Need Suggestions for Boys Who Refuse to Do #2 on the Potty.

Hi B.,

My daughter did this when she was potty training too. I swear, she didn't know how to poop sitting down - only standing. She would ask for a Pull up to poop, and then she would go. I would ask her if she wanted to try, and finally one day she went, and after that, no more pull up. It's a big adjustment trying to go from a diaper/pull up to the potty, but eventually he will get there. My only suggestion is to keep trying to get him on the potty and hope that he goes. Once he feels the difference, I am sure it won't be an issue any more.

BTW - Most of my friends kids went through this, so it isn't at all unusual!

Good luck!

J.

No advice for you here B. but just wanted to let you know that we are in the same boat here. My son turned 3 this month and will pee on the potty from time to time....but no #2....ever. He will ask for a diaper to go #2 so I know he knows when he has to go. I am deffinately gonna be watching this one to get some help here..Good Luck to you!

C. (Worth)

We tried everything, and my daughter did the same thing. She knew she had to go and she would go hide. When I would grab her and put her on her potty, she would hold it. We could sit there for 30 minutes, and nothing! I offered her rewards (fruit snacks worked great in the long run!) I got worried when she stopped going all together. I never punished her for going in her pants, so I couldn't understand why she was holding it. I let her go four days and then took her to her doctor. The doctor gave me some all natural stool softener. It made her go! She was worried about her getting sick from constipation. I only gave it to her once. She did, however, experience going on the potty. She had a few accidents after that; the medicine gave her the runs a little.
After I knew she could do it, I told her that if she pooped in her underware, we would have to throw it away. She loved her princess underware, and I think I threw away 3 of them before she got mad and stopped going in her pants.
They have to want to do it...he will get ready and do it. BE PATIENT!! I am sure he is frustrated as well!! Give him credit for using the potty. Celebrate and reward him!

B.,
They just won't go until they are ready. This is probably all it is with your son, but my son ended up being diagnosed with some physical problems that made him poop on the potty later than did some of his friends. I would make sure that his stools are of the same consistency. If he alternates between constipation and runny stools, this will make it harder for him to relax and poop on the potty. It's good that he is happy. Maybe he wants to be with you rather than go to school just yet.
Amy

sounds harsh but take away toys when he goes in his pants. when he goes on potty make a huge thing out of it give him stickers make his favorite foods for lunch or dinner wattch what he wants to watch for a movie or tv. but if he goes in his pants take away a favorite toy tell him it is a big kids toy and he cant have it if he wont poo in the big kid potty. when he realizes each time he goes in his pants he loses his toys but when he goes in potty he gets them back plus something extra with mom or dad he will decide it is better to go in potty. also do not change right away and when you do make him clean his underwear and pants. i made my daughter change her sheets and clean her clothes when she would go in her pants and pee her bed after her baby brother was born...after the 3rd time changing sheets and cleaning her clothes she stopped and went in the potty. hope this helps and good luck

Have you tried a little potty seat. My daughter needed her feet on the ground to poo. She would stand up and sit and stand and sit until she would finally go. She couldn't use the big potty for several months to poo.

Once Upon a Potty is a great book.

PS. Be very careful if you choose to punish for going in his pants. He could just decide to hold it and cause medical problems such as constipation and bladder infections.

It is so great that your son can anticipate and tell you when he needs to have a BM! When he feels the urge and lets you know, keep asking him to sit on the potty to go. Now, here is the trick- read a story (not too short) while he is going. I did this with my daughter and it worked great. While you're reading, he'll become engrossed in the story and lose the feeling of "being on the spot" and may relax enough to pass his stool. Be sure to reward his efforts, a small treat for a good "try" and something a little bigger for success. When my daughter wanted to hop on and off the potty for a treat, I used the story as a timer for what a "try" constituted and voila! Another key element is to put a step stool under his feet, because it helps to brace himself while pushing. Good luck!