I am in the process of potty training my, soon to be 3 year old, son and he is having trouble having BMs on the potty. He is normally very regular and goes once or twice a day. Now he holds it for 2 days, until he can't hold it anymore. I told him it is okay if he makes a BM in his pull ups or that I will put a diaper back on him for BMs and not be mad at him for pooping in them, but he refuses to go. If anyone has had a similar situation, please let me know what to do to help my poor little guy.
Have you asked him what he's concerned about? Also, I let my son pick out a $10 truck at Target and he sat on the potty and tried to poop every five minutes for two hours until he did it. I know some people consider this a bribe, but you should have seen how self motivated he was to earn that truck! He really worked hard for it and has never looked back. Just think about what might motivate your little one. Good luck!
I agree with SM. In addition, you want to be very observant of your son's signals. His body will make him what to evacuate. Watch when it initially happens and encourage him to push. Tell him that it is supposed to come out. He's not supposed to keep it inside. Let him cover his head or whatever he needs to do to feel "safe" while he's going. I remember telling my dd, "Push! Push! Push!" like her private cheerleader. She's a real people pleaser, so she would, and if I caught her soon after her last BM (not days after), it would come out easier and she'd associate the urge to go as a good thing and not something painful or scary. She'd proudly announce, "I pushed, Mommy!" It's worth a shot. In the meantime, take it easy on the cheese. Ha! Good luck!
I had this experience with my daughter. She would also have pee accidents when she was trying not to BM.
I kept reiterating that it was fine. I also told her that if she wanted privacy in the potty, that was fine too. She started sneaking off to go potty and would proudly announce that she went poopy.
It was an annoying time period, but it ended suddenly and she didn't look back from it.
From what I have heard, it is very common. He just isn't quite ready yet.
my ped said to give lots of fiber. slip prune juice in his juice, fig newton cookies, etc. good luck.
There is a book at Borders called 'Potty Train your Child In Just One Day" By: Teri Crane She is wonderful and it's an easy book to read. I have two older kids grown a 20yr old daughter and a 14yr old son. Had I known now back then what I know now, I would have done it all differently. I have my soon to be 3yr old daughter that I started potty training as she was showing the signs I was at my wits ends and needing advice. She was peeing but not pooping. I tried the M&M's everyone says to give as a prize, stickers, we'll go to the park kinda thing told her she couldn't go to dance class if she didn't try. Poop in your pull-ups it's ok thing and she started to regress and start peeing so we were going backwards! Litereally after reading this book the Author puts it all in the childs eyes why they do what they do, I was half way reading the book as I started to use the tools she gives you and my daughter is fully potty trained and it was so easy to do. Good Luck!
Read This Link: (its from this website, the same question):
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/9055515612129853441
You do NOT want a child, to "hold" his poop... it is called "withholding." And it typically happens in potty training kids. With my daughter we had to see a Pediatric Gastroenterologist, and this is what he said.
He sounds constipated... and it hurts to come out when constipated. But holding it in, makes it worse and harder and more painful.
Try making sure he is hydrated, give him things like pear juice or prunes, which helps to soften it and get it out. Some use Miralax and says this helps.
All the best,
Susan
