Dirty protest - how to discipline?

[Whirliwig72]

Arrrrgh having bad day (not sure if this should go here or in potty training. 3 yr old DS did the thing I've always feared most today about child rearing - a dirty protest. Took him up for his nap, there was some resistance but this is normal. All was quiet (we don't use a monitor any more) but when I checked on him 90 mins later he was sitting up on bed muttering to himself with poo smeared all over his cot bed :( He's currently sitting in his cleaned room while I decide how to deal with / punish this behaviour. Any ideas?

I'd try to ignore it as much as possible and just try to get him to a potty or change his nappy ASAP.

What prompts children to do this? At 3 must know its wrong surely?

He could have had an accident.... could have been curiosity about nappy contents. I wouldn't overreact or it may encourage the idea that this is a fun way to make mum go . Potty-training sounds like an excellent idea.

Hmmmm ok I haven't shouted much but I'm so mad at him right now I can't look at him. He knows poos go in the loo. I can't have him doing this. The 7 mnth ds2 is just starting crawling and puts everything in his mouth

Then flip it around, suppress the urge to get cross and consider giving the 3yo a lot, lot more attention and praise for being so clever and grown-up using the potty etc... unlike the baby who can only crawl around eating random rubbish. Behaving like a baby as a way of getting attention wouldn't be unusual in older toddlers.

Ignore

I actually think he gets far too much attention - poor baby hardly gets a look in as he takes so much of or time, energy and patience. Oh FFs sorry guys just needed to vent !

Just to edit angry at toddler not you lovely lot in case it came out wrong!

I do understand how frustrating it is. I used to look after a friend's two year old son occasionally and he did this several times. I was horrified as my kids never played with their poo!

I told his mum obviously but made sure I kept an eagle eye on him - I think he just thought it was fun and a reaction would have made it 'funnier' .

Perhaps this is his way of telling you he doesn't need a nap anymore.