3 Year Old Not Pooping in the Potty Anymore.

I tried EVERYTHING with my almost 3 year old and I KNEW that he was capable so finally I brought discipline into the picture. I explained to him that I knew he was a big boy and knew how to use the potty so everytime he went in his pants without telling me he needed to go and at least finishing on the potty he would have to stand in the corner. I KNOW it sounds horrible but he was back on track in 2 days and no issues since. I think it's the same concept as giving in to a tantrum - once a child realizes an action produces a certain reaction or lack thereof they think it's okay. This could have simply started with him being too "busy" to want to stop and go poop but because there was no consequence why not keep it that way? As parents when we are surprised by a new behavior we don't usually react because we aren't sure of the why. My daughter cry's when she goes to bed about once evry 6 months and because it has been so long since it happened I run right in to see what's wrong. This sends a message that if she cry's I'll come in and we do this for about 4/5 days until I stop going in and then she stops for another 6 months. The first intitial cry may have been legitimate but after that it was for my reaction. The first intitial time he pooped in his pants may have been legit but now it's because there is no consequence so why not? I wouldn't reccomend a pull up because I think that sends the message that it's okay and it's NOT. At 3 years he's old enough to understand action and consequence so a few minutes in the corner won't hurt him and if you keep reminding him that he's there because it's not okay to poop in his pants he'll stop
Also my Pediatrician recommended making him clean himself up because he was the one who made the mess. This might have worked if I could handle having the poop everywhere but I couldn't.
GOOD LUCK - I KNOW it's frustrating!!!!!!!! :)

I would give him advance warning that if he chooses not to poop on the potty that he will have to clean himself up. Most kids don't like dealing with the mess. I find that having to change yourself is a huge deterant to children who know how to use the potty.

D.,I know sometimes a little change may set a child back a bit,maybe he wasn't comfortable going to the bathroom somewhere new.I wouldn't press the issue too much,but ask and remind him frequently to go poop in the bathroom.It is probably just a phase he is going thru.Don't know if this will help you any but I'm sure it won't last long.Good Luck it is tough I know.My son went thru a phase where he would pee outside all the time.I think it is just phases that they go thru.
J.

my daughter was having the same problem. We let her watch us go and when we flushed said by by poop. She finally caught on but she has to be the one to flush it down. I hope he gets better for you.

Hi D., When confronted with the unfamiliar, sometimes with what was safe & familiar needs to be reinforced. The EXACT same thing happened to my son when he was 3. I used the smaller plastic seat on the toilet when training him. So, when we got home even thou he hadn't used it at home for while, I got it out and we started the process over, along with a fun chart of stickers. After pooping he got a sticker. 5 stickers and he got a small reward of HIS CHOICE. After a few days, he didn't want the little seat.Never had a problem. Then we went away again, and I took the seat with us. He used it once in the unfamiliar surrounding, then he took it off himself & wanted to be a big kid. SO, all kids are different. I've been a RN for 35 yrs. working with kids, so I've seen it all!!!! Good luck!!Let me know what happens. Best Regards, C. (Also, just be matter of fact like it's no big deal, & use all that fun kid stuff (wipes,soap,handtowels)to make him feel special!)