Weeing perfect, pooing disastrous!

[fishtankbrain]

We started potty training DS (2.4) about 3 weeks ago. Weeing has been very successful with only the odd accident when he is very tired or distracted - he tells me when he needs to go and is great at weeing standing up into the loo.

Pooing however is another matter. We had a few odd successes at the beginning, but for the last 10 days, it's been hopeless. Sometimes he tells me that he needs a poo and we then sit him on the loo for a few minutes, only for nothing to happen. Most of the time he tells me as he's done one in his pants - sometimes he manages to stop himself so only a small amount comes out (TMI!) but then when you sit him on the loo, he can't seem to get the rest out and it comes out in his pants 10 minutes later. Sometimes he just does it all in his pants and then tells me immediately afterwards.

It's driving both me and DH to distraction. I know he has a fairly good level of control as we never get any accidents when we're out and prior to starting potty training, we hadn't had to change a dirty nappy when out for over a year!

We've tried rewards, but it just doesn't seem to have any effect. I managed to get hold of "Poo goes to Pooland" which he read with some interest this morning, but does anyone else have any other suggestions? Please?! Or just stories of how time solved the problem?

I really don't want to put him back in pull ups or nappies as he's so good with weeing.

Thank you!

I'm no potty training expert as have yet to do DD but from what I have read/spoken about with friends who have managed it is that pooing can take longer. Apparently my DH took months (Sure he delighted his mum told me that!) and when she asked HV about it she said it was common as they don't like the feeling of something dropping away from them from the inside! (Now that's probably TMI too!)

I think 3 weeks is still early so would just keep going with it. Stick with the rewards be it chocolate buttons or stickers, keep reading your book (not heard of before but sounds fascinating! My DD managed a poo on the loo randomly the other day and we told her it had gone to swim with the fish when she flushed it away. Now she keeps saying she wants to do a poo to feed the fish?! Whatever works I guess!!)

Good luck

Zoo Poo is a good book for us.

A star chart helped with wees. Poos was another story. DS was literally petrified and screaming in terror when he done it. He would do it in his pants and immediately tell me. I found using a special sticker (in our case, Postman Pat) for poos and after so many he got a treat. At first it worked but then it didn't. I told him if he got 3, he would get a new car (he is car mad and knowing the reward made a huge difference to me just saying he would get a treat), then it was 5 stickers, now it is 8. I would also give a chocolate button after doing a poo (I swore I wouldn't do this but seeing the pure terror and him hopping around as he was trying to hold it, I knew I had to do something).

I have just cut and pasted my above answer from another thread that I have just posted on.

We have only been doing it for 2 weeks and we haven't had an accident for days now.

Thanks all! Will perservere with stickers and rewards. And try to not mind the accidents...

We had a similar problem with DS. In the end I bought a selection of cheap plastic tat small toys from Tescos, put them in a bag. Showed them to DS and said he could choose one if he did a poo on the toilet. Worked a treat. I think actually seeing the prize on offer rather than just promising it is sometimes more effective for young children.