Can we talk about poop? Repost from potty training

AlabamaMamma224 · December 2011

My DS (just 3) is pee potty trained, but refuses to go poop on the potty. We trained him to pee sitting for now, so that isn't the issue. He's always had constipation issues and I believe that is where the fear comes from.

He is loaded up with Miralax (and his last poops have been soft) but he still holds it in! He won't poop in his underwear (fortunately) but he holds it in until I give in and put him in a pull up or diaper.... then he goes off in private and does his business.

I'm kind of unsure of what to do. I want him to know that he needs to start going on the potty, but I don't want him to be anymore uncomfortable than he already is.

Do I cave and put him in a pull up so he'll go, or do I hold firm and wait it out? Any advice would be helpful!

Brewtowngrl · December 2011

We had to do steps. 1. Tell him you don't mind if he uses a pull up or diaper, but ask you for one anytime to poop. 2. Ask him to poop in his pull up in the bathroom. Close the door. This way he is in the right room. 3. If he starts to have any type of schedule ask him to sit on the potty and try for a few min at that time. Leave him alone in there. Close the door and give him privacy. Give him a reward like an M&M for trying.

The privacy was a huge thing for my DS. One day I was busy with DS2 after I put him in the bathroom. He finally did it when he was left alone. Before we all sat with him and made a production of it. We also had the Thomas Roundhouse on top of the fridge for months. It was his reward for pooping on the potty. Once he did it he never stopped.

Wally3 · December 2011

Mostly ditto pp. I would offer a pullup/diaper and then give him when when he asks. Start changing it in the bathroom and dumping the poop in the toilet. I also like her step 2 and 3. DS was holding and asking for a diaper for a while or just going at nap or bed time. Eventually, he just started using the potty. now he will tell us or just go when he needs to poop.

Meg&Jesse · December 2011

When DS started to get constipated we gave him prune juice to soften things up. Then, (although it took some convincing with DH) we stopped saying much of anything. We let him poop in a diaper and basically let go. The less we pushed, the easier it was..and the quicker he went on his own. Within a month or two he was pooping on his own and no constipation issues.