Daughter about to turn 4 but still has to poo in a nappy...

[Elmosong]

After a fairly bumpy potty training journey (she used to hold poos and wees in for unhealthily long periods), DD has made good progress and generally goes to the loo when she needs a wee.

Poos are a different matter. She resolutely refuses to do it in the loo, has to be in a nappy. We had a horrible episode last summer where she refused to poo for about 10 days, even in her nappy, and was in real distress and discomfort. She now poos normally but only in the nappy. I've been going along with this, fearing a repeat of the withholding episode, but occasionally I try to encourage her to have a go on the loo, to no avail.

I've considered going cold turkey on nappies and just telling her we have run out, but she is INCREDIBLY strong willed and I fear this will just produce another withholding episode.

I've tried bribery.... no go.

I've removed any pressure on the subject for the last few months and tell myself she'll just get there eventually, which I guess she will but any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

You could be describing my DS2 with all you say(aged 3). He lasted like this for months & in the end I took him to the doctor.

She felt his stomach & confirmed there was poo inside but he didn't poo for another 3 days. He was originally on Lactulose but that didnt do much good. The turning point was when he was put on Movicol - made his poos soft & impossible to hold in (although he tried) & one night he needed when he was in the bath, so I whipped him out & put him on the toilet & that helped as after that he was willing to at least sit & try a poo on the toilet. Thankfully that was a few months ago & he happily gets on the toilet to poo himself (but he still sees the dr once a month for it & is still taking Movicol).

Anyway, long story to essentially say, I totally understand where you're coming from & I'd go to the GP. It is apparently very common & Movicol really helps. Good luck.

Have you tried a gradual approach in stages, e.g. must poo in the bathroom or downstairs loo wearing nappy, then must sit on loo to poo wearing nappy, then sit on the loo with child seat with nappy spread across. When you have got to this stage you can cut a hole or slit in the nappy so that the poo falls through into the loo. By this time you will have proved that nothing horrid happens when pooing on the loo, so will be able to ditch the nappies altogether.

Thanks Girlywhirly and Too Blunt, I'll try your advice.