HELP!!! My Son Won't Go Poo on the Toilet!

My son is 3 1\2 now and I went through the same thing. Like you I tried everything until i ran into this lady and she suggested letting him run around the house without a diaper or under wear on, just a long shirt. I waited a few days and finally decided to give it a try and lo and behold he went poo in the potty, a week later he was doing both in the potty. As far as the getting through the night I had to cut off all liquids an hour before his bed time and not put the diaper on because when I would put the diaper on it seemed like we would go back in steps. They make little bed covers that absorb liquid and that was something I invested in. My son has been potty trained for months now but he still has an occasional accident so it was a good investment and it saves on a ton of laundry. It can be stressful and seem like a lot of work, be patient and strong. It will all come together for you.

Try getting a toddler sized potty. Maybe the adult toilet is intimidating. I would also just set him on the potty that time of day he usually goes, if he is on schedule with pooping. Put him on there to pee and see what else happens. Don't ask him, just set him. If you give him a choice he will always say "no". SO just say "lets try and go potty", reward him for trying, then if he does Poop, A HUGE deal out of it and try the sticker chart.
For nighttime cut out liquids two hours prior to bedtime, have him go right before bedtime. THen just leave the pullup on at night until he wakes up dry. My son after about two weeks after daytime training was totally dry when he woke up, he had trained his bladder to wait until morning. It takes a while to make that connection, but he will.
Don't pressure him, but also encourage that big boys don't poop in their diapers,. do not give him one to poop in, just tell him it is time to sit on the potty. If he knows you will give him one to poop in and knows when to go, it will drag out longer...Good luck, we all had some issue during this time I promise!

My daugther will be 3 in two weeks and she recently went through the same thing. I called her a "nervous pooer." She refused to poop in her potty and would hold it until I gave her a diaper-- sometimes it would be days! Anyhow, her pediatrician said it was no big deal and not to worry about it. So I gave in and just gave her a diaper whenever she needed to poop and she would disappear into her closet to do her business. I think it was actually a few months that this went on and then finally one day she decided completely on her own that she was ready to do #2 in the potty. I didn't even know she had done it until she called me into the bathroom. I praised her hugely and we haven't needed diapers since.

Good luck!

I have heard that the pooping on the potty can be difficult for some kids, because they think on some level that the poop is part of them, and they can't "let it go". I am not sure how to remedy this, however. Is he going on the grown up toilet, or a kid potty? If he is using the grown up potty, maybe switch him to one of those little ones that sits on the floor--it might seem less scary. Or, if he is using the little one, get him one of those seats that fits on the grown up potty. Maybe he needs a change of scenery. Also, if you can sit with him while he is trying to go, and read him books, that might help distract him...as a last resort, you can always just be done with diapers; he might be more motivated to use the potty after has has soiled his pants...but this makes a big mess for you!

As far as night training, my daughter is barely 4 and still wears a pull up at night, despite the fact that she has been potty trained for over 2 years. What I have heard is that when they are dry in the morning for 30 days, then it is time to take the pull up off at night. All kids are different--my daughter's best friend (also 4) potty trained at night at the same time that she trained in the day, at about 20 months! My neice, on the other hand, was 7 before she could stay dry at night.

Hi T.,
Don't worry about your son, I have three boys and they were all different at potty training. My second son had the same problem, he refused to use the potty to poop. His pediatrician said to let him go no longer than three days without going, then put a diaper on him and give him some apple or prune juice. I usually didn't have to wait, as he knew when he had to go and would ask for a diaper. He was still going through this routine just shy of his fourth birthday and I finally had to tell him I had no more diapers and couldn't buy anymore at the store and he would just have to use the potty and he did. Be sure that if you're using the big potty to have something to support his feet, they don't seem to like to feel like they're dangling, or just use a potty chair. As far as the night time, I can't be much help, as all three of my boys stayed dry all night before they were potty trained. You might just try putting him in underwear with a plastic protective underwear cover, that way if he does go at night he will feel it right away, but the bed won't get wet. Don't worry too much, I've never seen a kindergartener in diapers, it just takes some longer than others. My oldest two were almost four, but never had an accident after that and my youngest was three, but had several accidents after that. When they are ready, they are ready. Good luck.