Child Won’t Poop in Potty
- August 29, 2017
- by Melissa Lawrence
A mom of a three-year old boy wrote in concerned that her toddler is afraid to poop in the potty. He will pee in the potty, but only poop in a diaper. This type of potty training poop anxiety is quite common and I saw it with some of my own kids. In today’s video, I throw this poor mama out some tips.
Potty training veteran? Weigh in with your tips below!
Potty Training Poop Problems
Many toddlers are afraid to poop in the potty. You sit them down to poop, read a book, stay all smiley and positive and nothing comes. Up you stand and out of the bathroom you go and HOLY MOLY, there’s a new present in your child’s underwear or training pants and you’re left there with your shoulders shrugged saying “WHAAATT?” It’s frustrating, but get used to it. They don’t call it potty training for nothing. Potty training takes time, practice, patience and a sense of humor. You also have to adapt to each child to see what works for him or her.
How to Potty Train
I’ve filmed quite a few videos at this point on how to start potty training which you can find HERE. Generally, I recommend reducing stress by not talking about the issue, offering small rewards such as a Hershey’s Kiss, a crayon or a toy car, and making the potty generally a stress-free positive experience. When it comes to this poop issue, I advise trying to get a sense of your child’s rhythm. Some of my kids have always tended to go in the morning after breakfast, others after dinner. One always goes when he gets home from school. It varies. Knowing your child’s rhythm can help because you can try to sit your child down at that moment.If getting a sense of your child’s personal potty schedule proves challenging, try at least sitting them down for just five minutes after each meal. If many accidents ensue, try every hour. But only for short stints: the potty should not become your child’s sofa because he will begin to resent that time, which is the opposite of what you’re working towards.
Apart from pinning down a rhythm and frequent, short visits, I recommend never criticizing accidents but always applauding successes, small rewards, and avoiding the issue as a topic of conversation. I also avoid not listening to others who brag that they were potty trained by age 1. PLLEEAASE!
For more details on these tips and tidbits from my own experience, watch my video.
Thanks for tuning in.
Melissa
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