Help! 4 year old will only poo in pull ups..

[Mamaofboys5]

Hi, so basically my 4 year old who is starting school in a couple of weeks time is still pooing in pull ups. He’s very clever, hit all other milestones so easy, however potty training has been a long process for him. He is ok weeing wise but still wet during the night and has done only 2/3 poos in the toilet previously. He says his bum is sore, bless him. So I’ve offered creams to help, but then changes his mind and says it’s because of the splash in the toilet. We’ve tried every bribe going but he just doesn’t like the idea. He’s got a week supply of pull ups left and then i am contemplating whether to not buy anymore and just go cold Turkey! We just don’t know what to try next. Anyone else experienced this?

Thanks
KT x

I had this issue with my daughter and she just eventually started wanting to use the toilet. I used to have to put a nappy on her when she needed to go. I started only using the washable ones which were too tight for her really. That possibly helped convince her to use the toilet.

I was recommended the story Poo goes to poo land by my health visitor. You'll find it on Google. I've seen there's also an App with the same name but not used myself.

Have you told him that there won't be nappies at school and he has to be a big boy soon etc?

Hi op download poo goes to poo land it's an app for either your phone or if your child has a tablet it can help children with anxiety over pooing.

Only other thing I can suggest is when he's pooped in his nappy take him to the toilet to get him to flush his poo tip it out of nappy of course not the nappy in the loo 🤣 so that he gets use to the idea of needing to poo in the loo etc.

It's the advice I was given with my own DS he has autism but any advice is worth a go good luck 😊

Can you not put toilet paper on the water to prevent the splashing?

It's always harder to crack pooing in the toilet and some just take longer than others.

You could try giving him a sticker for each one, or bribery (choc buttons?). You can get a musical toilet seat that he gets to push the button for, for each time he poos in the toilet. Put a bit of toilet paper in first so it reduces the splash. I would be inclined not to replace the pull ups and then say that they ran out at the shop and that you're going to try the musical toilet seat (or another option). Maybe once he's done x number of poos in the toilet he gets to choose some new pants.

My DS started school like this. Fortunately he did evening poos (or held it in, not great but nothing we could do) and we'd get him to ask for a pull-up if he needed a poo after school. He had an irrational fear of the toilet for poo (crying, screaming, really terrified), fine with wee though. It took a very long time for him to get over it.

Get him to do his poo in the pull up but standing next to the toilet.
Then sitting on the toilet but in the pull up.
Then cut a hole in the pull up.
Gradually cut away more of the pull up each day until it's just a waist band, then you're done.