poopin in the potty

Patty - posted on 04/01/2009

Hi, Lisa. One of mine did the same thing. He would go in to the bathroom, close the door and poop in his pants. One time he did that and I caught it just in time...ripped of the diaper and sat him on the pot when he could no longer stop it. He looked up at me, "That wasn't hard!" That was that. He was trained. Good luck!

Melanie - posted on 03/31/2009

Unfortunately, everyone is right, and you have to wait.  (Believe me, I wish it weren't true, because my 3 1/2 year old daughter poops in her underwear too!)  However, my middle child did the same thing, and I found out the hard way that if you pressure them too much, they will just start holding it instead.  Then they get really constipated, then are afraid to go because it hurts, and it is a vicious cycle!  Just grit your teeth and wait, and I promise he will do it when he is ready.  (Just like mine will-someday soon, I hope!!)

Jessica - posted on 03/31/2009

My son was the same way.  He'd hold it and beg for a diaper, sometimes going for days like this.  What worked for me was finally just sitting him on the potty when he had to go, and holding him there.  I know it sounds bad, but as he struggled to get off the potty, he finally went.  Then he realized it wasn't as scary as he thought it would be, and after that he had absolutly no problems using the potty.

Amanda - posted on 03/31/2009

I know it is hard and you get frustrated always having to clean jocks, shorts etc. my 3.5yo boy is still the same. We have been trying for a year now. Lately he has just done it on his own twice, and we have given him matchie cars for it, he knows the deal that if he does poo in the toilet (doesn't like the potty) he gets a gift. I have found that it needs to be at home. He will hold off until he is in pain then do it in his pants and get upset if we are staying somewhere or out for the day. I know its hard but I think its just a case of perserverence. I think every child is different (or more or less stubborn) and you could pull your hair out but I found the less of a deal we made about it (but reminded him to go to the toilet around when he looked like he needed to go) the better it has been.

Hope this helps

Carla - posted on 03/31/2009

oh thankyou so much to everyone on your fantastic posts!!ive had issues with my son for a little while now and all your suggestions have hit the nail on the head!!my 3 year old surprises me every day!yesterday he was in pull ups and today he decided to wear jocks and go to the potty unaided!!what the??kids you cant live with them,cant live without them!!!

Shannon - posted on 03/31/2009

I finally got my grandson potty trained on pooping with stickers. I had a construction board set up and got all kinds of cool stickers, but he could only add stickers to the poster when he pooped in the potty. The doctor did tell me to expect it to take a while for a boy vs a girl, but after about 3 weeks (new board and stickers every week), he was trained and hasn't had problems since then. He still has his posters up in his room.

Danielle - posted on 03/31/2009

I know you are probably ready to deck the next person who says "They do it when they're ready!" But it's true, I've been there! My son was 3 and 2 months before he would go. Have you tried Chuck E. Cheese?  We couldn't get him to use the potty but as soon as we suggested this "Reward" He was potty trained the next day! We also got rid of the Pull-ups, they are costly and reassure the child that it is still okay to go in their pants! Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 03/31/2009

Toilet training poos is hard. My daughter is turnign 4 and we still have had no luck in doing poos on the toilet. Wee's on the other hand was a breeze. She has full control and I don't even need to help her or ask does she have to go. We have had no accidents in forever. Poos on the other hand is a completely different storey. I've tried everythign you could possibly think of and i really had just given up on it. Then someone suggested i see an occupational therapist. Well this was the best thing i ever did. It has nothing to do with the toilet but everything to do with what your childs poo looks like. As it turns out, my daughter does a poo every day, but she hides and does it in her pants standing up. the OT asked me what her poos look like - now this might sound gross but it made sense inthe end. she showed me a few pictures and i pointed out the "bunch of grapes" and "rabbit pebbles". A childs poo shoudl look like a smooth sausage. So now i understand now why my daughter refuses to push out a poo on the toilet = becuase it hurts !! she is representing poos with "hurting". Maybe this is something yo shoudl look into. The OT has given me some sashets to try to help smooth out her poos and thus making them much easier to pass. Once her poos are looking better i will try to get her back onto the toilet. - let you know how i go. Good Luck. Hey no one said it was easy being a mum - keep on smiling !!

Patrina - posted on 03/31/2009

my angel girl wil be 3 in June she has pepe down pat will go no problem even by herself on her own potty, as far as poop goes  she REFUSES, we try to put her on the potty as she is about to go and she has a total melt down cries and screams would LOVE some advise on how to get her to go on the potty with OUT any meltdown HELP???

Lorrie - posted on 03/30/2009

I'm having the same problem with my 3 1/2 year old daughter. She's been wetting in the toilet without accidents since right before she was 3. But she refuses to go poop on the toilet or potty chair. She'll even ask for a pull-up and put it on herself. Some may not agree, but her pediatrician said not to force the issue because then she will just hold it (which she did). He said his daughter did the same thing and then one day it just clicked. Which, remembering back, is the same thing that happened with wetting on the toilet; it just clicked one day. His advice was to encourage and offer it but not to make a huge issue out of it. If you find any tricks that work, let me know.

Emily - posted on 03/30/2009

my son did the same, he'd run and hide and poop his pants, so i just tried really hard to catch him in the act and get him to the toilet, and if we made it there i let him pick out  a prize and gave him LOTS of praise!  it only took about two weeks and he started telling me he had to go and was so excited to pick a prize from his box.  i just filled a decorated shoe box with small toys and goodies from the dollar store, and thankfully he eventually forgot about the prize box on his own after awhile too.  with boys it seems like the dont want to even though they understand, but once they get it they get it quickly.  good luck i know its hard!

Darlene - posted on 03/30/2009

My son is almost 4 and has just this past week started going poopy in the potty. Like you...we tried EVERYTHING we could possibly think of. I dont know if it was the bribe my husband offered him, taking him to the store to pick out his own potty seat or me making him "wear" the poopy in his pull up for a few extra minutes before changing him....but it just all seemed to click. He's only had one accident in the past week but he still refuses to go poopy in the potty anywhere but at home. I wouldnt worry over it...it will all click for him when the time is right.

Cynthia - posted on 03/30/2009

I feel for you. I babysit my 3 yr. old grandson. Same problem. All I can say is after raising 3 boys and now this, when he is good and ready he will do it. It can be very frustrating to say the least. Try to stay patient, as they say, this too shall pass. This probably doesn't help much, but I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one in this situation. LOL

Heidi - posted on 03/30/2009

My son was doing the same thing. They really are afraid to go on the potty for that sometimes. He actually was trying to hold back and not go at all. He did this for a few months or so and then finally started to do it without accidents. Your son will be fine, just be patient :)

Amy - posted on 03/30/2009

Hi Lisa,

Luckily, my daughter was no problem..... we watched videos, read books, and she was always with me when I "went" she also watched my husband. I know some boys in my daughter's preschool (same age as your son) still have issues. I think sometimes a little "constructive" peer pressure can work, as long as the child isn't made to feel bad. Supernany may have some help too. Go to jofrost.com. Good luck! :)

Bj N - posted on 03/30/2009

Have you tried wearing only underwear...no pull-ups? This worked wonders with all 3 of my kids. If he makes in his underwear, take them off and put the poo in the potty. Show him and tell him this is where the poo goes. Let him know that batman ( or whomever he is in to) poos in the potty. Best of luck! Remember potty training takes time...don't get discouraged...it will happen!