I have a 3 year old and he refuses to use the toilet. He will go potty at school and church, but not #2. We have tried bribing and suprises but nothing works. Any suggestions?
Hi L.
My son is also 3 and would not use the toilet and he still tries to hide and do # 2. You just have to keep working with him. I know my son signals now so i keep my eyes open . I understand your pain we just have to let them know we love them and this is how it's done. Good luck I will be praying things work out.
Dear L.,
I just wanted to tell you that this a very normal thing in kids. To kids pooping in a toilet is like losing a part of themselves. I run a day care and this is the hardest thing to accomplish. The one thing I can not stress enough is that when he does go in his pants do not yell at him. Just say something like "I see you went poop, let's clean you hope and next time we will try and poop on the potty." Have you tried taking your child into the bathroom when you poop and show him that you did it. That is how I got my son to poop on the potty. The other idea is see if he is having problems pooping. Try feeding him more fiber. Don't worry he will eventually start pooping on the potty, just keep supporting him.
B.
Give him more time. He, like most kids, is afraid to poop in a toilet. We went through this for a long time.
Amy
went through that with my son @age 2-3. Does your child have bouts of constipation. If so, deal with that first, they sometimes will try to go in the diaper or pull up because they can do it when they are TRULY ready. If no constipation, try this. get a small bookholder(crate, small craft box, etc) and fill it with his favorite books. Allow him to sit on the potty or toilet with his books and see if he will eventually go. you've got to kind of monitor the signs he displays prior to going no2 so you will know when to sit him in there. This should help, if not books, anything else that he enjoys that can be held in his hands. Lastly, if he is in pull ups, I would put him in regular cotton trainers. It might create a little more work for you in the beginning but in the long run, it will help.
HOpe this helps
D. Tate
I am in the same boat too with my 3 year old son. but, he will not go potty anywhere. He will say potty and goes into the bathroom and will sit there, but nothing happens. At preschool they take potty breaks and everything and at the end of the year last year, he went one time just a little, but it was something. But so far, nothing. UGH! I feel for you.
S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com
