My 2 1/2 year old son refuses to poop in the potty. We have tried everything we can think of. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I wouldn't stress too much about it. And don't believe all your friends who say their kids were trained by such and such an age. He'll do it when he is ready and if you're stressing it'll just cause a problem. I know it would be easier for you but for now just chill. Give him a break. Just have his potty available and mention it every once in a while and maybe one day soon, he'll surprise you.

Answer 2

I think the more you push the issue the more he'll dig his heels in.
Let him discover on his own that it's not so nice to wear a diaper...he's only 2 1/2 my daughter wouln't do it until she was 3 and a bit, but she was totally ready and she has had 0 accidents...once I got over the horror of having a 3 year old that wasn't toilet trained :)
It causes more problems to push them www.drspock.com

Answer 3

My daughter is the same way she is potty trianed but going #2 is a different story. Just keep reminding him to go in the potty and if you see the signs of him trying to go in underwear then try putting him on the toliet. But it will come in time, just make sure you have plenty of underpants.

Answer 4

My girl did the same thing, eventually she did it. She used to hide behind the couch or chair and squat - in her pants - made me crazy! Sometime they get scared of the toilet flush so encourage with a potty chair. AH...Well she's 25 now so we obviously made it - both alive and some lively stories to tell about the journey!

Answer 5

Actually, two-and-a-half is a bit young to expect that he will use the potty every time, but you should definitely be encouraging him. Here is the perfect solution and it works EVERYTIME! (Just a reminder though, that two and-a-half is fairly young, but this will still work if you keep at it.) When he goes in his pants, DON'T CHANGE THEM! You will have to live with the odor too (for a short while) but I guarantee when he finds out that he won't be changed and will have to sit in it, sleep in it, etc., etc., he will suddenly decide that the potty is not such a bad thing. Try it. Again, a bit inconvenient, but hang in there and watch what happens. Some little boys are notorious for this behavior but when they find out you will ignore it and let them live that way, they suddenly shape up! And to all the parents who are saying their child DOES IT TOO, wake up, folks! Your kids know this is driving you wild and they are having a great time watching your reactions and frustration. This is really a way to control parents, believe it or not, and the kids figure it out early on.

Answer 6

you know i am having the same problem... my little girl is three.
She will use the potty otherwise.. buut refuses to even sit there when it some to #2.. instead she cries for a diaper.. i am clueless on how to get her to go in the potty.. i hope that she will just do it when she is ready to.. `thats how she began potty training.

Answer 7

Have you tried reading "Where's the poop" just to help him see that it's normal, and that all different creatures poop in different places. Rewards can be good, but be careful when weaning the awards away. Maybe he's just not ready for that?

Answer 8

that is very young for a boy to be potty trained. both my kids wouldn't poop at first, they thought it would hurt (i don't know why) but they eventually did it. don't force him, he will come around in a few weeks. for real. he will.

Answer 9

Obviously he isn't ready to be potty trained. Keep him in diapers until he is.

Answer 10

What encouragement did you use for potty training originally? Can you try that again?