3 yr old potty training?

Question

I am at my wits end! My 3 yr old has been pee trained for months now, but he refuses to use the toilet for pooping. We have tried many things reward charts, stickers, toys, candy, talking about it, etc. His stools are harder than normal because he holds it in - he even tells me he will never p**p again. When his stool does start to come out (we watch him carefully for when this happens to try to get him on the potty) we try to get him to the potty quickly but by the time we get there he has sucked the p**p back into his body. I can tell he does this because there is a p**p trail on his bum and I have to wipe him. I then try to make him sit on the potty for quite a while to p**p but he won't. Lately he has taken to trying to hide in order to p**p in his pants. Yesterday I made him clean out his own underwear and wash it out in the toilet (don't worry I cleaned the toilet first). He ended up saying that it was fun (not the reaction I was hoping for). What can or should I do?

Answer 1

This problem is not all that unusual, and it may be attributed to either a fear of having a bowel movement in the toilet, the security of a diaper, or a coordination issue.

Being patient and backing off may be your best bet.

Answer 2

Well i have a 3 yr old also, and just recently i have been making her wear her undies all day and just a pull up at night cause its time she is trained, plus im going broke on diapers and wipes LOL this is the thing, she has had a HORRIBLE constipation problem since she was 5 months old. she will pee on the toilet but not p**p. her doctor said it is because she holds it in, it gets impacted, and then hurts bad when it finally comes out, they associate the pain with going p**p with the toilet. i use miralax everyday. 3/4 a cup full that comes with it, its safe to use everyday, and i actually have 2 children on this with advice from the peds. try giving him some of that, so it will soften the stools, then make him sit on the potty for about 10-15 minutes after dinner or lunch, give him a book or something to do while hes on there so he doesnt get bored, once he realizes it doesnt hurt no more cause its soft, he will come around to using the toilet more, good luck with it i hope it helps!

Answer 3

I would say keep doin what you doin

Answer 4

Does he have a potty that is his size? A child trying to sit on a big potty is going to have a lot of trouble and not want to do it. Think of the big responsibility you are asking of him. He has to grasp the idea, notice it, go into another room. Take off clothes, get comfortable, do it, clean up, and put his clothes back on. This is horribly time consuming for a busy three year old. Make this a fun situation, so he wants to go. Put special books near the potty. Play a favorite song on a CD player only while he is going. Buy fun colorful soap that he can only use after he has had a BM.

Answer 5

I just went through the same thing with my 3 1/2 year old son. He would pee on the potty just fine but when he had to p**p he'd run off to a corner and hide while he pooped in his pull-up. After 2-3 tries every day that lasted 20-40 minutes on the potty, it seemed like nothing would work he just kept holding it in. I remember one day he had a panic attack while he was on the potty because the p**p was coming. He even cried one time because he thought it was going to come out of his belly button. Then one evening I was busy with dinner and knew I couldn't sit in there with him to sing silly p**p songs or offer support so I handed him a book and walked out. Five minutes later I walked in and knew from smell that he finally did it. All this time and all these silly games I tried and tried, only to discover he's a closet pooper and just wanted his privacy.

I totally understand and relate to your frustrations but it's true, boys are tough. Keep your head up, he will succeed when he is ready.

Answer 6

Hun, I had the same problem with my daughter, and unfortunately all I can say is be patient, and it will happen. My daughter was toilet trained for wees at 3, and didn't do poos in the toilet until she was almost 4. She is 4 and a half now, and fully trained, nights and days. It will happen :)