Help - early riser and poo gate!

[Gurraun]

Ds1 is 4.5 and has just started reception. Every since toddlerhood he has been an early riser.

He has a groclock and in theory knows that if he wakes before the sun, he is to stay quietly in his room. However, he has a cunning ruse to get round this by going to the loo for a poo and then calling us to wipe his bum. He is totally resisting wiping his own bum and I think it is because it means he sees us at the crack of dawn when he is bored/lonely.

DH and I are thoroughly sick of this particularly as since he started school hia waking time as gone from 6 to closer to 5 (he's in bed 7/7.30).

My plan is to start consistently requiring him to do his own bum and explaining that if he goes before the sun comes up we will not come when he calls - he will have to do it himself (I don't think he actually needs to go then - just habit). I plan to support this with a star chart.

Has anyone experienced anything like this? Does what I plan to do sound sensible or is it mean? Any better ideas?

But how is he choosing when to poo? Surely if he needs to poo he needs to poo. As you say though, youur issue is to insist he wipes himself and simply to refuse to wipe for him.

I would give him a fast lesson in wiping, leave wipes out...then warn him that if he calls you to wipe him, you will be removing treats.

If he DOES wake you up by calling you in, ignore him. If he gets hysterical go in there, make him wipe...without engaging in ANY other way...not to shout or anything...and then direct him back to bed.