How do you get a 4 year old boy to have bowel movements in the toilet?

Question

My son just turned 4 in September and has been going "potty" in the toilet for over a year but refuses to go number 2 in the toilet. HELP!!

Answer 1

duct tape him to the can until he goes

Answer 2

You don't mention where he is going number 2. I agree with the sticker chart approach, although, that only worked for 2 of my children. When my youngest turned 4 years old and was still refusing to use the toilet, I knew I had to find another approach. When I noticed he was about to have a bowel movement, I got him into the bathroom and put him on the toilet and then proceeded to distract him by reading a book and asking questions. He loves books and was easily distracted and before he knew it, we heard a "plop." That was the first step - we had one success and he realized nothing bad would happen by pooping in the toilet. To get him to continue to use the toilet, I offered as a reward a snack that he loves but doesn't get that often - fruit snacks. He would get 2 if he peed and the entire package if he pooped. Since at 4, they get the mechanics of it all, I think it is just about control. Find a reward that will work for your son and see how it works. I suggested this same approach to a friend of mine who has a 3 year old daughter and it worked. Eventually, I didn't have to offer the fruit snacks anymore. The other thing I told my son was that I didn't think the other kids in his preschool class were still using pull-ups. Sometimes peer pressure works in this situation too, as long as you don't embarrass him. Good luck.

Answer 3

My little boy is almost 4 1/2 and he JUST started doing both in the potty by himself and on a regular basis. I found that he likes having his privacy...so I let him shut the door while he does #2. He likes to take his time, and eventually he finishes. Sometimes he likes to sit and look through a book while going to the potty. It relaxes him and allows him to go better. I also do the prize thing. I have a bag of little trinket toys, and I would give him one toy a day if he did #2....now he does it w/o prizes. Good luck! :)

Answer 4

Make sure you have one of those child toilet seats,which are placed under the normal toilet seat. Kids are scared of the big hole. Then sorry to say bribe him with something to get him to go. After he does hide the potty so he cant go back to it . Good luck.

Answer 5

this may sound weird but sometimes the feeling of it dropping out of his body is unpleasant, the splash can also bother children as it may get them wet. is he still wearing a diaper? if so, take it off. he will probably only go in his pants a few times before he realizes that the potty is much better than getting it on him. don't force the issue. he should outgrow it soon. if he does not, then you should ask his doctor.

Answer 6

When I read this question it brought back awful memories. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. My son would not poop in the toilet. I cannot tell you how many times I washed doo out of his undies. I got sick of it one day and had him dump the terd out in the toilet and then I stood him at the sink and had him wash them out. HE NEVER POOPED IN HIS PANTS AGAIN. Sometimes you've gotta do the hard thing when everything else fails.

Answer 7

sit by him in the bathroom tell he goes number two that is what i did with my little boy. he will go in the toilet eventually.

Answer 8

Tell the kid some story about a poopy monster in the toilet and how it needs the poop to do all kinds of stuff, and when he poops you give him stuff to celebrate helping out the poop monster, your friend.

Answer 9

little kids love to be outdoors take him outside to the backyard and let him go potty outside

Answer 10

you could try what my sister-in-law did she made a poster board and used little stickers for every time my niece went she would get a sticker when she got to 5 stickers my niece would get a new movie you can try it with less stickers if you wish it worked for her.

Answer 11

is he doing it on the floor? use reverse psychology... insist that he goes on the floor and maybe he will go in the toilet