Help! My 3 Yr. Old Is Afraid of the Automatic Flush!!!

Updated on July 08, 2008
J.M. asks from Saddle Brook, NJ
16 answers

Oh my! My 3 yr. old is doing well with using the potty except for 2 fears. The first is she won't use an automatic flushing toilet unless I sit on it with her and even then is still reluctant. The second problem is she won't poop because she is afraid of the "plop!" Anyone else experience anything like this? How did you overcome these fears?
Thanks in advance,
Jen

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for the great ideas with the automatic flush! I actually feel stupid for not thinking of covering the sensor! DUH! I like the idea of post it notes! As for the plop factor, we have the little potty with no water but she just won't do it. I guess she needs a little more time? Thanks again for all the great advice! It helpd to know I'm not alone in this crazy world of potty psychology! Jen

Featured Answers

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K.K.

answers from New York on

Hi J....my kids don't like the automatic flush either...I block the sensor with my hand (without touching it, but just put it in front of it to hide it) or I wrap a piece of toilet paper around it so that it doesn't go off while they are on the potty. I like the idea of post-it notes though - have to try that as it sounds easier...

Good luck to you!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.E.

answers from New York on

For the automatic toilets, stick a Post-It note over the electronic eye, so the toilet cannot 'see' to flush. You can then flush it manually by pushing the button once she is off (or even out of the stall).

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A.B.

answers from New York on

Regarding the automatic flush, this piece of advice was in Paretning Magazine: keep a pad of sticky notes in your pocketbook. When you use a toilet with an automatic flush, put one of the sticky notes over the sensor.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from New York on

Not sure what to do about the plop, but I've heard if you carry a pad of Post-It notes in your purse, you can stick one over the flusher sensor and it won't flush while he's on there. Hope that helps!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.Z.

answers from Binghamton on

J.,

Just use a little potty chair when you are at home...no flush and no plop to scare her, then for when you are out, there are great portable potty chairs. I saw them online at onestepahead.com they are a little potty seat with legs that fold out from underneath and you can put it on the ground or even in the van, then you put a bag that they sell or I just put a grocery bag and some paper towels to catch the pee. Throw away the bag when done. Simple as can be. Stay away from the big public potty for now. They are scary.

D.

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C.B.

answers from Buffalo on

Automatic flush solution....carry pot it notes with you....put a post it over the sesor and it won't flush!

The #2 issue....well that has it work itself out. Mydaughter felt the same and when we got sick of her going in a diaper we stopped giving her a diaper and she then HAD to go on the potty. Have you tried letting her go in the bathroom when you are in there?
Tough love!

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S.D.

answers from New York on

can't help with the automatic flusher, but thought i'd share that i have a 3.5 yo who has been completely pee potty trained since dec., but still refuses to poop on the potty. i can't get an answer why (just "b/c i dont want to"). she gets her own diaper and brings it to me, then i change her back into underwear. anyone have any suggestions for this? i can tell you that absolutely no reward/bribe has worked!!! thanks!

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M.L.

answers from New York on

Hi J. this is my first response your concern really came through. I have read in several parenting magazines regarding this exact issue. Parents have been carrying post it notes and covering the sensor. I dont know if it works as I personally havent tried it. Perhaps you can try it like a game for example "I found a way to trick the toilet want to help me try it out?" something like that I believe will help her feel sort of an empowerment. Regarding the plop while pooping - well dont laugh I hate that too. So my mom showed me that if you just put some tissue in the bowl before the act it should work like a cushion. Hope these help. Cheers M.

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L.W.

answers from Rochester on

ha yes that sounds firmiliar! my son who just turned 5 a couple months ago had this for probably two and a half years. he wouldn't use a public toliet unless he could flush it cause he didn't want it to flush him down while he was sitting on it. he hated the loud noise it was really hard to get him to realize that even if he did fall in it wouldn't flush him. he likes them now cause he doesn't have to flush it when hes done. we showed him the sensor behind the toliet and he started sitting sideways and waving his hand in front of it so it didn't flush till he was done, it worked! we got him to joke about it too after awhile by asking him everytime it flushed and he was still on the toliet if he fell in or if he was done. if the joking doesn't work just make sure she knows that if she sits still it flushes so if she waves her hand on the sensor it won't flush till she's done. i know its more sanitary with toliets that flush on their own but it makes potty training that much harder in public places cause they are so loud and scare kids! well good luck and hopefully she gets over her toliet fear soon.
L.

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T.M.

answers from Utica on

let your 3 yr old use the potty chair, there is no water in it, and so there is no plop or splash. i let them use it until they were comfortable with wanting the big potty on their own. we kept one in the car if we went to someone else's house that did not have a potty. might be a little inconvienet, but it worked. they can also be afraid of falling in and getting sucked down with the poop.

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J.P.

answers from Albany on

My girls were the same way. I started carrying around bandaids and when we used a public toilet I put the bandaid on the sensor for the auto flush. Now it won't flush on them until they are off and by the door and I remove the bandaid. Works great.

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M.K.

answers from New York on

This is gonna sound crazy but my oldest was afraid of the plop, and spray afterwards LOL

The sensor is easy just block it with your hand or a few sheets of paper,

for the plop and back splash

Toss in few sheets of toilet paper. it cushions the blow LOL
its not very GREEN but works,

also positioning their bums forward on the seat so the poop hits the actual bowl and not the water.

Good luck

M

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J.W.

answers from New York on

I learned something that has worked GREAT when it comes to these toilets, my four year old is petrified of them and has actually jumped off the toilet midstream if she thinks it's going to flush. If you lay a piece of toilet paper over the sensor it will not flush until you take that paper off. It's such a simple solution, but life saving LOL!!! With the pooping situation, how about using a little potty without any water, we used one of those potties until my oldest was almost five for those reasons.

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C.R.

answers from Syracuse on

put a piece of toliet paper over the sensor so it won't flush while she's on it...we refer to them as "magic potties" and that took away the scariness for my tribe...this too shall pass, but can you blame her public bathrooms are not the most comfortable place to be :)

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L.L.

answers from Syracuse on

My elementary school daughter is afriad of it as well. I often go in the stall as well and hold my hand over the sensor to make sure it doesn't go off until she is dressed and standing outside the stall.

Is this tolit in your house or when you are out and around? if its in your house the suggestions of a little tolit sounds like it might be worth trying.

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A.A.

answers from New York on

I've read in Parenting Mag, to keep post-it notes in your purse. When you go to a public restroom you can put the post it over the sensor to keep it from flushing while your child is doing her business.

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