My child won't go potty?

Question

My wife and I have 2 boys together. Our first boy couldn't have been better on potty training. Our second boy however, is going to be 4 yrs. old in 2 1/2 mos. and pees occasionally, but will not poop on the potty. Any suggestions? We've tried siiting him on the potty every hour for a half hour at a time. We've tried the corner, no snacks, bed, no TV, ETC. and nothing seems to work. Please help!

Answer 1

dont hassle your child eventualy your child will whant to be a big kid and do the do

Answer 2

Well for my daughter I had to put real panties on her not pull-ups because pull-ups feel like a diaper so they figure I am still wearing a diaper not big boy/girl underwear so I will go in my diaper. I also had to tell her that if she didn't go in the potty then everytime she has an accident I will spank you because time out didn't work candy didn't work nothing worked but the spanking threat and i did spank her once for having an accident because she actually did it on purpose and laughed about it. It did work.. For my brother my mom had to let him run around naked completely nude and thats how he went. So it is different with all children. You could try giving him a certain amount of money or candy for peeing and a little more for pooping and if he has an accident u can take some away. however that option didn't work at all for my daughter. She was 3 1/2 when she was potty trained. You need to take him every half hour and make him sit there until he goes no matter what even if you get bored u have to stay with him the whole time to do this. take him to the potty right after he eats and right after he drinks anything. Just a few options, and Time out won't work because they really don't care. They are kids and it is something new to them they are used to being able to play and even when they have to go potty they just want to play in a way u could call em lazy. I know that sounds mean but its ture don't ever call him lazy though that isn't a good thing.

Answer 3

What isn't clear from your question is whether he doesn't poop in the potty (only) or if he really doesn't poop often otherwise. Sometimes a symptom of ADHD is "encoparesis", which is holding on to stool. These kids miss the signs that they need to poop due to their attentional deficit, until it is starting to come out, and then they panic and hold it in, suppressing the urge at that time. Leads to constipation issues as well. Often will not poop on the potty because they've developed a habit of trying not to poop at all. Might try dietary changes to make him need to go more often and have softer bowel movements, so when you DO have him sit on the potty, he's more like to be successful and then you can make a big deal of how great he did. Dried fruit snacks (raisins, dates, apricots), lots of water and fruit juices, limited milk, no cheese, vegetables and (with doctor supervision for a SHORT time) a tablespoon of mineral oil daily. Will make him unable to hold it, but also more likely to go when on the potty. Can't do the mineral oil more than 1 week, and pediatricians often suggest some vitamin supplementation as it causes loss of fat-soluble vitamins.

Answer 4

I had the same problem with my daughter when she was three. My mom bought her a piggy bank and promised her a quarter every time she pooped in the potty. If she went in her panties she had to give one back. It took about a week but she has been using the potty all the time for about 9 mos now.

Answer 5

Instead of punishing him for not using the potty, try rewarding him when he does go. My 3 year old was the same way; peeing but not pooping on the potty. We starting giving him one of those little tootsie rolls everytime he went poop. It took another month or two after we started that but then he was trained.

Answer 6

Honestly just let it go. Reward him for going pee in a big way and tell him that if he can poop in the potty than he can have a big reward too. But otherwise just give him time and don't push it. My son had trouble too and we just eased off for a few weeks and he got it down cold. Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

We had the same problem. We just told him he could have a wonka bar if he went poop. (He loves the show willey wonka and the chocolate factory.) When he finally did we all yelled and screamed and clapped like it was the best thing we had ever seen in the world. Then I took him immediately to the store and let him pick out ANYTHING he wanted. (He did, in fact, pick a wonka bar) He even told the clerk he got a candy because "I pooped like a big boy." She didn't seem too impressed but he was soo proud. I think it also helped that he got to go to the store with me all alone. Good luck it is hard!!

Answer 8

My mom always uses postive things. For instance my 2 year old nephew has a toy that sits in the bathroom Spiderman something or another. When he's on the toliet he can play with it and if he goes he gets to play with it until he messes in his diaper again. With my neice the trick was letting her use these stupid designer towels to dry her hands off with. My little brother was the most stubborn and with him we had to give him time-outs on the toliet every so often where he couldn't get up to make sure he used it. We kept that damn toliet in the living room for convience. Again when he went there was always some sort of positive item.

Also make sure that he isn't afraid of the toliet. My nephew was until we demonstrated to him that there is no way he could filt down the toliet. (Thankfully he's a pretty bright one so all it took was some explainging, but I know a friend who actaully demonstrated this by trying to flush items down the toliet.)

Answer 9

I know this is going to seem weird but it worked for my 2 kids I gave them pedisure they started going poop in the potty the same day. It made it a lot easier for them to go if you know what I mean

Answer 10

This may sound gross, but, it does work! Let him clean up a poopie pull-up/diaper and let him know that you and your wife are no longer going to be cleaning him up anymore. Tell him that he's a big boy and that is time to be potty trained. I went through this with all my three of my kids and after cleaning themselves one or two times, they were completely potty trained in days. Just be sure that this is at home and be prepared for him having to take a midday bath!

Answer 11

We had our 3 1/2 year old son go cold turkey one day (no diaper in the yard - underwear on) A potty was free for his use in the yard. He held out for many hours but buckled and finally used it. Problem solved.