A mom writes in asking for advice about potty training. She says she is currently potty training her 3-year-old toddler, and though he’s doing well overall (with Number One, anyway), she says he is “terrified of going Number Two.” He explicitly says he is scared. She tries to coax him with prizes. But it isn’t taking. She says she is now on day three of him “holding it in,” and so she’d like some advice about ways she can encourage him.
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A member of the community asks:
“My toddler is terrified to go number 2 on the potty: Advice?
Working on potty training my 3 y.o boy and he’s been doing awesome with pees on the potty but is terrified of going number 2 (pooping). He’s done it a few times, but right before he goes he says how he’s scared.
So I try to assure him there’s nothing to be scared about and reward him by letting him choose a toy/candy from a prize box after he goes but that’s still not working. We’re going on day 3 of him holding his poop in and I don’t know any other ways of encouraging him besides doing what we’re already doing.”
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
Community Advice for This Mom Who Is Potty Training Her Toddler But Struggling with His Fear of Going Number Two
To see what advice the Mamas Uncut Facebook community has for this mom in need, read the comments of the post embedded below.
Advice Summary for Potty Training a 3-Year-Old Boy Who Is Scared of Pooping
The community offered this mom in need a lot of great advice. Read some of their responses below.
“Mine was the same at age 4 and his brother 4.5. Just keep encouraging him it is ok. And make a big deal when he does go on the potty. Don’t get upset if he goes in his pants, he will get there it’s just something they do.”
“Have you tried sitting him backward on the toilet? Worked for my boy. He eventually felt safe enough to turn around.”
“Try reading to him or telling him stories. That’s what I had to do with my daughter. It got her to relax and get her mind off of it so she could finally go.”
“My son would poop his pants. Potty training took forever with him. I got him a new toy that he really wanted and told him that if he wanted to keep the toy he would have to go on the potty and he really didn’t want mommy to take the toy away.”
“He may be in pain when he tries to go. I thought my now 9 year old was refusing to potty train and that’s what the doctor told me; however I found her #2 had a slight red tinge, went to the Dr, tested her and we were referred to a pediatric GI…
…Come to find out she had polyps that were not allowing her to go and was causing pain. Once she had her procedure, she potty trained in 3 days. He may be associating fear with pain, so maybe take him to the pediatrician and have them test his stool.”
“My son pooped on his bed every day. He refused to go number 2 in the potty. There was a toy he had wanted for months but was kinda spendy. I bought the toy and put it up on a shelf where he could see it and not touch it. I told him if he went in the potty for a week he could have it. After a week of seeing the toy and not having it bam he did it and never had a problem after.”
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