As a parent navigating the tricky waters of potty training, I recently found myself purchasing a book titled Percy the Poop. Yes, you read that right—it’s a children’s story featuring a talking poop character. The idea is that if my daughter can relate to Percy’s “feelings,” she might grasp where poop should go (hint: it’s the potty!).
This month marks a full year since my daughter began her potty training journey. A whole year! It’s been quite the rollercoaster, and I can’t see the end just yet.
Potty training came as a surprise to us. One weekend, my then 2-year-old casually announced that she wanted to use the potty to pee. It was that straightforward! I could count the number of pee accidents on one hand since then.
“This is fantastic!” my partner and I thought. “How can potty training be so easy? What are all those other parents talking about?”
The answer? Poop.
While every child’s potty training experience varies, ours has turned into a saga focused entirely on the “poop” aspect. I never thought that this universal bodily function would lead to such chaos in our lives.
My Failed Strategies
Before you jump in with your advice, let me assure you—I’ve tried everything. Here’s a glimpse of my failed strategies to encourage my daughter to poop on the potty:
- Small rewards like stickers
- Larger rewards, including toys
- Using a toddler potty chair
- Moving the potty chair to various rooms in the house
- A Disney-themed potty seat for the adult toilet
- A potty money jar—she currently has one penny in it!
- A sticker chart featuring larger-than-life Disney princess stickers
- Screen time as a reward
- Special treats and snacks
- Reading various poop-related potty training books (hello, Percy!)
- Attempting to demonstrate by transferring poop from her underwear to the potty
- Having her assist in cleaning her dirty underwear
- Letting her experience the discomfort of dirty underwear
- Allowing her to request a pull-up or diaper for pooping
- Sitting with her in the bathroom for moral support or giving her privacy
- Offering fun new underwear as a treat
- Letting her go without pants for days (sorry, guests!)
- Allowing her to “decorate” the poop in the potty with glitter or color tablets
I encourage her daily, breaking into song about poop—sometimes my own creations, sometimes classics (who knew Frozen’s “Let It Go” could apply here?). I’ve resorted to bribing, shedding tears of frustration, and even yelling. I’ve spoken to her like an adult: “Poop goes in the toilet. End of story.” Yet I’ve also explained in toddler terms: “Guess what? Poop loves to swim! When you use the potty, it gets to swim!”
I sometimes question my sanity for indulging in such ridiculous conversations about poop. I even joined a potty training support group on Facebook!
The challenge? My daughter is both stubborn and too clever for her own good. She fully understands that she should use the potty but simply refuses. Unlike other children, fear isn’t a factor for her.
There’s no pattern to her pooping, which complicates things further. I’ve developed a hyper-awareness of her signs—essentially stalking her as she plays, watching for any telltale signs (like abdominal tension) that might indicate an impending accident. This constant vigilance is exhausting and anxiety-inducing.
“Relax,” well-meaning friends say. “She’ll get it eventually. Have you ever seen a high schooler still in diapers?” Clearly, they haven’t been in my shoes. Yes, I know she’ll eventually figure it out, but that doesn’t lessen my frustration or the mess I’m dealing with.
As I scrub out dirty underwear for what feels like the millionth time, I remind myself that, one day, she will poop in the potty. But then I realize I may have to do this all over again with another child!
Ah, the joys of parenting.
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Summary
Potty training can be a daunting experience for parents, particularly when it comes to poop. Every child’s journey is unique, and while some may breeze through it, others can struggle significantly. Stubbornness and lack of a consistent pattern can make potty training feel like an endless battle. However, with patience, creativity, and a touch of humor, parents can navigate these challenges together, knowing that one day, their little ones will master the potty.