Poo issues... should I just wait?

[Chunkamatic]

For the past couple of weeks DS1 has been out of nappies when we are at home, just naked from the waist down. He has got quite good at doing wees, will recognise that he needs to go and go and get the potty.

However, whenever he has needed a poo he runs away from me and hides if I try and get him on the potty or the toilet. We have tried bribing with chocolate buttons but he seems a bit scared. As a result I think he is starting to hold it in until he has a nappy on - for instance last night I had a feeling he needed a poo but wouldn't go and then this morning when he woke up he'd done a monsterous poo in his nappy, which is not a normal time for him to go.

Also (TMI sorry) his poo's are more often soft then they are firm. Is this a problem for potty training?

I am thinking of doing a boot-camp style nappy off and not back on again, but have just been reading another thread about children who are holding in poos and causing constipation issues, so should I just wait until we can get a poo in the potty? Or will having accidents make him more interested in going?

Opinions welcome.

He's 2.5 BTW.

I was recommended to ask my DS if he would like to put a nappy on to poo in. This can be an intermediate stage between full bowel training. So you could try asking him at his usual poo time.

chunkamatic I'm in exactly the same situation. Started PT with DD (who's 2.7) two weeks ago. She's now more or less dry during the day but will only poo once she's got her night-time nappy on. (We've had one poo accident but otherwise she's been able to wait until night-time.) Just thought I'd wait but might now try out bumbums suggestion re nappy just for pooing though I'm a bit concerned that it might seem like a green light to go back into nappies. It's a v tricky one - but I don't think we're ready to go nappy-free at night

No advice but wanted to say we're in exactly the same situation here and same age. We're going softly softly and also bribing with chocolate am hoping it's just part of the process and will pass if we don't fuss.

Yup we've tried bribing with chocolate too.

Hoping someone will come along with success stories re poo training!

The thing is that twice in the last 3 days, DS has obviously waited until he's got a nappy on either at nap time or when in bed, done a poo and then decided to take his nappy off! So i've had a poo-covered boy in a poo-covered cot to deal with! So I would really like to get as much poo in the potty as poss, or else I might have to duct tape his night nappies on!!!

I knew there was a good reason I was dreading potty training....

I should also add that when he is in nappies and needs a poo he will come and tell us, so he can identify the sensation obviously.

Yes, that is tricky. DD is the same re knowing when she needs a poo just gets v upset if I try to make her use the potty.

Re your DS it sounds as if bumbums idea is the best for now i.e. give him a nappy and wait for him to do the poo then change him straight away. Also makes it more of a conscious decision and step towards doing it in the potty I guess. Think I'm going to have a crack at that with DD.

Hi, I started potty training just over a week ago. My little one is 2.8 and got the wee's by the second day without an accident since. HOWEVER.... the poo's she doesn't wait for the night nappy, she just poo's in her nickers and then tells me! She loves to blow wind on her potty but gets up and then before you know it she has pooed in her undies.
It makes me feel better that this seems to be a common problem. Like you guys, I thought I might find the magic answer on here ! I guess it is just a waiting game.

Just found this thread and a perfect description of where we are at the moment! Seeing as your posts were end of July, just wondering how things are now? Any tips!?

Me too, and DS has just turned 4! He is frightened of pooing in the loo - he has told us so and gets upset if we try to sit him on the loo - and nothing we do or say has yet convinced him that there is nothing to be scared of.

As a result he poos in a nappy every night despite being out of daytime nappies for 18 months. We are not making an issue of it for now but any advice welcome...

Hi, sorry only just caught up with this. I'm afraid i can't be of much help as we've kind of slowed down with it all over the last few weeks. I decided not to push it with DS1 so he still is just getting time without his nappy most days, but still no poo. I am hoping that he will do a poo in the potty of his own volition and then I will concentrate on proper training.

TBH we are away at relatives and I'm just starting weaning with DS2, who is not sleeping well atm so I kind of don't need to be potty training too! Where's that bad, lazy mother emoticon....!!!!

Hope you are having a bit more luck.