toddler smears poop- yuuuuuuck!

[Comma2]

my 2 yp dd smears poop and I am freaking out. it is so disgusting. She is really good about potty training otherwise, does all pees in there when she is awake. Poops too, when they happen to come while she's awake and running around.

Usually she poops at night into her diapers though, or during nap time. The last 3 times she pooped during nap time she quietly spread it around in the room.....so bad....

What's the best strategy here???? Do I make access unavailable? First time it happened I freaked, but since have tried to be, oh well, stern yet gentle, haha. popped her in the tub, cleaned up, stern little talk about where poop goes....doesn't seem to do a thing...

is this a regressing-thing? Curisoity? Becuase she doesn't need a nap anymore? Is it going to go on its own or can I speed it up??? Please tell me my daughter isn't the only one.....

Gosh. It is so very disgusting, the entire 2nd level stinks.

Toddlers have no concept of disgusting, or dirty or germs. I think she is just experimenting with something that she views as part of her, and also because she can. Does she have enough messy play with acceptable things, such as playdough or finger paints? This would satisfy her desire to smear. I think your calm approach is right, you don't want her thinking that poo is disgusting, and that she herself is disgusting for producing it. That way serious hang-ups lie!

I think until she grows out of it, your best bet is to prevent access to the nappy. Use a strong duct tape around the disposable nappy so it can only be removed by an adult, and over this use a body suit with poppers at the crotch. You can also put her in dungarees at nap time, or an all in one sleepsuit back to front (difficult to reach poppers) If she wears two piece pyjamas, you could sew some buttons and loops on to join the top and bottom together, also difficult for a toddler to undo.

Thanks! She doesn't want anything to do with play dough, paints a little....hard to come up with messy squishy things in the winter.

I put her pjs on wrong way around. Is this going away on its own?? I know she doesn't think it's disgusting, but it just is. For me.

I think it will resolve once she has no access to her nappy and she finds other more interesting things to do! Please try to hide your feelings about it, as she will pick up on your worry and use it as an attention getting device or just because she knows it annoys you. Just reinforce the message that potty or toilet is the right place for poos.

At nap time, can you check on her frequently, so there's a chance you might get to her before she wakes and starts to strip off? More difficult at night I know, especially if she wakes before you. Will she try on the potty before sleep? It might be a good idea to check on her frequently to see how long it takes for her to go to sleep and even if she does sleep during the day, in which case she might be ready to drop the nap.