Potty Training - Mabelvale, AR

Updated on August 20, 2008
L.R. asks from Mabelvale, AR
16 answers

I'm requesting any tips to help with potty training a cute but stubborn little boy. My 2 1/2 year old is doing ok with the potty training except when it comes to doing number 2. He will hide and poop or simply squat and poop in his underwear. But he will go to the potty to do number 1. I've tried just about everything I can think of to get him to use the potty for number 2. Help me please!!!

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So What Happened?

My cousin told me he'd do it when he was ready. That a light bulb would go off...and it did. I really can't explain it. We got him enrolled in a pre-K program that I'd been waiting to hear from. I told my son that he'd have to boo-boo in the potty so he could go to school. Maybe that did it. Whatever it was, I'm so happy that it happened. He's so excited when he poops. He yells out...I boo-boo'd. He even wakes up to go.

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A.S.

answers from Dothan on

DD used the potty before she was 2. DS was 4. They each learn when they are ready. I wouldn't rush it, because it's so easy when they are ready and want to do it.

A.

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M.P.

answers from Little Rock on

I have 3 year old twin girls and I experienced the EXACT same thing with them. I would take them to the bathroom and set them on the stool even after it was already in the pull-up or panties. In the beginning they cried when I took them to the stool, but it made them realize that this is where we go #2. And, not to sound yucky . . . but I would also flush the nasty so they could see what happens next. Then the first time each did the number 2 in the potty. We had a big celebration. We clapped and cheered and sometimes even danced around a little. On one of the twins I had to bribe her with cookies. But, I only had to bribe a couple of times and then the celebration afterward was all she needed. Everyone said, "It will happen. It just takes time." I hated hearing that . . . but it was true. With persistance and patience it will happen. It just takes time. Smiles!

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D.B.

answers from New Orleans on

how about when you feel the need to do the Number 2 take him with you and have him sit on his potty. Then make a big deal out of your success. Hopefully he will feel the excitement and poop there at the same time. If he's not able to do it in that moment he will enjoy celebrating your success and look forward to his turn! You must celebrate the successes, and not scold the accidents but simply show the difference between clean and dirty pants and wet& dry pants. Then offer encouraging words for the next time he feels the peepee or poopoo coming. he'll run to the potty with excitement!

Making it fun helps it along! Good Luck...

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A.M.

answers from Tulsa on

Well, i have a 2 1/2 year old boy also. And i was wondering the same thing about the pooping. He would just go in his underwear without saying anything untill he was done. So I started looking online for answers... i found an article through parents magazine and it was talking about how it takes anywhere from ages 18 months to 3 years old to be able to control that muscle down there that lets them hold it long enough to get to the potty. I don't know how true this is but it has kept me from getting mad each time that he goes in his underwear. It also seems to have taken alot of stress off of all of us not pushing him so much.

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R.E.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I'd recommend reading the relevant chapter in John Rosemond's "Making the Terrible Two's Terrific!" Also, my husband had the same issue until he was about four, when his parents in frustration handed him over to his grandmother, who made him wash out his underwear after he soiled them. He never soiled his underwear again.

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B.V.

answers from Enid on

I use to take the poo-poo from a soiled diaper and put it in the potty. And then make a special point to celebrate when flushing it down the big potty. Just helps give them the idea of where that stuff belongs.
B.

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P.H.

answers from Jackson on

Hello L. R. My son was 3 in May and we had the same problem. Just as doing the number 1 came natural, number 2 will as well. I had to watch for cues from my son. Just as your son does when it's time for the number 2, mine did as well. When I found him doing that, I would immediately make him go and sit on the potty. Guess what, he eventually got the message that he could do both in the potty. It's a task but he will get it. He's doing wonderful to be trained at 2 1/2. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!

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M.L.

answers from Fayetteville on

My daughter had the same issue. She would hold it until naptime even though she had been trained with #1 for quite awhile. I couldn't figure it out for the longest time. Finally I realized she really didn't know how to make herself go on the toilet. I started working on getting her to relax on the toilet around the time she normally went. I'm not sure what finally clicked, but once she went once in the toilet, she was trained, so she just had to figure it out. One suggestion I had heard was that some kids need their feet to be able to touch the ground while they do it, so if you are using the big toilet instead of the little one, use a stool or something for them to put their feet on. I hope he figures it out soon. Don't push him too hard. We tried that and it completely back-fired on us.
M. :)

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L.W.

answers from Mobile on

I think we have just successfully finished potty training with our 2 1/2 year old daughter. Like your son, she had the same trouble with number 2. She would have a fit and beg to be put in a pull-up when she had to go, or she would do it at naptime when she was in a diaper. So finally, we held strong. We would refuse to put her in a pullup and we started using diapers only for nighttime. I was worried, she held it in for three days. On the fourth day I made a poopy chart for the bathroom and loaded up a jar of m&ms. That afternoon she pooped on the potty. She has gone everyday now- 13 in a row- without any problem or accidents. She gets an m&m every time she poops(and often when she just pees simply because I can't resist her) and after 7 stickers, which she picks out and puts on the chart each time, she gets to pick one toy from an assortment of toys that I got from the dollar store.

Of course, my daughter has always been resistant to going potty in her big girl underwear, so this might be more difficult for you. But stay strong and positive and he will get it when he is ready and you don't think you can handle it another second. Good luck!

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A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

I have 3 year old twin girls. I went through the same thing with one of my girls. I just kept telling her not to poo poo in her panties that it is yucky. I would ask her where she is supposed to make poo poo & she would say the potty. If she looked like she was ready to go I would take her to the potty. I would reward her with a sticker & make a big deal about it. She eventually got it & now goes on her own. Hang in there. He will get it.

A.

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J.S.

answers from Little Rock on

it's good for a 2 1/2 yr old boy to be going even #1 in the potty and they're all different. Some don't like to be dirty yet some don't care. He'll probably get it before 3! I'd just really praise him when/if he does, or even when he goes pee, so he'll want that praise, and not give him negative attention when he poops in his diaper, but make it seem like no big deal, and maybe he'll see to get attention, he needs to use the potty. good luck!

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V.B.

answers from Alexandria on

I would try to think of what he likes to do most or eat most and tell him every time he goes to the bathroom he gets that reward. Another way is using reverse psychology such as "I know you can't do that for Mama" so maybe he will show you that he can, hopefully. He shouldn't want you to really think that he can't. When he does do what he should do, be sure and praise him for it. "You are such a big boy now. I am so proud of you. Great job, I knew you could do it!! Never say, bad boy, bad boy. You get what you speak to a child. Also, pray about it all. He is still very young. And sometimes it takes time for them to be ABLE to control all the bodily functions.

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L.W.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I had daughters but I noticed with them that if I made a big deal out of the times that they used the rest room like they were supposed to that this made them more inclined to do so again.

Number 2 is kind of private and he probably feels like that is a time he wants to be alone.

I have a sister who used to turn the lights off to do number 2

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K.Q.

answers from Little Rock on

My pediatrician/friend talked about training them to the diaper for a poop. They wear regular underwear. They tell you when they have to poop and you say 'ok, lets go put a diaper on to catch the poop.' then take it off as soon as they're done with the business. The ideas is to train them to a diaper for the poop.

Best of luck - I'm about to start down that same road with my little boy.

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K.S.

answers from Birmingham on

Don't push it. My oldest now 14 did not feel comfortable with going number 2 on the potty until she was 4. Let them go when they are ready. My 8 year old did not go until she was 3.

Hang in there Mom,

K.

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J.S.

answers from Enid on

have him 'help' clean himself up after he poops. make sure a little gets on his hands. we did this with my son, he totally grossed out, and has never pooped in his pants again! i was at my wits end and a friend of mine with a daycare told me to try this and it worked.

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