#2 in the potty

Cassandra - posted on 02/28/2010

We had this same problem with our daughter who is 4.5 yrs. She learned to pee on the potty about a year before she learned to poo because she said she was scared. We had the potty seat that fit on the toilet too but she prefers one that sits on the floor because it feels more stable to her. She's only been going poo for about 3-4 months on the potty. She used to just go and grab a pull-up and put it on herself to poo. One day she didn't have enough time to grab the pull-up so I ran her to the bathroom and made her sit on her potty to poo. Once she figured out how easy it was she's never looked back. You can't push them too much or it will stress them out too much. Part of my daughter's problem too is that she had issues with constipation so I give her fiber powder a few times a week to make sure it doesn't hurt when she poos. Good luck, it will happen!!!

Marie - posted on 02/28/2010

Well...after reading these I am even prouder of my 15 month old son who just two days ago pooed on the toilet. He had got up from a nap and I had to go pee and of course he was right there with me and I have always told him what I am doing when he is standing there staring at me. we recently bought the seat that goes on our toilet seat for him to start using because he shows so much interest in both of us in the bathroom, so he grabbed his seat and when I got up he (with my help) put his seat on the toilet, we took his diaper off and sat him on the toilet and within a couple minutes he was straining and pooing...Oh it was such a big deal we praised him and he was happy proud to be a 'big boy'. He will not pee in the toilet while he is sitting there but if he is standing somewhere diaperless he will pee..Is this because he sees daddy stand up and pee?

Helen - posted on 02/28/2010

My boy was 2 1/2 and went pee in the potty, ever since that he hasn't had an accident. He was too scared to go poo in the potty thou. After he turned 3 in July 08, we put on underwear and never turned back to diapers. He pooped in the underwear and we left him in it for about 20 mins. After that, he begun to poop in the toilet and didn't like the feeling of going in the underwear. After about 2 mons he was fully trained. We will do the same with our little girl.

Julie - posted on 02/28/2010

my son was similar. we bought the cushion seat for the potty and at first he would not use it. He still was not comfortable sitting there. So I got a step ladder and let him sit on the seat with his feet on the ladder which makes him more comfortable-- so he is not using all his might to hold himself on the potty and gave him one of his books to read and told him to just sit there relax and look at his book. He pooped in the potty! HE does the same thing each time now... hope this helps:)

Kerry - posted on 02/28/2010

I had the same problem with my daughter and tried everything including involving health proffessionals. I ended up getting her to do it in the potty by accident. I bought her a new bed. One of those half height cabin bed things. I put a little book shelf, a lamp, a chair and curtains. I knew she liked to hide away in private to poo in her nappy so decided to put her potty in there too. She immediately went in shut the curtains, pulled her pants down and went a #2. She graduated up to the toilet by herself a few days later and we've never had a problem ever since. So my advice would be to try to create a fun but relaxing private space for your son somewhere in the house, you may be surprised.

Jamie - posted on 02/27/2010

Having trouble with this myself. My 3 1/2 year old daughter wont go poopy in the potty either. We have gotten away from the diapers, We no longer buy them so she has no choice. However, now she just goes in her panties. Cant get her to sit on the potty for #2 at all!!! She used to use the big potty to go pee, now she insists on using the beginner potty. At least she will go potty for that one. Have tried rewards, have tried taking things away. She just wont do it. So frustrating.

Crystal - posted on 02/26/2010

I have done both boy and girl in potty training (both with their ups and downs) but one thing that worked for all three of my children is to get rid of the diaper. I know it sounds to hard to do, but they don't like the feeling of it in their underwear they will eventually grasp the idea. Either way they are doing it in their pants so why not save money and just stick to underwear. I couldn't afford diapers anymore. My last child was harder then the rest,and even then it only took about a week or so with no diapers. Having no diapers in the house means you can't fall back on it (kinda like a bottle, most parents are the ones that have a hard time getting rid of it). Well I hope this helps and good luck!

Leah - posted on 02/25/2010

Oh, and when he does go I make a big deal about it and start to dance and sing a little song. He seems to love that I get so exited about it.

Leah - posted on 02/25/2010

With my son I give him two sticker and a treat for going poop on the potty. Lately because he has just started to go to day-care, we have been telling him if he wants to go back and play with the kids he has to go potty in the toilet all the time. It seems to be working. He hasn't been going in his pants:) You could try something like that with something he really likes. Just keep doing the same thing so they know they will get that when he does go. Good luck:)

Kelly - posted on 02/25/2010

LOL And wouldn't ya know it! My daughter came running up to me today very excited. "I did it! I did! I dont need nappy" she shouted. When I went to investigate she had pooped. But on the back patio! She was so excited I just had to laugh, so we had a poo party and flushed poo goodbye! Maybe this is the start she needed? :)

Felicia - posted on 02/25/2010

We also gave my son money the first time he pooped. Boy was he so excited that he continued to poop in the potty too. Of course he asked for money every time, but we didn't mind, it was better than the mess of cleaning his pants. Now he doesn't even ask for money at all anymore. That was just a lil phase he went through, maybe lasted a month if that. Doesn't have to be a lot of money, some change will do, atleast it did for my son lol till we gave him a dollar one day and oh boy lol. But he will get it I am sure

Felicia - posted on 02/25/2010

I had trouble with the pooping with my son at first too. I was so frustrated, and like he is never gonna get this, but low and behold he did, and he is fully potty-trained at the age of 3. I leave underwear on him all day long, and if he asked for a pull-up. I told him no big boys wear undies and it worked. He also didn't like the underwear messy at all. Try underwear all day and see if that helps

Kelly - posted on 02/24/2010

Gosh, this seems to be more common than I realised! My 3 1/2 yr old girl is great when it comes to her telling me she needs a wee - incidentally she refused to use potty and has been using the big toilet for 2 months now. (mind you, it took nearly a year for that to happen!) However when she needs to do a poo, she runs around crying and yelling that she needs a nappy NOW! She is also still in a nappy for night time. I think that we all are just in a waiting game - they will eventually do their thing in their own time. We are all on the right track - keep on encouraging them and showing them and hopefully one day in the near future we can all report their next big milestone!

Carla - posted on 02/24/2010

Ok, I am so glad that I am not in this alone! My two year old(soon to be three in April) will not poo in the potty but will pee pee! How can a two year old change her own pull up, ask me to change her when she poops on herself and holds an adult conversation but will not go poop in the potty? Anyone please, got answers?

Heather - posted on 02/24/2010

Oh girls I am right there with you! Funny, I just got done dealwith this for the THIRD time today.......and he looks at me and says," Mommy, I gotta tell you when I gotta go poopoo on the potty!" Really....can we try that for a change? Peeing is fine, pooing is a whole other story!! Someone any one?????

Linda - posted on 02/24/2010

I'm currently going through the same problem with my son (just turned 3). More often than not he's fine with peeing on the potty as long as we remind him periodically (occasionally bribe). But when it comes to pooping on the potty, forcing him sounds like I'm ripping off his arms! I noticed that switching back and forth between pull-ups and undies just confused him. He'd forget which he was wearing and have more accidents in the underwear. I know it's frustrating, but I recommend giving up the diapers and pullups (at least for the day time) It makes you and him more aware. Just be prepared to always have a spare pair of pants, undies and socks where ever you go! I refuse to make potty training into a power struggle though. You WILL loose! It's his body and if that's the one thing he can control he will, even if it hurts. I don't like it much, but I wash out a pair of poopie undies everyday. If he were a little older, I think I would make that his responsibility. I express my disappointment each time, but don't guilt him. For now he's perfectly happy hiding behind the sofa. I suggest sitting on the potty, he refuses, so I let it go until he's done. Sometimes I take off his pants and undies when I can catch him before he squats, but he just runs around frantically for an hour or longer trying to ignore the feeling. (He knows he'll be in bigger trouble if he poops on the floor. I'm tempted to start offering a paper plate to put on the floor under his butt so he can squat like he wants to in the corner! lol!

Maybe this will help someone, but I'm open to suggestions from more experienced mommies than I!

Jeannine - posted on 02/23/2010

unfortunately i cant help here..my son will be 3 in a couple months and he wont go poop in the potty. He'll go pee many times..but i just cant get him to go poop! I guess it's uncomfortable for them? lol

Jenni - posted on 02/23/2010

my son is the same way. he is almost 3 1/2 he will wear underwear until he has to poo then tell my mommy diaper. then we know he has to. and if we keep going jayjay if you go on the big boy potty then we will get you a surprise he just starts to cry and if we aren't fast enough with the diaper he goes in his underwear. his doctors say not to rush but it does get frustrating. only buying pullups or diapers for poop. gets expensive. i hope people respond to you with advice so i can also get help. good luck