Still in a Diaper

Hi B.,

Have you tried putting a diaper on, and them putting him on the toilet to go? Maybe this way he will get the idea of sitting on the toilet while going (with the comfort of a diaper- to start)? Eventually maybe he won't think he 'needs' a diaper anymore? Maybe after time goes on, he won't feel he needs the diaper. He gets the idea of where it goes, just not when it is coming out. Maybe this method will guide him in the right direction? Good Luck! ;) C.

I have found the best way to get a child to do something they don't want to do is to praise the heck out of them whenever they Do it -not necessarily to punish them for Not doing it. If it's an insecurity thing, punishment probably will not help them feel more secure. But praise will.

Let them see the rewards they will receive if they perform to your liking. When they see the prizes (stickers, toys, treats) and they know what is expected of them to receive the prizes magic will happen (given that the child is old enough to understand this).

Make a REALLY big deal about potty training. Involve everyone. Throw confetti (if that's your kid's thing). And remember that this won't take forever. My daughter was potty-trained this way by the time she was 2 1/2 and my nephew by 3, but each child is unique!

I'm afraid the only real solution is to stop buying diapers. If he knows there are not going to be any diapers, he'll b forced to deal with it. My son held it in all day, until he could get his bedtime Pull-up. So, we eventually had to scrap the pull-ups, and just deal with the bedwetting problem. He's never had a bowel movement in his pants since.

You just have to stop letting him have diapers. He will, at some point, realize his only option is to use the toilet to poop. Get diapers, pull-ups and even little swimmers out of his reach. And most important, when he starts screaming and crying walk away. Don't talk to him about it. If he follows you ignore him. Only say, "I'll take you to the toilet if you're ready." Nothing else. He's not an adult, you can't reason your way out of the tantrum. Be prepared for the long haul...it could go on for a long time, maybe hours. But if you give in, you lost. To win, you have to insist he uses the toilet. Now if he does it in his pants, clean him up and put him in time out for a few minutes. This sounds harsh for an "accident" but is it an accident or did he do it on purpose because you wouldn't give him his way? You have to show him you mean business and he's old enough to know not to go in his pants if he can handle emptying the diaper and flushing. Good luck!

Talk to him, ask him why he feels like he needs to go #2 in a diaper. Chances are it's just because it's what he is comfortable with, or used to. We train our kids to go in diapers from birth...that's all they know until one day we say "lets go in the big weird porcelien thing" It can be overwhelming.

Being patient, and encouraging him to go potty on the toilet will help.

Another reason may be because he feels he can't push well sitting on the potty. Make sure you have a high step stool for his feet to rest on comfortably.

Gently start removing the diapers from the home. Don't buy another bag his size. Talk to him about it everytime he uses a diaper tell him "Ok Johnny, we only have 4 more diapers, then they are all gone and you will need to go poop on the toilet"

Good luck I know how frustrating it can be.

Hi B.,
When I was potty training my little ones I was told that it is easier for a child to pee in the toilet but harder for them to poo, because it is like a part of them leaving. There is a book out there that you can read to him about going poo in the potty. If you go to the library and ask for any type of potty training books that you read to the child they should have it or a book store like Barnes and Nobles.
My sons were the hardest to potty train, this may sound cruel and horrible but it worked. When they would poo in there pants we made them clean it up and their selves up then of course we would go behind them and make sure they were totaly clean. for pooing in their pants we would have them swish the undies in the toilet. after having to do this I think once or twice they quit pooing in their undies. Good Luck and I hope this works

My daughter was almost three when she potty trained. She was so stubborn! She would go in her diaper take it off and throw it at me...literally...and tell me to change her.

What we did was tell her that she couldn't go to school if she didn't use the potty like a big girl. She wanted to go to Preschool so badly and the one we choose required that the child be potty trained. So we started this in the spring of last year and within a month she was completely potty trained day and night. She is now in Preschool and she loves it!

Oh, another thing that encouraged my daughter was watching one of her friends go. Right after we started telling her about school and using the potty like a big girl she ran into the bathroom with one of her friends. As soon as she saw this little girl use the potty she wanted to try it. I think that coupled with the no school unless you use the potty like a big girl helped.

Good Luck!

Hello B.,

You could try giving him a reward when he goes on the potty. For my son that was what really helped us get over the hump with him pooping all the time on the potty. For about 2 weeks he got a matchbox car everytime he went poop on the potty.

I don't know about taking away the diapers. I know a couple of people that have had issues with there children pooping on the potty and the kids have gotten so backed up that they have had to go on medicine to help regulate them again.

Good Luck
A.

Don't give him the option of a diaper. You may have some messes for a couple days, but if he has the option, then he will obviously keep going for it.

Wanting to poop in the diaper is normal for some kids. I was just reading about this the other day and I also found a great podcast at www.pediacast.org and Dr. Mike talks about this as well. Sometimes it is hard for them to poop in the potty as commented in your responces. From what I read and from the podcast don't make a big deal of it with him and it should pass soon. I am sure I'll be comming back here for potty training advice soon as well. :)

i agree with the last two entries (rachelle and annette); punishment for defience, take away the crutch and he'll learn to walk so to speak; stop buying diapers and buy rewards; cheapy matchbox cars, spiderman cards as rewards for every time he uses the bathroom; you may be suprised; he may be ok with using the potty for # 2 quicker than you think.... and if he uses his pants instead then have him clean his mess up with help to ensure proper hygeine, and take away tv time, time outs, something little to let him know that it is not acceptable.

I would just stop buying diapers, my son is 2 1/2 and is potty trained just about a month ago, it took a while before he would poop on the potty, we would sit forever, sing songs, read books talk, it was not fun, but once he did it once, it was no problem. If you don't have diapers he will have nothing to cry about!! Good luck