Happy to stand but refuses to sit. Any tips??

[LisaM81]

Hi, my little boy is 2 years 8 months and we have been potty training since just after Christmas. He is really good with weeing, but he stands at the toilet or over the potty (we haven't taught him this, he just started doing it as I think he was happy to see that he was weeing). We have always encouraged him to sit down so he can poop but he wont. I don't want to force him to sit on the toilet or potty as I don't want to give him any issues or fears over it, but we are struggling to get him to sit down. He tells us when he has pooped in his pants but even then we try and get him to sit on the toilet/potty when cleaning him up but he just gets up.

Has anyone got any tips for encouraging him to sit down? My hubby is going to wee more sat down so he can see him sat down, and we have a reward chart and box with promises of bigger rewards if he poops but he isn't taking it in. I know there is plenty of time but its frustrating that he is doing so well with one but not the other. Thank you in advance.

Had a similar issue with DS1 at the same age who would never poo in potty or on the toilet (would sit down to wee on both though) and always waited until night time nappy to do a poo. In the end, when grandparents were looking after him Grandad just sat him on the loo and he did a poo, just like that. Maybe he had picked up on DH and I being a little anxious/pressuring? Do you have a trusted carer who is matter of fact you could try him with? DS1 did get the speedboat bath toy afterwards and has been happily pooling down the loo since.