Potty Training Thinks Pooping Pants Is Funny
What to do when your toddler is potty trained but poops in her pants (and doesn't care)? Try these tricks to get her to poop in the potty!
My toddler had been potty trained for months by then. He could pee all by himself, but pooping became an all-out battle. He'd disappear into his "poop corner" for a few minutes, pooping in his undies rather than going in the potty.
No matter how many times I tried to explain that he should poop in the potty, he'd still have many accidents in his undies. I'd sit him on the potty after the fact, but of course nothing came out then. Instead, all the poop ended up in the undies (which of course I had to clean).
It seemed like the more he mastered peeing in the potty, the more he plateaued with pooping. Sometimes he'd manage to poop in the potty, but even then, there'd still be smudges of poop left on his undies.
I wanted him to be able to poop in the potty as well as he does with peeing—and to no longer have to deal with those messy undies.
When your toddler is potty trained but poops in pants
Maybe you're also about to lose your mind. Your toddler is potty trained but still poops in her pants regularly—and doesn't care, either.
She had been potty trained with no problems, with few accidents you can recall. But now she suddenly poops in her pants all the time. This could be a regression in response to you being pregnant ("I want to be a baby!"). Or she might see other kids at day care pooping in their pants and assume it's normal.
She's even aware that she's pooping—she'll even tell you as soon as she's done—so it's not a matter of her not knowing.
As normal as it is for toddlers to relapse months after having been potty trained, dealing with poop is no easy (or clean!) task. Take a look at these tricks to get your toddler to poop on the potty:
1. Observe your toddler
Kids will often display signs of having to poop, from standing in a weird, strained position to looking like they're clenching their butts. Some might run off for privacy or walk in a funny way. Other times, you just know that your toddler tends to go at certain times, like after school or breakfast.
Observe and be more mindful of these signs throughout the day. Then, when you catch one of them, lead her to the bathroom to try and poop in the toilet. This will help you prevent her from going in her undies in the first place.
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2. Have your toddler help clean the mess
Does your toddler poop in her pants and not seem to care? Have her start helping you clean the mess, with your guidance and instructions.
For instance, she can drop the poop from her undies into the toilet. Show her how to run the water and add the laundry detergent. Have her spray and sanitize the bathroom (or any areas that got dirty). Guide her throughout the process with compassion—not anger or frustration.
Holding her accountable helps her understand the consequences of pooping in her undies.
If you don't feel comfortable having her clean accidents, then at least let her know that you now have to clean it up—and what will happen because you do. You could say, "We'll have to wait to play the game until after I wash your undies."
3. Keep your toddler bare-bottomed
Who says you can't re-train your potty-trained toddler? If you find that she has been having more accidents than normal, dedicate a weekend and keep her bare-bottomed.
On day one, stay home the whole day. She won't have the crutch of undies or diapers to poop into and will be more likely to poop in the toilet. Repeat the same on day two, but take an hour-long outing—with only pants or shorts, not undies.
Then on day three, take two hour-long outings, also with only pants or shorts and no undies.
The more directly she feels the sensations of pooping, the more likely she'll head to the toilet at the first sign she feels she has to poop.
Learn all about potty training in three days.
4. Create the right environment
Pooping in the toilet can be awkward, especially if your toddler had been used to going in her diapers or pull ups. By creating the right environment, she might be more likely to poop in the toilet and feel comfortable doing so.
For instance, give her privacy by keeping the door closed. Turn on the vent in the bathroom so she doesn't feel self-conscious of the sounds in the other rooms. Offer her a book to read, and prop her feet on a step so that her knees stay above hip level.
All these changes can help her feel more comfortable and at ease while she tries to poop.
5. Offer fibrous food, water, and exercise
Part of what could be making pooping in the toilet uncomfortable for your toddler is the difficulty in passing bowel movements. It doesn't help that the more she's holding her poop, the harder her stools become, setting of a cycle of constipation.
To break the cycle, offer fibrous food like plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Make sure she's drinking enough water and staying active throughout the day. All these steps will help make passing stools easier.
Get tips on how to potty train a toddler.
Conclusion
In the grand scheme of things, your potty trained toddler pooping in her pants isn't worth getting upset or stressed about. But I understand how easy it is to feel frustrated with each accident, especially when she has made progress in other areas except this one.
To help her along, start by observing her patterns and behaviors, leading her to the bathroom at the first signs of her pooping in her pants. Have her help you clean up the mess so she understands the consequences of her choices.
Keep her bare-bottomed over a three-day period so she'll be more likely to use the toilet at the first sensation of pooping on herself. Create the right environment in the bathroom, from turning on the vent to propping her feet on a step.
And finally, offer fibrous food, water, and plenty of activity to keep her bowel movements smooth.
No more hiding in "poop corner" to poop in her undies, friend! Now your toddler will be able to use the toilet—instead of her pants.
Get more tips:
- Is Your Toddler Afraid to Poop in the Potty? 7 Tricks You Can Try
- How to Get Your Toddler to (Finally) Poop in the Potty
- What to Do When Your Toddler Won't Poop on the Potty
- Potty Training Books to Ease Your Child's Anxiety
- How to Potty Train Twins: The Ultimate Guide
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Source: https://sleepingshouldbeeasy.com/toddler-potty-trained-but-poops-in-pants/
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