How to Potty Train for Pooping

For many toddlers, potty training for pooping is more difficult than potty training for peeing. As a parent, this can be frustrating -- you're tired of changing soiled diapers, and solid accidents that happen when the diaper is off are even harder to clean. But think about it from your toddler's perspective. Potty training for poop requires learning a whole new set of skills that you've never asked her to practice before. Be patient and gentle, and eventually she'll be fully potty trained.

Things You'll Need

  • Child potty or toilet insert and stool

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin training for pee first. This will include introducing the potty and teaching your child all the skills involved in using the potty: pulling down pants, sitting, wiping, pulling up pants and washing hands. Your child doesn't need to be reliable with peeing in the potty before you potty train for poop, but practicing with pee is easier for most children, if only because they pee more frequently than they poop.

    • 2

      Make sure she's comfortable. Your toddler should be able to put both feet flat on a surface while pooping. If she's sitting on the adult toilet, make sure her seat insert is comfortable to sit on for an extended time, and make sure her stool is high enough that she can put her feet flat on it while sitting. If she's too short for that, get her a child potty small enough that she can sit with her feet on the floor.

    • 3

      Anticipate your child's pooping schedule. Most toddlers poop at predictable times, often at the same time every day. If your toddler usually poops at about the same time, then gather some special potty toys and plan for a potty session at about the time when he usually poops.

    • 4

      Catch her in the act. If you find your toddler crouching and grunting under the table, encourage her to move to the potty to finish. Don't startle her or upset her, but invite her to try to finish on the potty.

    • 5

      Use creative solutions. If your toddler likes his privacy and always hides in his closet to poop, then put a potty in there. If he always asks for a diaper to poop because he doesn't like the feeling of poop falling away from his body, then give him the diaper -- but ask him to sit on the potty while wearing it. Try cutting a small hole in the diaper so he's pooping in the potty while wearing the diaper, and gradually make the hole bigger until he no longer needs the diaper at all. On the other hand, if he will happily poop naked but doesn't like to sit on the potty, then let him crouch over the potty instead -- just put some newspaper on the floor to catch poop that doesn't quite make it into the potty.

    • 6

      Make it fun. Many toddlers will need to sit on the potty for a while in order to poop, so consider having special toys to keep her entertained while she's there. Celebrate any success -- getting even a little poop in the potty is an accomplishment. Practice relaxing and breathing while on the potty. Depending on your parenting philosophy, consider using rewards like stickers.

    • 7

      Keep a healthy diet. Make sure your toddler eats plenty of fiber and drinks plenty of water to maintain a healthy, regular poop schedule.

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