Child is Pee Trained but Won’t Poop in the Potty? Here are a Couple of Things to Try!

Here is another of my "Question and Answer" Series based on emails I've received from parents who are following my The Potty Boot Camp toilet training program - this one regarding a child who won't poop in the potty.

QUESTION:

I recently purchased your e-Book. I have a 28 month old daughter who we've successfully potty trained over the last few weeks - that is for #1. We have had only 2 accidents (both during naps) over the past 2 weeks.

However, #2 isn't going so well. I've tried some of the tricks already listed in the book about pooping (Chapter 9, such as having her help clean it up, catching her in the act, etc), but she won't poop on the potty. She uses an adapter seat on the adult toilet to pee. We have a small potty for the floor, but she treats this like a toy and has no desire to potty or poop in it.

I've tried catching her in the act and we've had just one instance where she'll finish on the toilet. The rest of the time - she'll sit there and sit there - we'll read books, etc. But 5-10 minutes after she gets off of the toilet she'll poop in her panties.

Any other ideas? I'm going to try the "poop presents" idea today. She is in love with The Backyardigans and has even asked for a specific movie that she saw at the store the other day.

Her vocabulary is great and we have words for all the bodily functions. When you ask her where she's supposed to poop, she'll say "in the toilet."

Any ideas?

ANSWER:

The "poopy present box" is definitely the first thing to start with. Sometimes finding the right motivator is the real key to success. That and a LOT of praise. I've also found that talking about it a LOT during the day in general conversation is also important.

Do you think that there is any fear involved? If so, the book It Hurts When I Poop!: A Story for Children Who Are Scared to Use the Potty
can be helpful. Have you tried leaving her alone and giving her privacy? For some kids, that is the reason for the hesitation.

Let me know how it goes after the present box and/or trying to give her privacy. There is another technique listed in the book called "gradual withdrawal" that I call explain to you later if needed!

For more about the "gradual withdrawal" method please keep checking back to The Potty Boot Camp Blog for future posts!

Post by Suzanne Riffel, author of "The Potty Boot Camp: Basic Training for Toddlers" - a new, fast, easy toilet training method that produces remarkable results.

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