Potty Training- Phase 2 - Herriman,UT

My daughter is a little younger and not ready for potty training, but also has a "holding" problem. I spoke with her doctor who said it is a common problem for toddlers, but also one you want to take care of, because it can cause discomfort that then is associated with going to the bathroom and also, if left unchecked can actually make physical changes to her body.

I'd make a phone call to her doctor for suggestions, but you could also start adding something like Metamucil to her diet to make sure she doesn't get backed up and uncomfortable.

Hi D.,
This is a very,very,common issue. Do not punish or scare your daughter. My suggestion to you is to work with her diet. Feed her a lot of fluids and fruits and foods that keep the system moving. When the stool is soft she will need to go more frequently and her ability to hold it in will be less. When you sit her on the toilet every 30-40 minutes or so then she will just go. This will help her to get used to the idea and hopefully lose her fear. You may also want to visit your pediatrician. They have great, very mild, stool softeners that you can give her for a few weeks in order to get things moving and accomplish the same goal.
Another idea, that may be a little graphic :), is to tell her she has to try to "toot" every time she sits on the toilet. If she is holding it in, then chances are she will go if she tries this.
The key here is to not turn this into a struggle and to avoid giving too much attention to it as well.
Take care, B.

Talk about it. A lot. And if you give her rewards for peeing on the potty, double it or find something even more appealing for if she goes poop.
My boys got a chocolate chip for going pee, but they got a freeze-dried strawberry for going poop. Weird, I know, but they LOVE those strawberries! I pick the biggest ones out of my Special K Red Berries cereal and put them in a little plastic container, and you ought to see what they'll do to earn one. Tell her all about what she'll earn if she goes poop on the potty.
I'd go to the library and get some books about pooping. I think there's one called "everbody poops." That'll help you talk about it more without grossing yourself out :)
Good luck!

Without scaring her I would explain to her how serious holding her poopy is. She isn't potty trained until all the steps are done and tell her that if she wants to truly be a big girl she has to go on the potty for poo and pee.

Get her a fun seat cover for the big toilet too, makes it easier to poop on, less mess and makes if fun for them, if you don't have one already.
If you have to take her to the Dr and have him or her explain how sick she can get from holding her poopy in.

She is having power struggle issues more then anything. Keep the pullups on to save your sanity but start with the reward chart again. Some hate pullups but to be honest until a child is 100% ready, it saves you laundry and messes, still enables them to pull them up and down and just worked for me with both of my kids like a charm!

This was the time of year my daughter regressed several years ago, our city center has seniors that play Santa and you can have them call your house. One of them called my daughter and told her he had a lot of toys for her but they were big girl toys and he would be really proud if she went to the potty, well, it was done. She hung up the phone, got underwear on and there was never an accident again. Promise.
Maybe it doesn't have to be Santa but a favorite character.
She is just testing you and claiming independence, however it is dangerous if she is holding it.

I would be matter of fact, tell her you guess she isn't ready to wear big girl underwear and tell her to let you know when she is. Then let it go. She will come around, especially if she has incentive like big girl things! :)

so she has all the right ideas and well i personally think that you need to get a little tougher!!
so her is an idea, if and when she goes in her pull up that is her choice and i am sure she wants to be changed right away. well it is your choice to leave her in her soiled pull up all day long.

SIMPLY REMIND HER THAT BIG GIRLS DON'T POOP IN THEIR PANTS AND THAT IT IS NOT O.K. YOU MUST TELL HER THAT IS IS STINKY AND DIRTY AND YOU DON'T WANT HER BY YOU.

THIS SOUNDS SO HARSH
BUT TRULEY IT IS STRAIGHT TO THE POINT
GIRLS CAN CATCH ON RATHER QUICKLY AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A ONE TIME DEAL.
THEN YOU COULD START REWARDING HER AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PHASE. BUT STICK TO YOUR GUNS AND STAY CONSISTANT .. BOYS TEND TO BE HARDER AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, GET THROUGH THIS ONE AS QUICK AND A.S.A.P.
GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS!!