Hiding in the park

[ladynade]

DS saves his poos for the park where he goes off and wants me to hide far away from him! Before we go to the park I am either at home or shopping and we go to the toilet and he never wants to go-infact he writhes,cries and creates such a fuss I can't contain him on the toilet and he just repeats "i'm not ready, I'm not ready" - but i know that he is and sure enough in the park 10 mins later out it comes....i'm so frustrated he will be 3 in august...any suggestions? I think I am making it worse

Hmmm. I don't know but here's an unexpert load of babble to get you thinking. I would try to make it appear like it didn't matter if he did a poo before he went out so he didn't feel pressured but would offer a reward for doing so (sticker/chocolate), just to start with and clap like mad if he does. Sounds like you go to the park a lot. Every day? Perhaps you could have that as a reward for doing the poo in the right place (not "you can't go to the park unless you do it" but more "If you can do a poo for me, Mummy will take you to the park for being a good boy"? What do you do when he poos in the park? Do you just change him without comment? That's what I would do, not that I've been doing this for long.

Could he be too private to do it in front of you and does it in the park because he can be completely on his own there? Have you tried turning not to look at him when he's on the loo?

Yes I think I have to be consistent with my reward systems for him - i have stickers in my bag but i forget to give them to him sometimes..in the park i change him and try and appear relaxed and that it doesnt matter but on the other hand I feel that this is reinforcing that its fine to do poos in the park. My mum says that i have to take him straight home and just tell him that I have to change him at home and soon he will associate that if he does it in his underpants outside we'll be heading straight home-it feels so cruel and he loves the park so much. I hate how I'm handling it I'm sure I'm not doing it all very well at all

Don't knock yourself. I'm sure you are doing a good job. I think that your Mum's idea sounds a good one. As long as you do it in a kind and matter of fact way, it won't sound cruel.