It has been one full week of potty training my little ones, and although my son is doing good, it's my daughther that is giving me problems...she will not go poo-poo in the potty. I have tried everything, from promises to threats and she will not go. She is doing great going pee-pee, in fact she hasn't had one urine related accident, but she is consistently defacating in her panties. I lost it today and made her wear one of her brother's pull-ups; I told her I am taking away her panties until she poo-poos in the toilet. I know this goes against advice I was given previously, but I don't know what else to do. HELP!!!!
TO all the wonderful Moms who responded...SHE WENT POO-POO THIS MORNING!!!!
I was very careful about my tone this morning...all I said was "This morning we are going to go poo-poo in the potty right?" and I said it with a really warm tone and a huge smile...and when she told me she had to go, I would put her on the toilet...when she wouldn't poop, I just told her we would try again later. I also asked her if it hurt when she tried to go, and she said yes...so I told her I would give her a lot of fruit today to see if it would help. When she said she had to go once again, I just sat with her in the bathroom and let her hold her ballerina doll that she had received for Christmas...it was still in the box...she held it until she went. I feel like I won the lottery!!!!!
Again thanks for all the wonderful advice and support!
Sincerely,
J. R.
Give it more time. Pooping I have heard comes later. Dallas my 2.8 year old probably didn't go poop in the potty for a month. Its still a new thing for them. I know we want it to happen faster for us but they will do it eventually. Don't give up.
Has she ever pooed in the potty? If so she may be regresing, some kids do. #1 she is in control, it is her body and she is the only one that can control it! So all your treats or threats won't work! Instead watch your child, children are usally pretty regular with there BM, so if she goes to hide or you think she might go poop go ahead and take her to the potty and if she still doesn't go take her every 10-15 min untill she does. Don't make a big deal out of it, just take a step back and start again.
Potty training is not easy! I was at it for over a year with my son. The last technique we used was a love and logic technique and it worked. If you get fustrated or angry then that is what your child will focus on. But I know how EASY it is to get upset when your potty training! I just got to the point that if the mess was too big I would throw away the underwear and then throw him in the shower. Not like we could afford tons of new underwear but sometimes it was just easier for me! When the mess would happen I would do my uh oh song (I memorized it), "Uh oh, someone had an accident in their underwear, no worries, we'll just go to the bathroom to clean up" and I would take him by the hand and go to the bathroom to clean up. The song worked. He was focused on what happened in his underwear and we were in the bathroom, and I can't get mad or fustrated when I'm singing. She'll get it mom, just hang in there!
Remember that potty "issiues" are one of the few things that kids have total control over in their lives. She may be feeling out of control and this is the only way for her to deal with it. I'd lay off for a couple of weeks. Let her wear pull ups but occasionally encourage her to pop in the potty. Praise her when she does, but don't make a big deal if she doesn't. Just change her without comment and go on.
If she doesn't want to wear pull ups, make it clear that every time she poops in her panties, they will be thrown away. With both of my boys anyway, this was very effective. And it saved my sanity, because washing the poop out of little underwear is one of the grossest things ever! And seeing her favorite Cinderella (or whatever) panties going into the bin may be just the "encouragement" she needs!
One week??? Are you kidding??? You expect her to learn how to poop and pee in the potty within a week? Most kids take several months and some take a few years! Give the girl a break and praise her for getting the pee part down!
