. Last night she woke up at 11:30 to poop in the potty, which is a Huge break through so hopefully she's learning. 

Rynleigh

Babies understand the feeling of the need/urge for fecal elimination MONTHS before they learn to speak a single word. Just sixty years ago the majority of kids in America were fully potty trained by 18 months. Our girls started on the toilet as soon as they could walk, and were fully trained day & night before the age of 2. 

You have to be attentive (watch for when she squats, immediately move her to the toilet), you have to give unending praise. Having a schedule is incredibly helpful - about an hour after anytime they eat or drink anything, every time they get out of bed, before they go to bed, approximately once every three hours - get the big girl on the toilet.

Make wearing panties a prize for no accidents, not something they get to wear even when they choose to soil them (because a child who knows to get on the potty to go #1 but still goes #2 elsewhere is absolutely actively choosing to do so unless they are having a case of diarrhea - healthy human beings have far more control over their bowel movements than they do over their urinary continence). 

Might sound blunt and uncaring - but every experience I've had in childcare and with my own children has always been the same. Structure, dedication, and expectation lead to healthy potty habits. "Child lead" potty training leads to bad habits and significant delays. 

cleeksock

I agree with pp--you have to be ON TOP of your daughter while PTing.  If you see her make what you think could possibly be a poop face, rush her to the potty.  You might have to do that over and over.  My daughter would get too nervous to go and held her poop in for days.  Luckily she was an only child when she was potty trained.  I know it must be difficult for you with the triplets, so maybe even move her potty chair into the playroom/family room/wherever you spend the most time for a while.