Help - My 2 year old plays with his poo!?

Question

This is the one toddler problem I always hoped to avoid! My son is 27 mths old and started 'painting' with the contents of his nappy when he was about 20 mths. He first did this a few times then stopped at 23 mths when his brother was born (I think this indicates it is not an attention seeking problem, and it is not related to anything else in his life.) He started again recently - will do it when alone for even a minute (tv looked beautiful a little while ago!) or in a bedroom for a nap (beautiful paintings in my mums very white room last week). I honestly think he does it because he can't resist and just loves doing it. He speaks very well and reasons quite well which makes it even more frustrating - he'll say "no touching poos mummy, ok!?" and then when he does, "sorry mummy!" and is very upset before I can even say anything, so he knows he shouldn't. He does not take his nappy off, just reaches in. He'll go a week without, then do it again. We've tried so many things - help!

Answer 1

Very Very Very normal it is yucky but You need not worry.I had 3 children and they all did the same thing and one who had it stuck in the roof of her mouth.SORRY but very true.And now she is a mum and very healthy and happy.My son painted his cot and wall.

Answer 2

can you put him in a onesie vest thing with the poppers between the legs, and some well fitting dungarees so he can't physically get his hands in there?

or keep a very close eye on him, and notice when he needs changing, and fix him immediately (not easy with the baby)

make 2 reward charts, one for each kid. each time they both p**p and don't play, they get a star.

he will HATE it if the baby can do something better than him

Answer 3

Hi Brooke look sweetie it does pass in time, I found they did it out  of boredom and knowing it was wrong BUT being lil  male tike's it is such a primal urge LOL

Well it's not funny I guess consistent praise when he doesn't touch is the thing.

Berating him will only go the opposite as he will just do it regardless for attention

Time is the leveller here  stick with it Good Luck ♥

Answer 4

Wow, i never heard of any child doing it more than once!

I would try and check him for poo very often &when he complains tell him thats why you have to do it.

Maybe start getting him painting [with kids paints!]

&Hopefully he grows out of it. This sounds a little phsycological.

And it could be an attention seeking thing. maybe when your new baby was born you were trying so much so he wouldnt feel left out, you gave him a lot of attention which is what he wanted, so he didnt have to do it then.

You may want to see a specialist.

Good luck!

Amber.

EDIT: I just thought I'd add, apparently one of my cousins did this, but not that often &is now an amazing artist! - Especially with abstract art sort of using her hands!

Answer 5

wow i feel sooo soryy for you, that is disgusting. i think he may just be confused tho

Answer 6

Wow! I know that children learn in all different types of ways, lol. That's a little cute in a gross kind of way, lol. I'm sure you've already tried talking to him about how it's not okay to touch our poo cause it's dirty. Maybe you could make a game out of it... everytime he doesn't touch his poo - reward him. Maybe you could let him paint with real paint instead. He might just be a budding artist experimenting with different textures. :-)

Answer 7

LOL He sounds like a very talented super genius to me.  Just a few suggestions.  He sounds a little bored perhaps? Change him more often.  Also you might try time out when he does this but after you change and clean him up of course.  Two minutes in his case.  Oh yes, and if he can talk he can probably sit on  a training potty.  Oh and one more thing?  Get that little guy some paints. You probably have a master artist on your hands.  My daughter used to paint the television screen.  She is an amazing artist now.  Her medium of choice was makeup.  He is just being inventive.