First real potty strike--need advice

[KermitII63]

We've been ECing since DS was 2 weeks old, and he's done great. We TRY not to get too attached to the outcome, but in the last few months, DS has been really consistently pooping in the pot or outside. We barely even remembered the last time he pooped his diaper. DS is one year old and DH and I are visiting relatives, and two weeks into the trip, he did a HUGE poop in his diaper. This is the terrible part--DH and I are SOOO inexperienced when it comes to cleaning dirty diapers, that when he poops one, we both kind of freak. We just use flat diapers with no covers, so it immediately gets everywhere. I put DS in the bath, which was a big mistake because he's never been in the tub alone and is a little bath shy (if he gets in with me he'll warm up after a few minutes, but it takes time, esp if it's a bathroom he isn't accustomed to). Anyway he went ballistic in the tub, and I kept him in there only long enough to get him clean. After that incident, it's like something switched in his head, and he's pooped three more diapers. I can't lay him down to change him or he FREAKS (we usually just swap pee diapers on the go, and so he's not used to lying on his back and hates it with a passion). I can't clean him in the tub cause he's super scared of the tub now, and it's gotten to the point where he's developed such a negative association that he automatically cries if I do any of the following: take off his diaper, suggest to him that I'm going to put on his diaper, make the pssst sound to cue him to pee, suggest he go on the pot, or try to turn him around to get him into position. I don't know what to do. I'm almost ready to just put him in disposables for a few days, but what will we do when he poops? We have to clean him, but he acts like he's being traumatized when we try. And that seems to just make it worse, so we keep offering him the potty (which just seems to make it worse). Thanks for letting me vent. Any advice or ideas would be SUPER appreciated.

[lully]

Hang in there! Maybe you need to back off for a few days and hopefully he'll start to forget the negative associations. Good luck!

[carlye828]

Oh my, I can see that you are really having a hard time! It sounds like you are getting frustrated and anxious. Could he be picking up on your insecurities with the situation?

I don't really have any good advise except for a little diaper changing tip. While he's in a standing positon, have him spread em & bend his knees so he's squatting just a bit. Do this over a hard floor, btw. When you unfasten his diaper, hold the front to him and use the diaper as a wipe, wiping from the back right on through to the front. This way most of the mess can be wiped & contained within the diaper. Then you can just wipe him down. He may find this more comfortable than putting him on his back. And if a bit of poop, or even a lot falls on the floor, no big deal. It'll all work out in the end!

[Lineymom]

No advice about the whole situation, but another changing tip. Maybe try bending him over your knee/lap while wiping.