Hysterical ds when it comes to poo-ing in potty! Help!

[jos1]

DS been wee-ing really well on potty for last two and a half weeks since we began training. Aged 2 1/2 years. Barely any accidents.

However, is absolutely hysterical (I mean hysterical!) about poo-ing on a potty/trainer seat! To the point that 3 days ago, he was absolutely rigid with fear (?) for at least 45 mins post event, and I could barely move his rigid limbs to get the pooey clothes off. Poor chap was more traumatised than I've ever seen him, and I was pretty close behind!

Didn't want to, but have since resorted to offering a nappy for poos. This has been working fine for three days. No hysteria, tears or anxiousness. He says a poo is coming and that he needs a nappy and hey presto! Then nappy off and back into pants for rest of day. But where do we go from here? Is this okay? I'm naturally terrified of trying again, but beach hols in week and a half when he will be naked mostly. Any suggestions? Don't want to do the wrong thing but equally, as the pee-ing part is working so well, don't want to lose what achievements he has made... Thx!

Maybe he is scared by the 'dropping' feeling he experiences when using the potty?

A trick i have used in the past is the sit them on the potty on top of a loo roll strip strung over the potty from side to side so to gentle cradle the pooh, rather than it falling away so quickly.

My ds is 3.4 and asks for a nappy for poos. I am sure he will get over it in time. It was the same as you, he potty trained fine for wees but scared of poos! Funny buggers aren't they?

My dd was dry shortly before she was 3, but had a nappy for a poo for nearly 18 months. She used to get hysterical at the thought of using the toilet, had a real phobia about it. We tried everything, but she wasn't having any of it, and in the end it was less stressful for us all to let her have a nappy when she needed one.

If you are happy giving him a nappy then give him a nappy - time and patience will get him there in the end.

Thks for the words of encouragement. Will continue with potty for pees and nappies for poos.

So relieved to hear it from Wigwambam. My dd1 is 3 1/2 and also has complete phobia about the loo and poos. Afraid of the plop and splash she says. Otherwise dry day and night since 2 yo.I have decided to have faith in the fact that she will, hopefully before too long, decide for herself that there is nothing to be afraid of. Her baby sister has pooed on the loo with great confidence since 1.10 yo but has not helped to encourage dd1. Am I to understand that your daughter is over it now?

From reading various threads on this I think its a common issue and the consensus always seems to be that you have to treat the wee process and poo process as 2 seperate things in potty training. My lo will give himself constipation before he poos in the potty and hops round holding his bum tears rolling down his face at the mere thought of it so we do the nappy thing. Once he's got over it and he's ready for that side then we'll direct him to the potty once more!!!