Potty Training: Peeing Vs. Pooping - Help Needed!

Updated on September 03, 2008
J.V. asks from Mission Viejo, CA
5 answers

Dear Mommies:

My husband and I are a bit overwhelmed in regards to getting our 3 and a half year old daughter to poop on the potty. We are so proud of her for her willingness to pee on the potty and toilet starting this past weekend and her willingness to wear panties all day until bedtime (where I put on a pull up). But, she is "scared" (she says) to poopy on the potty. We have had constipation issues with her a lot this year and I have been trying to increase the fiber in her diet so they don't come about (believing that it's a diet issue vs. a mental one up until this point). Well, it just may be a little of both, huh? So, regardless of being with her, holding her hand, reading a long book, bribery of all sorts, etc....she is emotionally a wreck when it goes to poopy on the potty. We feel awful for her. Even tho we told her no more diapers (except for bedtime), we're considering abiding by her requests to put on a pull up when she needs to poop - just so she won't become further constipated. I have read about kids who pee on the toilet for quite some months before going poopy. The whole "when they are ready - they are ready" idea. Also - just FYI - we gave her a natural laxative this past Thursday when she was showing signs of constipation (right before panty wearing and pee-pee on potty training) and when she just couldn't hold it in any longer, we dragged her to the toilet to poop in the toilet...she was not happy about that AT ALL! When I bent her board-like body in half, it made her poop out into the toilet. We COMPLETELY celebrated the happening and even bought her the prize we've been talking about since the holiday season for pooping on the potty. Now my Little Miss Smarty Pants (she is really very bright) wants us to RETURN the prize because she doesn't want to go poopy on the potty. ARGH! Help or thoughts of any kind will be gladly taken! Maybe there is a poopy therapist out there... :) I'd TAKE her to one!

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B.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi, J.. My son did the same thing! He was an emotional wreck anytime he had to poop and it was really hard to see him suffering. We would offer him a diaper to poop in, but he never wanted one. I think he was really scared. But! After 1 1/2 weeks of this, he finally got over it. I tried to bring the potty with us where ever we were in the house... even the backyard. It took some timing, but right at the moment when he couldn't hold it anymore, he would run to us crying, and we would put him on the potty. He had no choice but for it to go in there. He wasn't happy about it, but everytime got a little better. We also gave BIG treats (an entire cupcake that he helped make) when he went poop on the potty. I think this is a true fear for some, but hang in there, it will pass! Now we've been accident free for almost a month!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi
I read somewhere that kids think a part of them is being flushed away. So, we would wave bye bye to the poop and wish it well on its journey. Sounds crazy but it worked. There is a great book out there called "everyone poops", which makes for some entertaining reading. As for the constipation I would try prune juice and fiber one yogurt. I dont recommend going back to pull-ups as I think it will reverse what she has learned so far. Ask her what she is afraid of, and try to address that. Last resort: try bribing her with CANDY
Good luck

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J.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm no such therapist :) However I have a suggestion. There is a great fruit drink that helps in 'easing the ellimination'. It's not going to give anyone 'the runs' but it will soften the process and also is very beneficial to deeper sleep and more smiles during the day...Durian Fusion. You can purchase it from me: 30% discount. ###-###-#### (30 day $ back guarantee) 1 btl has 66 servings for children - great deal. Also been found very beneficial for Autistic ADD/DHD children. Learn more then contact me for discount: www.1000moms1000dollars.com/4health

1 mom found this helpful
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J.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

hello! i had troble getting my daughter to go poopoo in the toilet too. i tried everything, yes even the bribs that you arnt supose to do! lol what i ended up doing is i made a chart giving room for 4-5 stickers she would get a sticker every time she putt poopoo in the toilet once her chart had a ll the stickers we took her to disneyland! you could also say she will get a party pizza cake and on present! kids love parties, but mine went for the disneyland idea. i would just tell her about the chart and then try to leave it up to her, remind her of the celebration but dont push her. and also see if you have a the right toilet for her. a potty chair may be easier and it doesnt flush. or maybe she wants to be like mommy and daddy on the big toilet. plus my little girl wanted privacy. also sometimes kids get use to going inthe diaper in a certain place in the home you could put a potty chair in that place till she gets use to the toilet. hope these ideas help. dont worry it WILL happen! good luck!
J.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am in the same boat! My daugher is completely "pee" trained and has been since February! We were happy with the "pee" at first, but she still refuses to go poopy on the potty. We took away the pull-ups for a while and she got constipated.

She is now on a regular schedule, and knows to go in the am, or in the early evening, as she goes to preschool. She luckily has never had an accident.

We have tried bribery small and big (Candy to Dolls to Disneyland) All of these items are still sitting in the bathroom, and she tells us she doesn't want them.

When she has to go....she runs upstairs, strips naked, finds a pull-up and goes in a corner to poop. She then finds mommy or daddy and hands us the box of wipes. We told her once we didn't want to change her anymore, but that only back fired on us! When we ask her, she says she can't push it out on the potty and likes to sit.

I have tried potty chairs, seats, everything...can't tell you how much I have spent! If you find the secret...please let me know! I know this isnt much help, but I can at least sympathize! I know she will have to figure this out before Kindergarten! (We hope) :-)

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