Pooping in the Potty

Sounds like a power struggle. Put him back in diapers until he is ready to poop in the potty. Even pullups don't work because it is still messy to have to pull them down when they are full of poop! The more of an issue you make out of it the more stubborn he will become. The same goes for eating issues - those are the two things you can't MAKE them do - go the bathroom in the potty and eat. Take the wind out of his sails and he'll come around eventually. Try not to sweat it.

Well, you said you've tried 'everything', so what else can we offer? LOL Just kidding! I never had a kid who 'held' BM's but a nephew did. I think a reward system for going in the potty should help (with either as little attention as possible paid to the messes -- OR have HIM clean them up! This is called 'discipline', not 'punishment'). Also, have him look at a book or something he likes while waiting, and maybe (let him know you'll) sit there with him til he does something no matter how long it takes. My mom also used to pour hot water into the potty before sitting the kid on there as it helps the rectum relax. That's all I've got 4 U! Hope it helps!

He may not be ready completely. Some kids do it as a control issue. I suggest making him a part of the clean up process. Does he do it in his undies? He helps put the poop in the toilet, wipes his own bottom (you give it the last wipe), and put the soiled clothing in the wash. You might try a chart where he gets a sticker or mark for doing it right, and one taken away when he messes, with a treat at the accumulation of 5 stickers. Good luck!

All three of my kids peed easily in the potty and all three took months to poop. My poor first child had to endure my frustration, anger, bribery and anything else I could think of. She didn't poop until I gave up and she was ready. Fortunately for my other children I knew it was up to them, I encouraged and praised but didn't push. They were all over three when they finally did it and once they did they never went back. Put him in pullups to save yourself the hassle and wait. It will come!

Hey S... Boys naturally take a bit longer. Praise is the best thing, when he does, really make a big deal about it. Also, if he really likes something, such as a sucker, or certain drink... bribery is a wonderful thing. When he poops, reward. Dont stress yourself.. if it has only been 2 weeks. My niece, bless her heart, has an autistic son.. it has been 4 years and he still doesnt comprehend the poop in the toilet concept. Her other son, took about 2 months to be totally potty trained. Girls are easier!! Best of luck to you, and God grant you much patience!!!

Hi S.. When he is ready, he will do it. I know it seems like this will go on forever, but it won't. Keep asking him if he needs to poop in the potty, and ask daddy to help since he's 'the dad', but just relax a little and try not to stress. This will happen when 'he's' ready. Best wishes!!

I'd go back to pull-ups. He can pull them down when he needs to urinate, or not. But someday, there will be a reason to wear "big boy" underwear, and meanwhile, you will not be washing out poop everyday.

I've read that they are afraid to poo in the toilet because they think it's part of them getting flushed away. Who knows, but it's a pain. It sounds terrible, but I (at the suggestion of my mother, who did it) cleaned my son up with a cold shower when he did that. It only took a few times for him to decide he was better off using the toilet. I swear if they told us all this nasty business that we'd go through before we had kids, we'd go extinct! With my second son I trained him with the book Toilet Training in Less Than a Day, and it worked, but he would poo in his pants about once a week for a month or so, which was gross, but (with a few cold cleanups) he eventually stopped.

Have you tried reading to him some children's books about kids using the potty? Maybe that would make it less scary. Or, after you do a number 2, don't flush and show it to him. Have him do the flush for you. Just a thought.

Mineral oil. Talk with your doc or pharmacist about how much to give him (I think it's a teaspoon or tablespoon) and mix it in a drink. Within about 10-20 minutes, he'll be ready to 'go' and you can time it so that he's there.

Also, make a chart. You design it with a goal in mind of what a big treat may be for him (getting an ice cream cone, chewing gum, etc). When he poops for whatever amount of time straight, he can have the treat.

My 3 year old son had the same problem. I think in the end, all he wanted was privacy. As soon as I left the bathroom to "check on something" he pooped in the toilet. It was great. I guess he just didn't want me hovering.

My 4.5 yr old was just like that. I took me a matter of days to teach the peeing in the potty but many months for the pooping. He was 3.5 before he would tell me or show obvious signs of needing to go. I still have to make him go sometimes because he'll be clenching his butt but not want to stop playing and go. He will hold it until he's constipated. He even as a baby would only pooped once a day or even once every other day and then have an explosive diaper. He has never pooped on a schedule and now only goes every 2-3 days. Putting him on a fiber supplement has helped us because he goes more regularly, goes easier, and has a stronger urge to go.

Welcome to the world of boys! My son did the same thing. He was almost 4 before he would poop in the potty. The way that I finally trained him was this: Because he would hold it for a week at a time, I gave him Mirilax (now, over the counter) and when I suspected that he was going to hide and go poop I put him on the potty and tickled his belly. He was scared at first but as soon as the poop hit the water and he was proud of himself and saw that he would be okay, he laughed so hard that all of the poop came out!! He never used a pull-up again.

Boys in general take longer to be ready to use the toilet on their own, and your son has only been at it for two weeks, so give him, and yourself, a break. The accidents are gross and frustrating, I know, but it won't last forever. I think we tend to get impatient once our kids start using the potty, and we want it all over and done with right away--understandably! But it's a big step for a little guy, and I think the bigger deal we make out of it, the more control it gives them because they can see how much we want them to go. Try to just back off and be very casual about it. Ask if he needs to poop, and if he says no, just remind him to sit on the toilet when he needs to and call you for help if he wants, and leave it alone. When he does go in his pants, remind him that big kids poop in the potty, and the next time he should go sit on the toilet. Say it matter of factly as a friendly reminder, not like you're lecturing or scolding. When he has accidents, put the poop in the toilet and have him flush it down. You can also get flushable wipes and have him practice wiping (maybe after you've cleaned him up a little). Have him wash up when he's all done. Don't make a big deal of any of it. When he does poop in the toilet, praise him, give him a small treat, and move on.

My oldest son was peeing in the potty for a month before he would poop in it. Fortunately he would insist on a diaper to poop in. At first I kept trying to get him to sit on the toilet when he said he had to poop. He would sit there for a minute and then say he didn't have to go. After three days of not going and then being really constipated, I just left him alone and gave him a diaper. I knew it wouldn't last forever. One day he was in the bath and had to poop. I had just gotten his little brother out of the tub and couldn't grab him immediately, so he climbed out of the tub and onto the toilet and before I could turn around he was flushing the potty. He never wore a diaper after that. Good luck!

Your story sounds exactly the same as my first son. I tried for three months with no success. My husband came home and I had given up. He took my son's most prized possession, his Bear, and set Bear up high on a shelf and told my son when he pooped in the potty he could have bear back. He pooped in the potty that night and ever since. Good Luck!