EW: Playing with Poop?! Help!

ambmama · September 2014

Ok, so T is extremely interested in the potty and knows what pee and poop is, knows to say potty, but we are still quite a ways from potty training. This past week, though, he's started putting his hands in his diaper and playing with his poop! The first time was at daycare, so I chalked it up to them not changing him quickly enough. The next morning we went in to find he completely painted his crib with his poop! So disgusting! I put onesies on him for a few days and it stopped, but he'd still sometimes get a finger in there and come out to me and say yuck! Poop! He had stopped and was getting a little rash from being so wrapped up, so I sent him to school today without a onesie - and he played with his poop again! And THEN, when he got home, he ran upstairs and was there for literally 30 seconds and I come up to him wiping poop on the dresser. I'm at a COMPLETE loss here. I hate to keep him in onesies all of the time but I obviously have to. I read a bunch of articles and it seems like this is "normal" but not common, and that it typically happens when some kiddos are getting ready to enter potty training stages. I've told him NO, yucky poop and NO, don't touch (both phrases he understands) and he'll repeat it back, but he obviously doesn't care.

Just wondering if anyone else is dealing or has dealt with this previously and has any advice? I've read it's a phase that passes usually pretty quickly, but OMG it's so gross.

OhBaby+2013 · September 2014

I have no experience here, but I will say I hope it passes quickly. Also, maybe he is more ready for actual potty training then you think. Until you can give it a real go I'd probably stick with the onesie. Honestly, good luck I wouldn't have the faintest idea where to start if DS started doing this.

portentosa · September 2014

It is normal and I definitely recommend a onsie/short combo until it passes. About 8-9 months ago my DS was really into digging into his diaper for poop to play with and also pulling his penis up (and then peeing over the top of his diaper). Onsies and shorts saved us. You have to do both because with just onsies they can still get in there from the leg holes.

DS has relapsed a little this last month or two, but now instead of playing with it he immediately comes to show me his poopy fingers... I'm hoping it's a sign he's ready to potty train.