Potty Training struggle...PLEASE HELP!

My son was the exact same way!!! At first we thought he was constipated because he wouldn't go #2 for like 5 days. The Dr said it was alright to give him Miralax, like a teaspoon. We had to do that for like 6 weeks to get him regular. In that time she also said that if he asks for a diaper/pull up to go #2 then it was alright and really good if he asks. Pretty soon he just did it on the potty, I think more by accident than anything and that was it. He saw that it was not scary. What about at school? Does he use the potty at school? We also did the whole reward thing. I know some parents don't agree with it, but it worked for us. Anytime he went poop on the potty he got a present. This seems to be a REALLY common problem for boys.
Good luck

TALK about poop. Explain what it is and where it comes out of.(I think boys think it's more mysterious b/c pee is so easy for them to see what's going on!). Get "Once Upon A Potty" (boy book version). Try letting him sit on the toilet backwards (depending on what he likes--it can be a horse, a train, a dinosaur, etc.) They feel more secure that way and can use the tank to doodle with paper/crayons or rest a book to read while trying.
Good luck. I'm thinking either
A.) Something about "poop" needs to click in his head so he sees it as similar to pee (like pee's older brother)

or

B.) This is a huge willful power struggle.

You write "I don't put on diapers at all anymore" but you DO when he cries for O.--which is every time he needs to poop.
In the meantime, get him a box of Pull Ups and if he's crying for a diaper, let HIM take off his pants & undies and put on a Pull Up by himself.
Good luck. Once he gets it it will all be over. :-)

Hi M.,
My first son didn't want to poo in the potty when he was training. I actually think this is pretty common, because I even read and article about it in my local paper!

I worked it this way: when I *knew* he had to go, I sat him on the potty, and told him to stay put until there was poop in the toilet. Period. Closed the door and walked away (did NOT hang around to try and talk him into it: too much drama for me - LOL).

Yes, he cried. He yelled. He pleaded. But eventually, he pooped, when he realized mama was not giving in. Took about 45 minutes (whew!)

The next day he cried, yelled, and pleaded for 30 minutes, then I got poop.

The next day took about 10 minutes. Got poop.

The next day, and the days after that, took about 5 minutes, until it became a routine, and he knew: poop goes in the toilet.

When he finally, f-i-n-a-l-l-y told me he had to go poop - without me telling him - it felt great.

Patience pays!

Good luck!
t

I started a little chart for my daughter that worked really well. I bought a whole bunch of stickers with her favorite characters (dollar store) and made a chart w/ days of the week on the computer (make it really colorful). Every time she went on the potty, she was able to choose a sticker and stick it on her chart. When she got a sticker for each day, she got a treat (a favorite dessert, etc). We made a huge deal every time she got a sticker so she was really proud of herself. It worked great and she was potty trained really fast.
I should tell you that about two months earlier, I tried everything I could think of and nothing worked. So, I just put the diapers back on and waited six weeks. It made all the difference. So, if it doesn't work, a couple of months can make a big difference.

i totally agree with melissa, i did the exact same. You dont say how old ur son is but mine wasnt totally trained till 3.5 years old. and even only last week at 4yrs is he pee-ing like a boy does. He used to sit on the toilet to do it. He was afraid to try the new way but i explained to him its the way big boys do it. (now i have to train him to put the seat down! noooooooooooo!! :D) be patient with him. i also had to give up for a few weeks after trying EVERYTHING! he'l soon realise it's the proper way of doing it. Also telling him you yourself, don't have a diaper. That worked for me. But don't force him. He will do this when he's mature enough

You may want to do a search on this site about potty training, I know there have been a lot of posts in the pasts with many good ansers and ideas Mom. Good luck

Our son was having the same issue. He was great about it around 18 months, but I was put on bed rest, he got stomach flu, and I had a baby, so things got put on hold. He then started begging for a diaper to poop in, and I gave in. He recently turned 2, and I decided it was time to go at it full force. He is in underwear all day now. He usually goes #2 on a relative schedule, so I leave him underwear-less around that time and take him frequently until he does end up going. Lately he holds it all day until right before bed. He is always told that he will get a treat (cookie, ice cream, etc.) for going and get one once he does go. He also loves the book Everyone Poops. I think that has helped a lot too. Good luck!

Hi, M. -
I had a very similar struggle with my twin girls. They were completely trained to pee on the potty, but would wait all day until their night diapers went on to poop. I tried everything, too. I got some very simple advice from my sister. A proper incentive. She suggested I put together a "treasure box" and that the kids would get to select something from the treasure box when they pooped on the potty. I filled a box with various items from the dollar store - toys, necklaces, crayons, coloring books, big girl panties, etc., and BOY did it do the trick. We had the situation turned around in one day. Literally, one day. So much so that I was worried they were going to injure themselves sitting on the potty again and again trying to produce a poop! It's simple and silly, but it changed my life. Who knows? Maybe lightning could strike twice and it would help you, too.
Good luck.

Hello!
We did a sticker chart with our daughter and when that novelty wore off, we started an incentive program. She was into cars at that time, so we got a selection of match box cars and kept those still in their wrapper in a basket visible in the bathroom. For each proper "delivery", she could pick out a car and only then. We kept the basket stocked and after a few weeks it was not even needed anymore because she also thrived on the praise.

Hope this helps!
D.

I am currently in the same situation with my 3 year old son, he is fine peeing in the potty but it terrified to poop. I am at the point now were when he has too poop I leave pull-ups next to the potty and have him take his underwear off and put the pull-up on himself and when he is done I change him this was one suggestion I got from my pediatrician. The goal being eventually he will tire of the process while reminding him of the option of the potty and rewarding him when he sits on it even if he doesn't poop. I will tell you too learn from my mistake, I never forced the issue but I was oblivious to the signs of him holding and waiting to poop in his pull up after we put him to bed. Needless to say he is backed up and has been on Miralax for 4 months now and with no end in sight. All I can say is hang in there my Dr. promised me he will poop on the potty eventually whatever you have to do to get the poop out just let him get it out. Good Luck!!