Problems Useing the Potty

Hi -- this is what we did with my son, when he was almost 3. He, too, would NOT poop in the potty, although he peed with no problem. Firstly, we watched him. When he got quiet and went to the corner where he liked to do his business, we would ask him to go to the toilet. If he refused (which, of course, he did), we would tell him that he'd have to put on a pull-up then. No big deal -- his choice, pull-up or potty. In this beginning stage, we had our fair number of not-so-nice messes in the underwear, and he was pooping every few days as opposed to daily. At the same time, we encouraged him to go to use the toilet in every way I'm sure you already do (books, talking about it his friends who were already potty-trained, etc). I even let him in with me while I was busy in there. This wasn't making big headway, but, at least he was familiar with it. Then, we introduced a dual-edged bribery thing. We went to the candy store and he picked the colors for a bag of M&Ms. These were his "poop in the potty" M&Ms. I put the M&Ms in a jar, put it up high in the bathroom, and, the deal was, every single time he pooped in the potty, he got a handful of M&Ms. Secondly, we picked out a big gift (in our case, a big Bruder gargage truck), showed him the pic on the internet, and told him that he could have it if he got 10 stickers for 10 times of going poop on the potty. We made a sticker chart together (long and brown, like poop. He liked the yuck factor). I won't lie to you, he was still reluctant, but the M&Ms and truck were very alluring. We still had to coax him 6 times, and had a little dance party every time (with M&Ms). After the 6th sticker, he finally seemed fine. We ordered the truck, and by the 10th time, he was fully potty-trained and wanted his truck! We've never had any problems since. Ever. We finished up the jar of M&Ms about 3 months ago, and that was that. Good luck!

I had the same issue with my son. What I did was pump him full of fiber- raisins, prunes, thick juice, fruit, fruit fruit. I even gave him gummy bears with fiber in them (made by Yummi Bears). This was to keep him from being able to hold it until he's hurting himself. When he said he wanted a diaper I just said no. Sorry, no. Remember, he can't put the diaper on himself, if you don't want him going in one, don't put one on him. He got upset, but once he went on the potty (I grabbed after he started pooping and held him on the potty. I lifted him on there and sat with him, holding him and comforting him) and saw it wasn't horrible he was fine. It took probably 3 more times of going for him to not cry during it. But ever since he's been great.

I've had friends have their children sit on the potty and poop in the diaper and I was planning to do that if I needed to.

When I was potty training my son I told him he could not have a diaper. he was running around without any pants or underware on. When he got mad and wanted a diaper,I told him no go on the potty and I will buy you a pillow pet. I refused to give in and he went on the potty. I made a big deal out of it and took him to the mall,bought him a pillow pet and took him on the kiddie train ride. No problems since. It is tough love but if you give in and are not firm about it he will not do it. let him run around without pants at home and if he wants a diaper refuse and make him go on the potty. when he knows you will not cave he will do it.

Someone told me that first you give him the diaper, but make him go into the bathroom to poop in the diaper because that's the room we poop in. Then, once he's got that down, you give him the diaper, but he has to sit on the potty (with the diaper on) and poop there. When he's a little more comfortable with that, you give him a diaper, but first you cut out part of the back, and have him sit on the potty to poop. Once he's got that down, see if he's ready to lose the diaper. Obviously, lots of praise when he gets it right.

A lot of children have issues going #2 on the potty. They are sometimes afraid or it feels really different to have it just drop in the potty instead of smushing against their butt. Especially given his age I would suggest getting a book that explains how the food he eats becomes poop and why we need to get rid of it. Some kids feel like it's part of themselves, which is weird to us, but it's part of the reason they can be afraid to poop in the potty. "Everyone Poops" comes to mind, but there are lots, I would check your local library and see which one you think he'll relate to the best.

My son went from going both to only wanting to go pee. We started out with a sticker chart and gummies, and he will have the big grand prize in about a week or 2 if our good luck continues. He decided to start holding in his poop for about 3 days then just go in his pants. This happened only at home so I figured its a control issue. He went at school yesterday and was very excited telling me we have to put the stickers on the chart and he gets the new and exciting Nemo gummies daddy told him about. So I think you just have to make it new and exciting, and keep your fingers crossed that they dont regress. One doctor said just put a diaper on him to poop in, but when I tried that he laughed and said he didnt want his undies anymore and still didnt poop in it so I took it off. He has been out of diapers for about 3 1/2 weeks now. It sucks and its the hardest think I have ever had to do with him, but as all the other posters have said-it wont be forever! Good luck! Do you have a small potty for him as well? I give my son a choice on which he wants to use.