Potty Training a boy....need Help

Updated on October 15, 2014
M.T. asks from Naperville, IL
8 answers

I have started potty training my son, and he is telling me when he has to go number one and he is doing really well with that. but with # 2, he is holding it in. I take him to the bathroom and talk, sing, read a book and nothing. and by this time of day he usually goes two or so times. Any advice to get him to go #2? I don't remember much from when I potty trained my daughter.

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So What Happened?

He is 2 1/2, but he is going #1 perfectly. he is ready for potty training :) otherwise I wouldn't do it.

Featured Answers

V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

Just be patient and watch him for signs. Did he tend to hide when he pooped in a diaper? Was there a particular place he liked to go at that time? Watch for him to do those same behaviors and rush him to the potty so that you can catch him and be excited to put it where it needs to go.

Even if he goes in underpants, take him with you to the bathroom (no scolding or anger) and show him how it gets dumped into the potty. If you catch him in the middle, put him on the potty anyway.

Stay positive. Be patient. And no, he's not too young.

1 mom found this helpful

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

pee training is different than poop training.. and day time training is different than overnight training...

give it time.. be positive... he will get it...

2 moms found this helpful
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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Remember that learning to use the toilet to poop can take longer time for many kids. Keep his diet high in fiber, don't stress about the pooping. You can also ensure he can loosen his muscles to defecate by having him sit when he goes pee as well, so that he's in the same position. He may need a while to get used to putting the poop in the potty-- many kids do. Power struggles on this often result in a child becoming constipated due to holding the poop in, so keep encouraging him in regard to peeing and if he needs to still ask for a diaper to poop, that's okay.

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

I speak from experience, after fighting this with my son for almost 3 years.
He'll do it when HE is good and ready. End of story.
Anything else beyond that, the only person you are training is yourself. To stress out about it.

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T.H.

answers from Topeka on

Exact same with our third. He would tell me when he had to do #2 by asking me to put on a diaper. It was maddening! We were actually at a park & he had to go, I had no diaper so he was forced to use the potty. Made a big deal of it, call Grandpa and he was excited for that. Good luck! Ours was 2 when this happened

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M.G.

answers from Tucson on

I had this problem with my son. He asked for a diaper when he had to go #2. It drove me crazy, but what I would do was remain calm, and encourage him to try the potty each time he asked. He would say no, and I would say ok. One day, though, he finally agreed. It took 2 months after he was pee trained. I just remained really upbeat and positive about it, and it worked out.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Boys are much slower than girls. For a boy he's young. If you think it's a choice then swat his hiney when he doesn't go for you.

If you do happen to agree with us that it's developmental then perhaps back off a bit and just keep rewarding him and encouraging him to go. Praise and reward are good incentives kids respond to.

I used single M&M's and Jelly Beans to reward the kids. 1 for pee and 2 for pooh. One of my friends used Hershey Kisses and another used the really small candy bars that come in a big bag.

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K.L.

answers from Dallas on

My little guy was fearful about having a bowel movement the day he potty trained. He held it until I had him sit on his training seat while I ran warm water over his feet. I know that sounds incredibly strange, but running warm water on his feet has soothed him since he was a newborn. He relaxed enough to be successful. After that it has been a non-issue. Perhaps there's something your son finds soothing that will help him relax.

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