Potty Boot Camp 3 old

[megan sacha]

So, DS is 3.25 and has made some small strides in potty learning and now we've decided he needs a little push. We've told him that starting tomorrow he'll be wearing big boy underwear all the time except for sleeping (he's never dry when sleeping) and he seems ok with this. I am fairly confident that this is going to work, except for the pooping. We're going to try it for 3 weeks to see if it's going to work or not before giving up for now.

Today he didn't use a diaper all day, except for nap and he had his first poop at the end of his nap in his diaper. After dinner he announced that he needed to poop and that he needed a diaper to do so. I told him he could poop on the potty and he did sit for a minute or less and then declared he couldn't. I finally gave in and gave him a diaper and he pooped in it. I want to stop doing this as of tomorrow but don't want to traumatize him.

I know this is a common problem and I'm not sure how to overcome it. Should we just insist that he poop on the potty or give him a diaper as requested for pooping for now? I fear that he may just poop in the underwear which could be pretty disastrous when out of the house.

Also, he's not used the big potty yet, even at home. We have a bjorn insert for the big potty but he's never wanted to use it and has always used his small potty to pee on (as well as the 5-10 poops he's done on the potty ever). How do we get him comfortable with the big potty when we're out? Or do we just carry a little potty with us? If bringing a potty, what do you do to clean it out when on the go? And, do they just sit on it outside?

I could really use some tips from someone who's been through these challenges at a similar age.

Thanks!

[ewe+lamb]

Personally I wouldn't insist on him using the potty/toilet if he's really resisting it, go with the flow, for going out and about we used this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippe.../dp/B000HSZTRO it was great and well worth it - for all involved!

[moonyoungi]

He seems like he is somewhat interested. Could the reason why he gets up after couple minutes from the small potty, for poop, be because he feels uncomfortable sitting on it?? If it is, is it possible for you to purchase something more cushy, since he is refusing to sit on the big potty, just to get him started?
And could you get some special books (like pop up book or something you know he will be interested to look at) just for potty time while he tries #2.

And only encourage him to go use potty when you REALLY can see his cues, or specific times that you know he goes, if he is really regular about BM. Nagging him to go every so often can get really old for him and you, not that you are doing this, but just from my experience. Other times I would leave it up to him as much as possible.

For outside, I wouldn't recommend using diaper at all for that trial period, and you are just going to have to embrace and prepare yourself for accidents that may happen. It will be a learning experience for him. (you know what, if we make accidents, we have to leave the library and go back home to change, oh well.) And try to make going to big potties outside of the house like an exciting thing for him. Emphasize his big boyness Of course don't push, if he really feels uncomfortable. I don't have experience with bring small potty with trip out of the house, so I can't speak on that.

And remember at all times, remain calm. I know sometimes it can get frustrating, especially with your first child. Is he your first?

[megan sacha]

Originally Posted by moonyoungi

He seems like he is somewhat interested. Could the reason why he gets up after couple minutes from the small potty, for poop, be because he feels uncomfortable sitting on it?? If it is, is it possible for you to purchase something more cushy, since he is refusing to sit on the big potty, just to get him started?
And could you get some special books (like pop up book or something you know he will be interested to look at) just for potty time while he tries #2.

And only encourage him to go use potty when you REALLY can see his cues, or specific times that you know he goes, if he is really regular about BM. Nagging him to go every so often can get really old for him and you, not that you are doing this, but just from my experience. Other times I would leave it up to him as much as possible.

For outside, I wouldn't recommend using diaper at all for that trial period, and you are just going to have to embrace and prepare yourself for accidents that may happen. It will be a learning experience for him. (you know what, if we make accidents, we have to leave the library and go back home to change, oh well.) And try to make going to big potties outside of the house like an exciting thing for him. Emphasize his big boyness Of course don't push, if he really feels uncomfortable. I don't have experience with bring small potty with trip out of the house, so I can't speak on that.

And remember at all times, remain calm. I know sometimes it can get frustrating, especially with your first child. Is he your first?

Yes, he's our first, and we're expecting another in August which is motivating us to try something new to see if it will take at this time. We've never pushed him at all or done the setting of the timer or constant reminders. We've always just let him go diaper free when trying and let him decide when he needs to go. Maybe 3 months ago, I started telling him to go before bed, which he took to fine and it's now part of our bedtime routine almost all nights. This week I started asking him to go before certain activities like leaving the house or before dinner, etc with 1 or 2 reminders since I knew it had been a long while. And, he's taking to that fine too. So, I do think he's in a different place. Before he would have been more resistant to these suggestions. And, I never try to tell him to go poop, except yesterday when he was asking for a diaper specifically to poop in.

So, the biggest issue really is the not wanting to use a big potty and the pooping. He has used a potty chair on and off since 11 months and we got this one when the 11 mo one seemed too small. So, he's had it for a LONG time and has no problem sitting on it, to PEE. He's just one of those kids who doesn't want to poop on it I guess. He has done it a handful of times, the last unprompted but most certainly doesn't make a routine out of it. And, his BMs aren't routine either, which probably makes this harder for us all. I'm thinking wearing underwear all day may help make it a bit more routine as he'll tend to just hold it if possible until he's in a diaper I think (which he will be when being put to nap/bed). Lately he's already developed a habit of pooping almost every single night after being put to bed, so we've already adjusted to that annoying habit. And, his bowels are very active (not constipated) so, if he poops only 1-2 times a day instead of 3-4 I think he'll be just fine.

I think we've decided it doesn't have to be all or nothing. I think and hope he will not poop in the underwear (like he would have when younger) and will wait for/ask for a diaper and then we'll just give him one to poop in until he's more comfortable. Otherwise the pooping could just turn into a fight which we don't want. One thing at a time I guess!

[tbone_kneegrabber]

I know some folks who have luck with letting the kid poop in a diaper, while sitting on the potty. Explaining that soon he'll have to poop on the potty w/o the diaper on, but for now he can wear the diaper to poop, but still needs to sit on the potty.

we do a lot of naked time, which does mean that sometimes ds pees/poops on the floor, yesterday he pooped on the stairs, he was trying to make it downstairs (where I was) to go potty, and didn't make it.

[coop_mom]

megan, no helpful advice here, but lots of sympathy as ds is doing exactly the same thing! ds is 2 months shy of 4yo, and re.fu.ses to poop on the potty. He has also done it a handful of times, but these days it's a no go.

Next week we're going to try doing some nakey-boy days, we'll see how that goes. We may try the pooping in the pull-up while on the potty, too. The one saving grace is that he does poop the same time every day (after breakfast) and usually only once, so we can usually get it out of the way with before we're out of the house for the day.

anyway, hugs your way, I feel your frustration!

--k

[kiwiva]

My DD recently gave up diapers, she is 3.75. She was truly resistant to potty learning, and even stopped being agreeable to peeing first thing and before bed. I took a very hands off approach bc she tends to be strong willed. One day she decided to wear underwear, but still asked for a diaper to poop, until I tried putting the potty in front of the tv around the usual poop time. She just sat there watching tv for a while, did her business, and was so impressed with herself that she hasn't asked for a diaper since. If you don't do tv, perhaps try it with a big story time or something? It made all the difference in the world to her to have the potty out of the bathroom and be thinking about the show she was watching. Once she knew she could do it, there was no issue.

As for going when away from home, though she had no interest on the toilet at home, she had no issue at all going when out with DH and since then she often will go on the toilet at home, only using the potty occasionally. She was a little fearful at first, but really after not falling in the first couple times, she realized it was safe.

Also for DD I told her that once the diapers DH bought were gone (she gave up cloth ages ago), we weren't getting more. She was adamant that there was no way on earth that would happen (horrified, angry face and all). She needed diapers! I let it all go and didn't say another word on the subject. A week later she informed me that when the diapers were gone, she wasn't going to use them anymore and the next am she wore underwear. So, I planted the seed, but gave her the space to get there on her own. Seriously I was getting a little stressed about it. I thought I would have to wait for summer so we could go pants free, but we didn't get there.

[megan sacha]

Thanks everyone! I have to report that things are going REALLY well. Yesterday was our first day and DS was home most of the day. Then we took him shopping and out to dinner for a few hours. He needed his clothes changed 3 times (3 accidents) but also pee'd on the big potty at Old Navy (has never even used the big potty at home before or even the bjorn insert on the big potty) and then tried again at another store before getting scared of the automatic flusher.

Then today we were out almost all day. He had an accident in the car this morning on our 40 min drive but then used the big potty 2 or 3 times at the farm we were at with no accidents and then this afternoon at another party, he brought his little potty and used it 3 times, with no accidents in 4 hours away from home.

I'm a proud mama! I can't believe how well this is going. I wanted to just give it a try as it would sure be nice not to have 2 in cloth dipes but I'm stunned at how well he's taking to it. I guess he truly did just need a little push and was ready. Hope this keeps up!