Potty Training Issues - Laurens,SC

Yes, make him clean himself and his underware up when he poops in them for starters. Second, to try to keep him sitting on the potty, give him a book or a toy to keep him occupied a bit longer while he sits there. You can also start with a sticker chart in the bathroom. Label it Monday through Sunday and for each day he poops in the potty, he gets to put a sticker on that day. When he has gone a a few weeks to a month with stickers all week long, he gets to pick out something special from the toy isle or you buy him a toy that you know will be special to him to celebrate him pooping in the potty. Stay positive with him too!!

S.

sounds like a control issue...make him clean it up if he won't go on the potty...he knows he has to go, and is choosing not to. if he has to do the clean up, i bet he won't do it again...

Have you tried buying some hot wheel toys or something that he really likes and let him have one for each time he has a bm in the toilet? Or other type rewards.

Also, make sure he is helping clean up the mess.

Another thought....are you staying in the bathroom with him while he is 'trying' to go? If so, he may need some alone type to be more comfortable. If this has been a frustrating experience for you, he knows it and feels the pressure. He'll need to be more relaxed in order to make this happen. Good luck!

Hi K.,

When I read this, I said, this is my life right now too. My son is 3 & 1/2 and doing the exact same thing. He had an incident at his PREVIOUS preschool earlier this year which I think has contributed to his behavior. My Dr has said not to force it and let him decide. This has been hard because about 2 months ago, I quit pull ups in the day, he is fine at his new school, pees in the potty but holds it til he gets home. Same timeframe, between 6-8pm, I know when he needs go, I will ask him and he even yells and says NO, he is not pooping on the potty. He is very active and strong willed, we have tried books, hand held games, I ask him if there is anything he wants to take to the potty.....nothing. It is frustrating and I know eventually it will happen but it is hard to see that when we are cleaning out underwear every night. I will be anxiously waiting to see your other responses. You are not alone!!

I have heard that potty training for BM is hard with some kids. I have heard all kinds of theorys and one is that they see that as a part of them (since it is solid I guess) and it is a little frightening to see it go down the toilet. Also, is he the least bit constipated? It could be that it is painful.

I worked in a pre-school last year, and most of the little boys would pee in the toilet, but poop in their pants. Don't ask me why.

I suggest being patient, and as someone else said, be very positive if he even tries to go in the toilet, and kinda ignore it for a while if he goes in his pants. I don't mean totally ignore it, just don't make a huge deal out of it. I would sternly say, "poo poo goes in the potty, not our pants", lead him to the bathroom and have him take his clothes off, if it is solid enough, have him put it in the toilet and then have him sit on the toilet a few minutes to "finish". Even if you know he is finished at least he will know he has to sit there even if he puts it in his pants. I would have him do the cleaning up to the best of his ability and then just have him wash his hands and go to the bath. I would also have him go "try" to potty like every 30 minutes during that two hour period. I would give him a book (I really like Everybody Poops, or there is another one that is red with a little boy named Joshua in it that I used for my son). Have him sit on the potty and read or get a small toy he can hold in his hands and only let him have it on the potty. It should not be a negative experience on the potty or he will never want to do it. If he gets even the smallest bit out, make such a huge deal out of it that he will want to do it again to get the same response. I would give him a reward too. Even if it is a skittle or M & M or whatever. It should be only given at that time too so it will be a desired item. I know it sounds crazy, but trust me, those little rewards work.

Good luck!

I read about this in the book "Good Behavior" last night. My two year old is resisting going to the bathroom before his afternoon rest, and you can see where that probably goes. Have him help clean up his poop. It's his responsibility (with your supervision). Remember not to be punitive, but positive if he does get up on the toilet and do his business there.

Hi K., just wanted to let you know you're not alone. My son will be 4 on Nov.11th. We never used to have a problem w/him and the toilet and he's been potty and bm trained since 2yo. But for the last couple of months he's been trying to hold it and you can tell. We have made him sit there on the toilet and he just says he can't go or he doesn't have to. He doesn't like to be wiped,we've used soft toilet paper, even Kleenex and flushable wipes and tried to pat him clean. We've tried the sticker method, even giving him a small present(car) and saying job well done. While we thought some things we're beginning to work it would soon back fire. Sad to say, we've even tried time-out when he would poop in his underwear. Of course that doesn't make him go on the toilet, so we've stopped that. We've even read him books on the toilet. There are times when he will go on the toilet, but it's like a fight everytime. We try to praise him as much as we can when he does go. Rarely will he tell us, we always have to ask him and the answer is always No, while he is staining to hold it in. So then we have to force him to sit on the potty. So thanks for asking the question, I hope you find something that works. If you do find something that works, could you please let me know? Best of luck to you and your son. If I stumble upon something, I'll let you know. Take care.

Whenever I had problems with my girls potty training, I took their underwear off and let them run around half naked. They were ANXIOUS to sit on the potty and it did not take very long at all to convince them that the potty was better than getting it all over themselves. That said, I agree this is a control issue with him. Try making it so that if he goes on the potty, he can earn a reward for doing so and if he does not, a privilege that he enjoys will be held back from him. The reward system works great for a lot of things, as long as it's not turned into a pay-as-you-go situation for every little thing he does or doesn't do. In this case, though, reward him with a lollypop or some treat that he loves and does not get often. Show him whatever he will get for going potty on the potty chair, and if he poops his pants, show him the reward that he just lost. Sounds cruel, but it's not, and should work for you, I hope. Just be sure to give him his reward when he earns it.

I'm sorry but I didn't have any problems with potty training my son. If I had problems as he was growing up, maybe I wouldn't have problems now.
P. S