Holding in poo

[flyingheart]

DD is 2.5 and has been potty training for 2 weeks. Initiated by her - she wanted to wear knickers like a big girl! We have given her lots of praise/sticker chart and rewards and I felt so pleased that it was going well. Finally, something I have done successfully.....for the last 5 days she has been holding onto her poo and went for 2.5 days without doing one (usually goes every day).

We explained that holding in her poo is not good for her tummy but she said she didn't want to go because it stings. She is happy to do a wee on the potty but becomes distressed by the thought of doing a poo. We put a pull up on her and told her she needed to do a poo - she happily went within 30 mins. She has not pooed for last 2 days and I just went to check on her and was greeted by a poo in the bed! She hasn't pooed at night time for well over a year.

I am a bit stumped as to know how to move forward with this one...Please advise. Many thanks!

I don't know about advice but my DSr refused to poo on the toilet and would only do it in a pull-up until he was 3
(nearly 4).

I didn't make a big deal out of it, didn't do reward charts or any of that stuff and one day he just decided he would start using the toilet.

He's 10 now and it really hasn't done him any harm

Thank you for that! I can't help myself with the old reward chart, I'm a teacher, it's in my blood!

DD was the same (DS1&2 were not bothered by poos in the slightest). Having preciously been totally horrified by an accidental poo in her knickers I knew she had a poo on the way when she'd sat on the potty without doing a wee because then I knew she was holding back from any pushing. For a few days she would need to be cuddled on the potty whilst she was pooing (stinky, but worth it!), then I started to withdraw, creating things to do within hearing distance but gradually further away. Within a couple of weeks she was fine. Good luck :o)

DS was first a wee holder-in and then a poo holder-in during potty training. Since then we have been known to bribe with chocolate for a poo, which is effective!

I love a bit of chocolate bribery and shall try it out tomorrow. Thank you all three for your thoughts!

I am having exactly the same problem - have spent the morning trying to coax a poo out!! My DS 2.4 asked to wear pants and has only had one or two wee accidents since he started wearing pants two weeks ago...however, pooing is another story, we haven't had a single one in the potty - a couple of accidents in pants and mostly he waits until his nighttime nappy is on. But he has spent the morning holding a poo in and tells me he needs a poo (he might even sit on the potty but insists he will not poo there). Have no idea what to do! Please help! Good luck flying heart!

Well FeelingHip, I had a breakthrough today...My dd and I went out with my friend and her dd (similar age, still in nappies). I openly told my friend dd was holding in poos and she showed mock shock and said how that was not good for you and you must poo on potty etc...We then did a bit of team work talk about how after lunch it's always good to do a poo...blah, blah, blah.

After lunch we all bundled into the disabled toilet and whilst she was changing her dd I told mine she was going to do a poo so her friend would learn how to do it on the toilet too. Lo and behold she pooed to order (she never does anything to order)!

Perhaps a bit of healthy competition and a friend to plot with might help you on your way too. This was followed by lots of praise and chocolate buttons all round! I'll probably find she'll only ever poo when out with her little friend now. Hey ho, it worked today. Good luck FeelingHip!

That's amazing! Well done! Right, that's it, I'll invite a friend round this afternoon...nothing like a bit of competitive pooing! ; )