My 3Yr Old Will Only Poop on the Potty - Help!

Updated on September 25, 2006
S.M. asks from Bethlehem, PA
10 answers

Any suggestions on how to get my 3yr old son to pee on the potty? He has been pooping on the potty for 2 months now. (Yea I know - backwards - go figure!!! Only my son hahaha) For one month I tried to potty train him and he kept pee'ing in his underwear. So I went back to pullups b/c I do not want him to think it is okay to pee in his underwear. At that time he was begining to fight me on potty training so I backed off. (He wouldnt want to put dry underwear on - he refused to use the potty) He continues to poop in the potty which I am thrilled about! I am attempting again to potty train him. He still is having many accidents. I use a reward system - every time he pee's he gets an m&m or a jelly bean AND gets to put a star on his chart. Today he got 8 stars which meant he could go out for an ice cream cone with daddy. I havent figured out how to respond to accidents. Today I would just rush him to the potty to finish up his peeing, then put a dry pair of underwear on him and then tell him, "next time you feel like you have to pee- hold it in REAL tight and put it in the potty?" There are activities I want to sign him up for but he has to be fully potty trained. Any advice is much appreciated!!!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all your suggestions! I will try them out!!! Oh last night it was chaos while I was making dinner - my husband wasnt home yet - my 1yr old was not happy - and zach had just pooped on the pot - i handed him a pair of underwear to put on b/c that is what he wanted, and then back to making dinner I went. So a little later we are eating dinner and all of a sudden he said "Oh - its potty time" He gets up and runs to the bathroom and all we saw was his little bottom. He never put the underwear on! My husband and I quick looked on his chair and under the table for an accident but none was to be found! I think we may be going bottomless again today!

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M.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi S.,

My son will be 3 in Jan. He has been pooping only, not exclusively for months! I'm having the same problem. I was so happy to see so much advice.

I was able to find a preschool that also has a separate preschool program and 2 1/2-3 year old--no potty training needed... also the three year old preschool works with them on the potty training and will change accidents.

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J.F.

answers from York on

if you can let him run around with out any pants on that might help him.. he might pee three times.. it worked for my son. it was about three days of no pants on and he was potty trained and i also have a potty chair for him downstairs.. that only if you do not have a down stairs potty.

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J.R.

answers from Scranton on

Hi S.,
What worked for my son was for him to sit, as if he was going #2 and he would urinate that way. It is a bit "unconventional" but it was a great way for him to start off. He was accident free and when he felt comfortable he stood like daddy and did his business.

Hope this helps!
J. :-)

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J.D.

answers from Philadelphia on

I also want to say congratulations, only b/c I couldn't get my son to poop on the potty to save my life! He'll pee on it, but he'll also run all around the house doing that! I really don't have any advice for you other then to remain calm, he'll sense your tension and get tense himself. If it makes you feel better, I'm due to have my second son, on November 9th, and really did not want to have to change two sets of diapers, but unfortunately it's not looking like I will have any other choice! But what can you do, in ten years we'll be wishing we had such easy problems with our children and their environment! Good luck to you, truly, and know that I am hear if you'd like to talk!

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C.J.

answers from Harrisburg on

I think everything is fine. I understand that you are prob frustrated, but he is as well. He is feeling your frustration and responding to it. He is only going to pee in the potty when he feels comfortable in doing so. Dont rush him, but simply encourage. I think you are doing a great thing with the jellybean, and the stars. Another way I would try is too take him to the mall with you, and let him pick out a pack of new underware. For instance say they were spiderman underwear, when he askes to wear the new underware simply explain that he can wear them if he doesnt pee on "Spiderman". I know it sounds funny, but he may think about that. Let me know if it works.

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T.S.

answers from Harrisburg on

hi S. M....as a mother of 2 boys also...potty training for each one was a trial. In most cases its a control thing with them. Your little boy is quite old enough to understand, but has decided he doesn't want to pee in the potty.
There were a couple of things I did to help the process, one was to use a blue tablet to color the water (and to keep it fresh)...my boys liked to see the water change from blue to green. The other thing (now don't laugh) I would allow them to run around the house with nothing on but a t-shirt...peeing on the floor was a no-no...that one worked really well with my oldest. I hope this helps...just remember to praise him each and every time he makes it to the bathroom. Good luck:)

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K.T.

answers from Reading on

First let me say Woo Hoo, I would take pooping on the potty over the nothing I am getting from my daughter right now. But that is wierd how he did that backwards, but I think you got the hardest part down first. But I know what you mean about wanting to sign him up for activities that require him to be potty trained. I am in the same boat. I unfortently don't have any advice because I can't get my daughter to go on the potty either. But I think it will all come in time. I know it can be very frustrating. I wish there was a potty training school. Lol. Good Luck

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D.N.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Hi Suszanne,
my son was 3 before i we really started potty training him- he just wouldn't and no matter what he would have accidents. Until... I figured out what really thrilled him. One day he grabbed a whistle and started blowing it- go figure boys love loud noises. So we turned it into a reward. Everytime he peeded on the potty he could go outside ( no matter what the weather) and blow his whistle as loud as he could. We also did a dance and a big celebration everytime he peeed. That is the only thing that worked for him. Now I am going thru P.T. with my daughter and all she wants is chocolate. I hate to give in to that but it is the only thing that will get her to go. She likes the celebration ( big celebration with hip hip horays's and throwing in the air ) but if she doesn't get some sort of chocolate- next time she will pull down her panties and pee on the carpet. Those smart little monsters! Anyway good luck at finding what will really thrill your son as a reward.!
Diane
35 yr old mom of a 5 and 2 1/2.

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K.R.

answers from Scranton on

Although I don't have any boys, only 2 beautiful, intelligent little girls. My friends have boys and they used a few "Cheerios" in the toilet and tried to "sink" them. Or have Daddy use the toilet showing him how to "make bubbles" in the potty (a drop of dish liquid). Hope this helps you.

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J.S.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I only have a daughter so I don't know anything about potty training personally (she just turned two and we haven't started yet) But I heard not too long ago about putting a floating target in the potty - It's not too hard to find considering most plastic kids toys float anyways. Like a small red ring (a bath toy maybe?) It worked well for two of my friends (one with three boys) and I always said I would try it when I had a son. I might try the "sinking the cheerios" also- that is a great idea!

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