Exactly 12 weeks ago we began our potty-training journey with Sugarplum. While the start was rough and I probably should have given up for a few more months, I persisted anyways. After the first few weeks, peeing came easily enough and it was no longer an issue other than an occasional wet pair of pants usually due to forgetting to go while playing. However, weeks and weeks of poopy, soiled underwears had me at my wits end.
I took all my own advice and tried everything I could think of and none of it worked (proof that I’m not a perfect mommy after all!) so I took to the internet. I read page after page of moms seeking and giving advice on the exact issue (refusing to poo in the potty). Most moms complained about their children waiting to go until they got a diaper put on at sleeping times or begging for a diaper to go.
So, I came up with a new plan. I broke my #1 potty training rule and headed to target for some pull-ups. My theory: If I could get her to just tell me when she had to go and ask for a pull-up (we referred to them as “princess pants” to limit confusion on what my expectations were) then we could worry about transitioning to the potty later. All I was concerned about was getting her to recognize the need to go and getting past the every other day laundry due to her multi-day pooing habit (I describe her as a human play-doh machine—when you put something in the top, it automatically squeezes out the bottom).
Well, another fail. It turned into what I call “mommy-training.” I learned her signals for when she was going to go (hiding, grabbing her bum, etc.) and would offer her the princess pants. Usually she would take them but sometimes it was already too late and the laundry continued.
Well, After 10 weeks of struggle, we’ve moved nearly past it (2 poo accidents in the past week…a vast improvement over2-3 a day!). I wish I could say I worked some magic and have some new wonderful advice for struggling mommies, but unfortunately I don’t. The truth is, it just happened.
We went to Colorado and I reminded her she needed to be extra special careful because Grandma didn’t want poop on her floor (Sugarplum’s likes to help clean herself up often resulting in giant messes). Well, guess what…she started using the potty, on her own. Sometimes we had to encourage her to go as she walked around the house squeezing her bum cheeks together with her hands, but very few poo accidents occurred at Grandma’s house
I was worried it wouldn’t last when we got home but amazingly it has. She’s had a few accidents since we’ve been back (and one really awful mess after trying to clean herself up) but she’s still been going on her own without encouragement or reminders. I wish I had some great new advice for other mommies who are struggling but unfortunately, all I can say is: Keep your cool, wait it out and it will happen eventually. (Also be sure to have loads of laundry detergent around and start planning all the things you can wash when you run out of dirty clothes…)
