DS has chosen a new spot to poo, and it's not the potty

[JessieBird]

Hey everyone - DS is 11 mo and we've been happily EC part time for about 5 months. We're doing great, especially with poops. Until this past week, DS has pooped on his potty every other morning either when he wakes up or just after morning nap. He's been very happy with his potty, reading books and singing and having no problem spending time there.

All of a sudden this week he doesn't want to poop on the potty anymore. He gets off quickly, which used to mean that he didn't need to go either pee or poo. When I'm pretty sure he needs to go (grunting a few minutes before), I encourage him to stay on and sometimes he'll give it a chance but always gets determined to dismount. Twice this week after he got off the potty, I left him to crawl around upstairs (it's totally babyproofed) while I brushed my teeth or otherwise didn't pay attention. Both times he pooped in the same spot beside our bed. Once last week he got off and pooped squatting holding on to the side of the bathtub. Probably he used the same posture, holding on to the side of the bed.

Do you have any theories as to why he would do this? And what can I do to encourage him to move his BMs back to his potty? The only think I can think of is that he prefers a standing squat instead of a sitting squat (his feet can touch the ground from his potty but probably not with as much weight as if he is standing). Could this mean his poops are too hard? He has at times shown discomfort pushing. Sorry for so much info... He has no problem peeing on the potty.

What do you think? Thanks for your help!

[paulamc]

We have had the same problem. From the time DS started solids at 7 months until he was 11 months and started crawling, we caught almost every poop in the toilet, upon waking in the morning or after naptime - usually once a day, sometimes once every two days. Since he's been mobile, starting at 11 months (he's 13 months now), he frequently poops in his diaper while crawling around/ playing. Like yours, he is often in a standing position when he does it. He's not constipated though - the poop is always plenty soft. When we take him to the potty after waking up he just doesn't seem to need to go, and then he'll go later instead.

Sorry no answers, but I don't think the problem is uncommon. I figure that all the mobility is stimulating his bowels at different times? In our case he does poop in the potty SOME days, thank goodness.

So, is your baby clothed at all on bottom? It sounded from your post like he pooped on the floor. I haven't had the courage to leave ours diaperless, though I did it some in the summer. Not now when it's a bit chilly though. I often wonder if I'd be having more success if he wasn't so covered up. I'm thinking of switching from diapers to some sort of trainer that we can easily pull down, because these days he hates it when we lay him down to undress him to go potty. But all that is a bit off topic I guess...a subject for another thread.

[sapphire_chan]

How about putting a square of aluminum foil on that spot. Something that can be cleaned off to reuse, but will be nice and flat for him?

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by paulamc

. I'm thinking of switching from diapers to some sort of trainer that we can easily pull down, because these days he hates it when we lay him down to undress him to go potty. But all that is a bit off topic I guess...a subject for another thread.

Yes, do so. Or at least start fastening the diapers loose so those can be pulled down. You will be astounded at how much easier life is when it takes a couple seconds to offer the potty.

[Sheryl1678]

Trainers are so much easier to potty with and also contain a small pee. They are just the best for EC. I have been using them off an on for months and am pretty much using them full time on my 11 mo old. Trainers make a poo miss much less dramatic too.

[theboysmama]

Have you tried holding him over the toilet in the classic ec hold? I find that this helps dd get in a really good position to bear down when her poops are hard.
As far as trainers they are awesome and really helped us to move forward on our ec journey. We use the pull up kind by sassy cloth.

[paulamc]

Originally Posted by Sheryl1678

Trainers make a poo miss much less dramatic too.

How so? Less dramatic than pooping in a diaper?

[JessieBird]

Originally Posted by theboysmama

Have you tried holding him over the toilet in the classic ec hold? I find that this helps dd get in a really good position to bear down when her poops are hard.

That's a great idea, thanks! I will try that tomorrow. To another pp, yes I let DS go naked now and then whenever it is warm enough in the house. His little bum is soooo cute, I love watching it scamper around. Until recently, he never had a poop on the floor and the odd pee puddle here or there really doesn't bother me.

I also just bought some mother-ease trainers and they are great! So much faster to get on and off than our snap-closure AIOs. I'm now trying to get DS used to pottying with pants around his ankles (currently he wants everything off) and that will make it even easier. Originally I liked basic all-cotton trainers so that I could see when he peed but now I need the waterproofness for sending to daycare.