Potty training nightmare

Jennie - posted on 07/29/2010

My three year old son goes pee in the toilet, but refuses to poop. He started by holding it until we put the diaper on at night, then he started holding it and never going. He goes 6 or 7 days with only skids, because he is fighting it. We have him on high fiber stuff the doctor recommended, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Anyone solved a problem like this?

Cailyn - posted on 07/29/2010

i am in the middle of training my son. he's got the peeing down pat, but we are working on pooping in the potty. i know people say not to use pullups, and i started out using the thick training pants, but honestly, i was getting so frustrated cleaning up pee spots, that i used pullups and still took him every half hour or so. it was a lot less stress on me, i was less frustrated, and it made things go a lot easier for him. now he's doing excellent with peeing. don't pay attention to those who say they had their kids trained in 3 days or how ever many. your child will take as long as he needs. it took my son over a month to get the hang of peeing. just one step at a time. he will get it when he is ready. it took us 4 attempts to get started and be successful. also, i had the same problem, with my son just sitting on the potty for forever and not going, but he's over that now. he sits himself on it when he needs to go, pees, and he's up. just be patient with him, and he will get it, i promise!

Kirsten - posted on 07/29/2010

Totally agree with Connie Clouter Taylor's post. My 2yr 10mth old absolutely refuse the potty but we just started with undies during the day. Just persevere no matter how much cleaning up and reward every attempt with a gold star. It is amazing the turn around in just 2 weeks. He went to kindy in his undies for the first time today. So proud!

Connie - posted on 07/28/2010

I'm going through the same thing. I have my 2 1/2 yr old in underwear all day and I get her to the potty when I can. I have her in pull ups when we go out or when she goes to bed. I'm on week two. Just keep at it and don't revert back and forth, it becomes too confusing for them. We also do a sticker reward every time she does something in her potty.

Tarmara - posted on 07/27/2010

i didnt buy one off them i sat him straight on the toliet

Angela - posted on 07/27/2010

the earlier we train them the better, i personally don't like the potty thing i believe in straight to the toilet, u would only have to purchase the baby seat for their comfort.

Tarmara - posted on 07/27/2010

I started toliet training my little one as soon as he started walking and he was outta them dippers for good by a year and a half old

Angela - posted on 07/26/2010

i got my son to use the toilet instead of a potty but he would only pee and want a diaper to stool so one day i said to him there are no more diapers so you need to go to the toilet he refused and i was like well there are no diapers here, he held out and so did i and before i knew it he was on that toilet no more diapers from then.

Tania - posted on 07/24/2010

Don't stress & don't make a big deal over accidents. Reward charts! You cannot believe what they will do for a star on a chart! I had tried everything and was so exasperated & somebody suggested a reward chart and I never thought it would work with my stubborn little boy. But it has! Google some reward chart images. I use a cute one of a train carriage.When he has completed the train, he gets a reward. The bigger the carrot, the bigger the motivation. good luck. Try it.

Julie - posted on 07/24/2010

My son is not quite 2 1/2 and he sorta gets the concept. If I put him on the potty, he'll pee there, but not poop (he doesn't go often anyhow). However, I have to set the timer and take him to try every 30-60 minutes ... depending on how the day goes.

I have the thicker training pants and regulars when I run out of training. In the morning, I ask if he wants to wear diapers or underpants. If he goes for the underpants, I remind him this means he uses the potty.

I started that about 2 months ago and he still hasn't told me when he has to go. I do still put him in diapers for sleeping. I use pull ups only when we go out b/c I am not that brave yet;)

I think it is early for him, so I don't push too hard (he was 3 months early). I imagine I'll be pushing harder in the future. But, I do think the child still controls the timing a bit.

Good luck.

Hayley - posted on 07/24/2010

HI. this may be no help at all but my first son was the same and he was about three when it all clicked into place and he started going poos on the toilet. my belief has been with all my three sons was not to force and they will get there. which they have done before their friends whos parents have force them.

Nina - posted on 07/23/2010

I had the same issue with my son, when he did pee in the potty he would refuse to poop, actually holding it all day etc. I am currently working with my daughter who is 2 yrs and 3 months, but she keeps telling me no, she doesn't want to. I have been told to not use diapers, set timers etc but honestly your child will do it when he/she is ready. I tried to push my son, bride him with his favorite toys/food but he was stubborn. I would get stressed, he would be stressed. So I backed off for a couple weeks. Then we just started talking about going potty and being a big boy. I would always ask him if he wanted to go ect...and when he did go pee in the potty we made him feel so good and made such a big deal about it. Also when he did go poopy we had him say 'bye bye' to the poopy because I have been told some kids think of it like they are losing a body part or a part of them. That only lasted a couple weeks though! Just remember, if you are stressed about the situation so will you child. Just relax and it will come with time, encourange them, dont make them. Using the potty is about the only this your child has 100% control over. It will surprise you when they are ready one day they will be in diapers and in a day or two they will be potty trained (with an occasional accident) it does happen fast! :-) Good luck

Angela - posted on 07/22/2010

My son is 3 and is potty trained everywhere else he goes but if he is at home refuses to use the potty.

Carine - posted on 07/22/2010

My Son has just turned 3 and has just begum to be excited about the "pee" in the potty...Poop is still out of the question. I just tell myself one step at a time. Once we have the pee mastered we will move on to step #2 (punn intended, lol)

Adriana - posted on 07/21/2010

Sherri - posted on 07/21/2010

I never used potty chairs either (I think they are gross) they were all required to use the toilet w/the insert to fit there smaller bums

Faith - posted on 07/21/2010

So I had my daughter potty trained at 18 months and my son at 22 months. First, I took all diapers away. NO pull ups either. I got them underwear of their choice and made a very big deal out of it. I also had three potties. one in the car, one upstairs and one downstairs. I know lots of moms give candy after each time their child goes, but my kids got stickers. If at the end of the day they had 5 or more stickers on their chart they got a candy or sweet of their choice. It took 1 week for my daughter and 1 week 3 days for my son. I had kids first in my family so now my sister and sister-in-law just started. They are using my method and it works great for them. I say the biggest thing is to make it fun. Get excited when they do it and when accidents happen don't get mad. It's a ton of work the first few days, but once they get the hang of it you will be amazed at how much easier life will be.

Louise - posted on 07/20/2010

Yes definitely do not use nappies during the day as this will only confuse your child. I did not use a potty at all with my kids I bought a toilet seat and a step and used that. I took them to the toilet every half an hour for 5 mins and then when they had peed every hour. I knew there daily poop routine so I knew roughly when that was due and was vigalent. It really did not take very long as they had got used to me going to the toilet and had watched other children at playgroups and knew what was expected of them. Three days later and they were almost potty trained just the very occasional accident. After 10 days fully potty trained at 2 years 4 months and 2.

Sherri - posted on 07/20/2010

You need to take away all diapers and go to underwear only!! Diapers for night time ONLY!! No matter how many accidents she has. You are going to set a kitchen timer for every 20 mins and sit them on the potty. You will need to have them sit there 1-3mins or until something happens. I have done this with 10 kids and almost everyone was potty trained at least day trained within 3 days.

Sarah - posted on 07/20/2010

My niece is three and a half and just yesterday decided to start using the potty. She refused up until now and is a stubborn little one. All I can say is that it might be easier to let it go until he's ready and then you won't both be frustrated. You can also let him know that it's up to him and the ball's in his court. Sometimes they just want a sense of control. I wish you the best!