So just when you think you halfway got a handle on this parenting thing, your third child comes along and just throws you a curve ball! So the deal is my new 2 yr old, just turned on Nov. 12th, reaches into his diaper if he poops during nap time. He has really sensitive skin and has had a crazy battle with excema on his lil' booty and during the last bout of butt excema this started, he is healed now thank God. I don't THINK he is doing it to play with his poop bc he just wipes it on his crib sheet like to get it off his hands, not on the wall or anything. Plus he doesn't do it when he's up and I can change him righ away, and he is a child who cannot stand being wet or dirty, he will literally say he is wet or dirty and run to his changing table and just wait fir me to get there, it's super cute actually. So any ideas on what to do about this gross habit of his? Tonight after about 4 runs of this lately, I did lose my patience, I scolded him, he cried, he kept saying 'I sowwy, I didn't mean to...' :( poor guy.... I just popped him I the tub and all is fine, but I really want the habit to stop! I may just get lightweight footy pjs for nap time so he can't get in there, but was wondering what other moms have done and did your little one grow out of this crazy phase quickly? He has no signs of any developmental delays, so I am not concened or anything, it's just gross!!
Don't let him have access? Use a shirt that snaps in the crotch and put overalls on him.
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Don't let him have access? Use a shirt that snaps in the crotch and put overalls on him.
You can do the backwards sleepers like others mentioned (just make sure to cut the neck down so it isn't uncomfortable.
My daughter took it a step further around this age... She painted her walls and door once. :/ SO glad it was only once! Lol.
It sounds like he may be ready to start potty training. Try putting him on the potty first thing in the morning, before naps and before bed to see what happens.
Otherwise, you will have to put him in clothes that make it impossible for him to access his diaper at nap time (one piece sleepers put on backwards etc...)
One piece blanket sleepers, backwards. Cut feet off. Might be a good time to potty train. Good luck
Two words..."Duct tape"
Or a onesie under a pair of overalls...this was my son's naptime garment for abut six months because he would decide his poop was better than play dough. He couldn't undo the clips on the overalls and couldn't reach the diaper around the onesie that snapped closed.
Good luck...it is totally normal...gross but typical...
time to potty train!
backwards sleepers until then. but he sounds ready to potty train. My oldest played with her poop. it was disgusting.
Thank goodness mine didn't do this, but I do know that some children do. Yes, it's awful! And yes, you have to prevent them from doing it for health reasons (plus, it's nasty.) Do what you're talking about with the one piece pjs. If he can take them off, cut off the footie part and put them on backwards, pinning the zipper at the top.
It does sound like very soon he'll be able to potty train. I would really advise you not to call poopy and pee "dirty" just to get him to potty train early. He may end up having an unhealthy view of elimination, and you don't want that.
Good luck!!
I very much doubt, at 2, that he's ready for potty training. Anyway potty training won't take care of the problem now. I suggest that his bottom feels itchy from the eczema even if it's healed. The nerves may not be completely healed.
Does he do this in his sleep? If so, the one piece pjs might help even if worn normally. However, if he's not aware he's doing it, I would not sweat it. Once he stops feeling itchy he'll stop. Keep wipes or a damp cloth nearby to wash his hands when you first go in. Know that his poop is not a health hazard to anyone in your family. The contents of the poop are in your home already. Granted in a more tolerable form. Poop is only considered dirty because of our culture.
If he is awake when he reaches inside his diaper talk with him about it. This may just be habit from when his bottom was sore. Teach him not to do it. Praise him when he keeps his hands clean. If he reports itchiness try putting an anti-itch cream on his bottom.
Another approach is to completely ignore it. The technique of ignoring often extinquishes behavior. Sometimes children do things, unknowingly, to get attention.
If his poop is goopy consider adding fiber to his diet. A firm stool is not so messy or gross.
Since he doesn't like a dirty diaper, is aware of when he goes, and then knows to go to the changing table makes me think that potty training is a good idea. Between my kids, foster kids, and daycare kids I have potty trained many over the years. With most children I have found young twos do great. They typically love to please at that age. Your son sounds very verbal which will help. Buy him some underwear and go for it! He may have an accident or two and then should be good to go.
I haven't had the issue of his hands in there. I did have the eczema issue, though. Also, I've dealt with his being between diaper sizes.
We use a warm and soapy wash cloth when changing his diaper. We pat him dry--especially in the creases--and then grease him up with petroleum jelly (over his medicine, if necessary), more when there will be a longer time before the next change. It provides a barrier for the skin. Because the skin can't breathe under the petroleum jelly, I make sure that the area gets cleaned (hence, the soap and warm water) every time and then I apply whatever medication/ointment that is active in his "treatment". (I don't remember the last time we had to do this with the medicine, but we've always used a towel, even before the eczema showed up.) The petroleum jelly is strictly to keep the bad stuff off his skin. Or at least to make it easier to wipe off.
To keep his diapers in place, he wears big boy undershorts (boxer briefs) or long pajama bottoms.
Sounds to me like he is ready to be potty trained!
