Comments on: Poop Terror

By: IComLeavWe: Day 3 | PhD in Parenting

IComLeavWe: Day 3 | PhD in Parenting — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:10:44 +0000

[...] had our share of trials, tribulations and successes as I wrote about in toilet learning and poop terror. We still have challenges. Even when we try to be patient and not push anything, it can still be [...]

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:42:48 +0000

We are going through the *exact* same thing with our daughter – she just turned 3. The whole thing is stressing me right out! I feel awful for her, seeing her in such discomfort and so obviously distraught over it. I have no clue what triggered it. I’ll be trying to find some Miralax and hoping things get better soon. Good luck to you!!

By: Family Anatomy

Family Anatomy — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:41:46 +0000

The toilet training experience reminded me that every child is unique – the tips in books don’t necessarily apply to everyone. Hopefully your daughter will get through it soon.

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:36:54 +0000

@ Family Anatomy: That was certainly our experience with our son too. He did it when he was ready. With our daughter though, she appears to be scared to have a bowel movement in her diaper or in the toilet. A lot of reassurance and focusing on foods that keep things moving has improved things quite a bit over the past few days, but we were having a horrible time for a week or so.

By: Family Anatomy

Family Anatomy — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:12:21 +0000

Wow. This article gave me flashbacks.

We did everything we could think of, google, read about, and recommend based on years of experience with behaviour therapy. Not a single thing worked consistently until -boom- it happened all at once. From frequent accidents to none overnight. It seemed like our son just needed to be ready, and no amount of training was going to speed it up!

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:13:23 +0000

I don’t know if you’re still nursing or not, but I actually resorted to nursing my reluctant toddler while she sat on the potty. Not our most pleasant nursing experience, but also probably not our strangest. Anway, it helped her relax and feel safe enough to go, and got her over that initial hump.

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:47:18 +0000

@TechyDad – I think it is actually both! Thanks for the tips. We’re working on those things and making some progress.

By: TechyDad

TechyDad — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:40:03 +0000

I would think there’s one of two things going on:

1. Her poos actually hurt in some way (or did hurt at one time). If this is the case, a diet change (like many commenters already suggested) would be a solution along with talking about how poos are supposed to come out (see #2).

2. She is experiencing a “fear of the unknown.” She just discovered that this stuff is coming out of her, doesn’t know why it happens, and freaks out about it. The cure for this is information. Read Everyone Poops to her. Tell her about how everybody – Mommy, Daddy, dogs, cats, etc – poop. Explain what poop is and why it is important to go poop (whether in potty or diapers).

Good luck!

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:59:25 +0000

@Sivana – Thank you for the comment. My daughter has been in the bathroom with us regularly since she was born. I rarely get an opportunity to go on my own! So she is very familiar with what goes on in there.

By: Sivana

Sivana — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:55:02 +0000

I haven’t gone through this myself, but I have to agree with Mel in principle. It seems that modeling pooing as a normal thing might work. Perhaps let her see other family members when you go to the bathroom, take her out to a farm or a zoo to see if you can find animals “in the act.” Anything to show her that going to the bathroom isn’t scary and that it’s something we all do.