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Behaviour/development

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playing with poo at 20months

1 reply

Sparklemez · 04/08/2010 20:51

My daughter has, in the last month or so, had four occasions where she's done a poo while in bed for a nap or sleep and not yet asleep. She is quite quiet and doesn't cry, and eventually we check on her as she's heard chattering away to find that she's picking the poo out from the side of her nappy and spreading it on her, all the cot stuff and the wall - quite happy about it all too!

We clean up calmly and efficiently and without telling her off, and then she goes back in bed and to sleep quite fast! Tonight DH told her calmly she must tell us if she's done a poo, and that poos go in the loo, she mustn't touch it. We both know that though she understands many things this is a complex thing for her to get, but feel it's the appropriate starting point to keep repeating...

So, until it's cool enough for her to be put to bed in long bottoms or sleeping bag, and obstruct her access to poo (!), are there any other things worth trying? I'm not worried it per se, just not mad keen on it!

PS - She's not ready for potty training: she understands poo and wee go in the loo or potty but never sits on either for long but I had thought about having a try for a poo on the potty before bed and can't see her staying there.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Chil1234 · 05/08/2010 08:29

Even though she isn't ready for potty training I would still try that route. And maybe a trainer seat on the toilet itself rather than a potty - the contents are less accessible. If she can get the message that poo is 'flushed away' that might help. Also, try to refer to poos as 'dirty' with a suitably 'ewww' revolted look on your face and a very firm 'no' to go with it. That might help more than being 'calm and efficient'... which could be misinterpreted as approval.

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