22mo pooing in the bath

[KW89]

My 22 month old son had never pooed in the bath until about 2 weeks ago, and has done it (or tried to) everytime since. Sometimes I can tell he is about to and ask 'do you need a poo?' and he will say yes, on these occasions I have sat him on the toilet, he will sit there, but he hasn't gone, and then hasn't gone in his nappy either.
I don't think he is doing it to be naughty. When he does it I tell him 'we don't poo in the bath. Poo goes in nappy or toilet.' He has also stood up and wee'd twice. It's the only time he has his nappy off, so maybe he's starting to get some bowel control and testing it out when he's nappy free?
He has occasionally over the last few weeks told us his nappy is wet, or that he has done a poo, when he wants changing, but this is not consistant, sometimes only once every other day, we are going to get a potty as thinking he may be more comfortable on that rather than me hovering him over the toilet when he is about to poo in the bath, but I don't think he is ready for potty training yet. (plus we do have baby due in 5 weeks, so would like to hang on til after that if poss!)
Grateful for any advice!

[BagsyThisName]

Oh dear we had this at this age, and we also had a new baby in the mix.

What size nappies is he in? Someone suggested to us that at that age their poos are big and pretty hard to squeeze it into a nappy. They get into the bath and relax and.....

I got very good at spotting the about-to-poo face. Sympathy!!

[Smartiepants79]

My eldest DD went through this phase.
Not really sure why. She did it for a few weeks then stopped. She was potty training if I remember right.
Not much help but it is common I thhink.

[KW89]

He is in size 4 and still has plenty of room, usually goes twice a dayish and doesn't seem to have a problem fitting it in! I feel like I'm looking for the poo face the whole time he is in the bath now!!
Really don't think he is ready for the potty training, was thinking I'd wait til he is asking us consistantly to change him, but to be honest I'm not quite sure where to start with the potty training, I don't want to push him, would rather wait til he is ready. Hopefully it will just be a phase for him too, was hoping while I'm washing baby in baby bath on bathroom floor he would sit and play in the big bath, but it's going to be tricky if I have to watch for the poo face while washing baby!

[Crazyqueenofthecatladies]

Dd went through this stage and as she's the youngest I don't think it's a response to new baby thing. Ds did it once or twice too... I think it's in the early stages of them learning to control their bowels, the water relaxes them and they find it a nicer experience than using a nappy, or it might even be involuntary. Dd used to be mortified. We tried not to make a big deal of it, although her big brother was never thrilled. She stopped after a few weeks.

[Piratejones]

If you are worrying then use a swim nappy until you feel confident again. To be honest i'd wait as long as i could to potty train with the baby on the way.