Wees OK but DS scared of pooing in the potty

[Joeymac]

We've been potty training DS1 (2.4) for a week now and wees are going well - I'd say about 75% of the time he tells me even when we're out and we get there on time. However he is hysterical about pooing in his potty. There's lots of screaming and holding in and whinging for me to put his trousers on as I think he wants to poo in them. After about an hour of this yesterday I only managed to catch half his poo in the potty (the rest on the floor) by bribing him with his advent calendar. Same again today.

He's not constipated but I'm concerned because he seems so upset by it. However I also don't want to go backwards and cave in by letting him have nappies to poo in. I've shown him how his poo goes down the toilet and we wave bye bye to it but he just seems so scared of actually pooing in the potty. Has anyone had the same?

This is really common. Best thing is to go with it for a bit or he may well end up constipated or totally regress and refuse to use the potty for wees too. He's still pretty young to be potty training. Poos regularly come last in terms of 'getting it'.

Take a step back for a week. when he wants to poo, put a nappy on him. After a week or so, try lining a potty with a nappy, plus the bribe of a chocolate for a poo on the potty and go from there.

Poos in the potty/loo can take a long time to sort. Stressing him (and you!) will make it take even longer.

It's because, apparently, it feels like part of them is falling away.

HTH

We have had this problem for months with DD (2.6). She has been fine with wees, but the poo's have been a real battle.

As spud suggested, we resorted to pull ups when I knew she needed a poo, although she only goes every few days, so wasn't too often!

Finally this week we have had a break through - 2 poos on the pot & she told me she needed both of them! I guess they will do it when they are ready. Very frustrating in the mean time though!

I am in the same position with ds (2.3)- wees in the potty fine, no problems but the poos are not happening - I agree with other posters, you just need to give this a bit of time - we just use pull up pants for poos - we know when it is happening as his place of choice is to go under the dining table for a bit of privacy! Ho-hum

Less stress all round - he will get there when he is ready

I still have this problem with ds (3.7) he refuses to use the toilet or potty for poos so we let him use a pull up for that - he prefers to stand to poo rather than sit down so I think we will have the battle for some time yet as well. He also gets constipated which then takes ages for him to actually succeed with pooing so that could also be a reason for not using the toilet/potty (doesn't want to sit for hours on end)

Glad to know I'm not alone with this problem (DD1 is 2.4) I just remind her that poos should go in the toilet or potty not her pants and hope that sooner or later it'll just click..

We've had a breakthrough - after several traumatic poos on the floor he finally squatted over the potty on Friday on the promise of a large Thomas present and a bag of magic stars.

Yesterday he pooed in his pants at soft play but today he came into the sitting room with his potty and a book, put it down on the floor and just went for a poo on it - no fuss at all - I'm still stunned - we'll see if it lasts.....