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Parenting

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Original poster

Dirty protest nightmare.

56 replies

Belleende · 31/10/2017 06:00

I have a 2.4 year old. She is an early riser, usually between 5 to 5.30, now even earlier with the clock change. When she wakes I go in, give her a drink and change her nappy and then I go back to bed. She has taken to then having a poo, taking her nappy off and it ends up all over her and the bedroom. It is vile. We have been delaying potty training as I am about to have dd2 and the advice seems to be to wait. Is there anything I can do to stop this that doesn't involve getting up at 5am?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

crimsonlake · 31/10/2017 17:32

Stop going back to bed and leaving her on her own. Yes parenting is hard, I had 18 months between my two. Either take her to your bed and let her play and watch something or go down with her.

Theresnonamesleft · 31/10/2017 18:17

Am I the only one with a 2 year old who could undo poppers?

As harsh as it seems as parents you will have to come up with a plan that means one of you is up in the morning. Early nights. Taking it in turns.

bigfatbumfreak · 31/10/2017 18:21

None of my children have smeared poo. Despite having full nappies for longer than perhaps they should have...all grown up now....are there other behavioural issues afoot here?

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CaptainsCat · 31/10/2017 18:23

Stop going back to bed. Obviously.

willothewisp17 · 31/10/2017 18:24

HipToBeSquare bit unnecessary comment, don't you think?

agree with the majority, looks like you're just going to need to get up with her and get on with it! there's no real way around about it cause either way she was poop everywhere from removing nappy or is dressed in a way she can't remove her nappy and is sitting in her own poop anyway, which isn't really fair on her!

Invisimamma · 31/10/2017 18:27

My ds woke at 4:30am for 18months, it was hellish we tried everything but he was just and early riser. You just need to get up with her.

The groclock worked when he was old enough to understand it, probably about 2 and a half and then he’s sleep until 6am. He’s 7 now and still wakes at 6am.

UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 31/10/2017 18:33

I’m sorry but I don’t agree with you leaving her for that long alone.
I get it, it is hard when they get up so early, and on top of that you’re pregnant, but that’s what young children do. The nappy thing sounds like anger/attention seeking. If so it’s worked so far hasn’t it? BUT if she’s had a poo and has to sit in it for like half an hour, do you think she might be doing this because she’s simply uncomfortable?
My daughter (who is younger) gets up early too, but I just go to bed earlier to accommodate this. It won’t be forever.

JigglyTuff · 31/10/2017 18:40

You just get up. Your eyes feel like someone has taken a nail file to them and your brain feels like mash but that’s what you do. You can’t leave a toddler alone

BrioAmio · 31/10/2017 20:08

😂 at all these people that start their day at 5am as soon as their toddler does, if only they we could all be so virtuous.

DS has always been an early riser and he is perfectly happy to sit in his room ‘reading’ books, id much prefer that to him watching TV downstairs, independent play is a great life skill (for me anyway!), I don’t see any problem with it what so ever and I will certainly not be starting my day before 7.30am (until the next one arrives)

I would either popper her up in a babygro or maybe pop a pull up over the nappy to deter removal.

Maybe consider potty training? I highly recommend the Oh! crap! Method, read the book and you might be pleasantly surprised!

ducktale · 31/10/2017 20:24

😂 at all these people that start their day at 5am as soon as their toddler does, if only they we could all be so virtuous

Wtaf, it’s not being virtuous it’s just being a parent. Independent play?! She’s smearing shit all over the walls. The solution is not to straightjacket her into a shitty nappy for 40mins while Mr tumble plays on a loop on the background.

lornathewizzard · 31/10/2017 20:40

To clarify my post suggesting popper vests wasn’t to say leave her in her shitty nappy, just if she’s quick about whipping it off it’ll buy some time.

Arf at the PP not starting her day until 7.30. Yeah that’s great if the kids are older but I can’t exactly abandon my 15mo early riser and leave him to his own devices!

minipie · 31/10/2017 20:43

Yes sorry I think your days of leaving her for 30-40 min are over. Especially if she's pooing at that time, even if you could find a way to keep the nappy on it would be awful to leave her in poo for ages. Go to bed early and take it in turns to get up with her.

Is she still napping? If so then ditch the nap and you may find it sorts the early mornings. If not, push her bedtime back a little each day.

TheEagle · 31/10/2017 21:07

Echo everyone saying bite the bullet and get up.

One of my twins is an early riser and won't be placated with cartoons and a snuggle. As for "playing quietly" in his room with "quiet" toys, that's a non-runner too as his twin is usually still slumbering when this guy wants up.

It's exhausting and eye-numbing but it usually only lasts a couple of weeks and co-includes with a growth spurt.

I had 18.5 months between my older boy and my twins; the early mornings when I was pregnant and working were so so so tough. I do feel for you OP.

Tweak the bedtime and nap times if you can and see if that sorts the early rising. Good luck

TheEagle · 31/10/2017 21:07

Co-includes?!

Co-incides

TheEagle · 31/10/2017 21:12

And she may just be waking that early because she needs to poo. All of mine went through a bit of a phase of early morning poo and it did pass eventually

flimflaminurjams · 31/10/2017 21:12

Get up with her, get her to help make her own breakfast or other things that will be useful when baby comes along.

Sorry but you have a pooey early riser. I know its hell (I've been there) but you have to accept it. Best way.

One day you will sleep again.

Afternooncatnap · 31/10/2017 21:16

Why can't you get up, change her, as you have been doing. Then instead of going back to bed, hovering around until she has the poo. Change her again, then stick on Mr tumble and go back to bed.

Original poster

Belleende · 31/10/2017 23:08

Just to be clear, she likes alone time in the morning, even given the choice she won't come out straight away. she gets up, has a chat with all her toys, tells off the ones who have been naughty (always mermaid, I think she may be a bit of a cow), has a bit of a sing song (recent favourite, Mary had a little man, which is so much funnier when your mum is called Mary and your dad is a wee man). This has been her pattern for months and it has worked for all of us. The dirty protest is recent.

For those who say just get up with her. I simply would not be able to function in work with a 4am start, which is her current wake up time. We used gro clock and reducing her nap to get us to 5.30ish before she asks to come out. That I can just about manage, but the clock change screwed all that up. She has always been an early riser and we have adapted to that, but 4am is just taking the piss. Hats off to you who can do that on top of a full time job.

I don't plan to lounge in bed whilst my daughter sits in her own shit, i just want her to keep the nappy on for long enough for me to change her, but she has it off in a flash. She tells me loud and clear at other times when she has pooped, just not first thing. I think she is ready for potty training, but all the advice seems to be don't start near a big event, like a new baby. And/or it is a bit of anxiety about new baby. Any which way it is no fun but getting up at 4am isn't either.

Also do people really not leave their 2.5yr olds to play on their own, in a fully child proofed bedroom? Mine on occasion takes herself up there just to chill. She stays there as long as she is happy to. I don't feel the need to supervise at all.

OP posts:

BrioAmio · 31/10/2017 23:47

Nope, it’s clearly just me and you that leave our children in childproof rooms to play!

Mine loves it although the clock change has meant he’s waking up and asking for the light on as it’s still dark, I’m debating the merits of a smart light bulb in his room!

BrioAmio · 31/10/2017 23:50

* Arf at the PP not starting her day until 7.30. Yeah that’s great if the kids are older but I can’t exactly abandon my 15mo early riser and leave him to his own devices!*

Neither did I when mine was a baby but since about 2.5 he has been perfectly happy to stay in his room, on his own, after waking up, at 15months he had only just learnt to put himself in a seated position unaided.

chloechloe · 01/11/2017 04:55

Morning everyone! The clock change is indeed evil but just get up and get on with it!

Newmanwannabe · 01/11/2017 05:06

Have you tried not giving her the milk? That's probably what is making her poo as it's getting her gut moving. What would she do if you just changed her nappy?

ImSoExhausted · 01/11/2017 05:17

Jesus. Maybe it's because my DS has SEN, but I couldn't imagine him being awake whilst we're asleep/dozing! his room only has his bed in and a beanbag - complete with baby gate, and I still couldn't bare the thought of leaving him to his own devices whilst we're awake!

You say you can't handle 4am wake ups? Go to bed earlier, try drinking a berroca (think it's safe in pregnancy) I think she might be telling you she wants attention in the morning time. Could you maybe lie on her bed for the 40 minutes or so?

Definitely yes to the pp who said no milk, it definitely causes poo!

For what it's worth, DS is a poo smearer and it's awful. Be thankful yours is contained to just the bedroom! (The dining room was the worst one 😷) what helped with for us is just being there (NOT in the other room!) and the minute we heard a grunt, praising him and continuous repeating that we were changing his nappy (we also used an object of reference as DS is non-verbal, so it should be even easier with a child who understands)

I know early mornings are hard, ours vary from 3:30am to 5:00, mainly the 3:30 ones if I'm honest. It's just something you have to do, especially if you have a child that can't be left alone for 40 minutes, which you obviously do now

Ledkr · 01/11/2017 05:23

Just take it in turns to get up.
We got up for years at 4.30 but alternating it made it just about bearable.
Try looking at nap timings and late in the day excercise to try and get her sleeping later.

SatansLittleHelper2 · 01/11/2017 05:26

Owner of a smearer here, this is my forte......what you need is a swimsuit (( the shortie type with a zipper )) on back to front and a onesie on top.

And leave both doors open so you can hear her and stop it happening. Yes I know the early mornings are painful but lets face it clearing up shit is even worse.

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