How do I get a 3 year old to poo on the potty!? I'm at a loss and frustrated!

Kelly - posted on 03/05/2010

My four year old still does it in her panties and won't even tell you she did it unless you smell it, she doesn't seem to care what it feels like in her pants. We ahve no idea what to do now, so please share what your doctor advises, because she's got to go to kindergarten in the fall.

Michelle - posted on 03/02/2010

My son is a little over 2 1/2 years and until recently he would hold his poo in until it built up and hurt him as well. We started giving him 1 prune every other day and he hasn't had a problem since. (We tell him it's a big raisin and make a big deal out of it while eating one with him) It doesn't give him the runs (unless you overdo it of course) it just makes it easier for him to go. He still doesn't like going poo but it isn't the big crying-frustrated ordeal it used to be. I can generally get him to sit on the potty to poo but he likes to be alone when he poos so it's a bit more difficult.

Elizabeth - posted on 03/02/2010

Thank you fatma please let me know what they say. I will definately consult a dr. If I find out anything I'll post. Thank you!

Fatma - posted on 03/01/2010

my son is 3 and 9 months years old and i have the same thing with him the same i thought that is just me in this world i really don t know why they doing this ok with pee but no way at all with poo and he can hold it 2 until we went 2 hospital any way i will ask a doctor and u should 2 and we i will let u know what he told me and u 2 let me know ,, good luck 4 both of us ..we need it

Elizabeth - posted on 03/01/2010

Thank you ladies for the advice. :)

Stephanie - posted on 03/01/2010

my son is three and he decided about 2 weeksago that he wasn't a baby and refused to wear a pullup and he has no problem with going pee in the potty but he has not quite got the timing down for the other yet he tells us while he is doing it and he will take off his underwear and get some wipes and try to clean himself up so I think it willjust be a matter of time. just relax and it will happen when she wants to go.

Dawn - posted on 03/01/2010

Sounds like shes got some fear about going to the toilet (potty) for a poo, maybe you should go to see a health visitor to see if they can give you some advice on how to cure the fear. It sounds as though she is ready in the fact that she knows when she wants to go but there is something scaring her about going. Maybe consult a doctor for some advice.

Elizabeth - posted on 03/01/2010

I forgot to mention that she holds her num 2 in. If she feels the urge to go she will cross her legs and shake bc it hurts so bad. I'm afraid that she will end up hurting herself. She won't even go in a diaper. I keep putting underwear on her and she has been doing really well peeing but refuses and holds her poo. I don't know if I should consult a dr or let it go. I don't know.

Dawn - posted on 02/28/2010

I would agree that she probably isnt ready yet as I had the same problem with my son, a few months later tried again and he got the hang of it straight away. He didnt like using the potty though so we just bought a trainer seat for the toilet and he used that. He has even taken himself out of nappies altogether as he doesnt want to wear them at night and get up if he needs to go the toilet through the night. He has been toilet trained now since december and he will be 4 at the end of march. It will happen you just need to make sure they are ready and dont rush things, she'll get there in the end but try her on the toilet incase its an issue with the potty not an issue about not pooing in a nappy. Hope this helps

Suzy - posted on 02/28/2010

I would honestly leave it. She's not ready. My son did exactly the same - still refuses and we just don't make a big deal of it at all. I don't even mention it. Sometimes if he asks about my other child doing a poo in her nappy (she's 1) I just say, 'yes but Nina is a baby' and leave it at that. I think if you push or bribe, it will make her dig her heels in more. Rest assured that she will come round and do it eventually.

Crystal - posted on 02/27/2010

Does she keep underwear on all the time? Keeping them in underwear rather than a diaper is really good. They get confused about where to go if using both. I have had 3 children and all potty trained, but they let me know when it was the next step for them. They didn't like the feeling of it in their underwear, they caught on pretty fast.Relax.... take a deep breathe and know that it does get easier.