Found the right motivation! (potty-training related)

[MelessaG]

We have had a lot of trouble getting my 4 year-old to poop regularly. He's potty-trained, but this summer has been going through bouts of holding it in as many days as he can. This has resulted in trips to Dr.'s, stool-softeners, and enemas all summer long. He has, for obvious reasons, missed pool parties because he refused to go before the party. He has been asked at regular intervals to sit on the potty for 45 minutes at a time, we have taken away computer time, we have begged, we have threatened, we have bribed. Today marked Day #5 or 6 with no 'results' and last night's enema didn't work. As the kids ate lunch today, they asked when we were leaving for WDW. I told them it would still be a few more months, then said if I was going to have to spend the whole trip worrying about my son's toilet habits-maybe he should just stay here with his aunt and uncle while we go without him. I didn't even mean it as a threat-I've given up on those. It was more the off-hand vocal observation of a sleep-deprived, stressed-out mom of 4. Whatever it was-it worked! About an hour later and with no prompting from me, my son summoned me to the potty to see the 'results.' Apparently I can take away privilages and threaten his life to no avail...but if it's the only we he can go to Walt Disney World-he will do it whatever it takes. I wish I could say I came up with this strategy on purpose and I definitely wish I had done it sooner. Either way it worked. (sorry for the 'eww' factor related to the subject matter)

 

[mickeyboat]

Hooray! It is amazing what will work as a motivation for kids.

DD4 was peeing at nap time in her pull-up (babysitter requires one). She goes all night at home so I knew she was doing it on purpose. I set up a reward chart where she got a flip flop necklace if she stayed dry 30 times. If she peed, she lost a star. It worked! Several weeks later, she stays dry at nap time every day!

Denae

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

my 3 year old son is going through the same pooping problem.
I'm glad you were able to get him to go on the potty!
Wish I could find a solution.

 

[MelessaG]

I'm so sorry to hear this, I know how frustrating it is. I'm also not sure my off-hand comment will do the trick between now and the end of November. I'm just hoping it will...I hope you find a solution too.

 

[spagheddie]

Way way back in 1974, my parents had tried for a while to get me pottie trained but with no luck. When I was told that we would be going to WDW and I needed to be trained so I could get on the plane, well wouldn't you know I was an expert in no time. Glad to hear it still works!

 

[sap1227]

My DS (2 3/4) does the same thing. We are on day 9 (yep, that's right NINE) with out a BM. Nothing seems to work with him
Good luck to everyone else with the same problem!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

My 4 year old has the same problem. He only poops every 3rd day. For a long time he would wait until after bedtime to poop(when he had a pull-up on). Then he would call for me and tell me that he poop in his pull-up- no warning, no "mom, I need to poop", nothing! It was very frustrating. This went on for months!

Finally, this summer he has decided to poop in the potty EVERY time. He still only goes every 3rd day but at least he doesn't poop in his pants.

 

[Hillbeans]

I'm in the same boat as well. I've now resorted to bribery. My DH bought Thomas, Annie, Clarabel and Lady (tiny Thomas the Tank Engine trains) and they're sitting on top of the TV stand. For each BM in the potty, he gets one.

I feel like a jerk for pressuring him, but i'm SOOOOO sick of him asking for a pull up to BM in front of my friends and family when we all know he's capable of doing it in the potty. He's 3 1/2 and we've been doing this now for close to a year. It's 100% a control issue in my household - he chooses not to do it.

AAAGGGHHH. Glad to hear your plan worked in your household.

 

[MelessaG]

I had no idea there were so many other little guys out there like mine. He is still telling everyone several hours later what he did. It's definitely a control issue here too. (we have most definitely gone 9 days in the past and, at this point, every third day would be wonderful ) Maybe we should start a support group. There is all kinds of potential for a strange-sounding club name!

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

I also had no idea that there were so many out there having problems like my son. I just thought it was something that I was doing wrong. He had been pooping just fine in the potty, then it was a complete turn around. He would poop when he had a pullup on at night, or he would have to poop sooooo badly from holding it in, that he would have a mess in his underwear! I have been SOOOO frustrated, and stressed out.
I am a SAHM of 4 young kids, and I am feeling very At this point!!! LOL