inside your fist) but wants to come out, you tell me. When your poop
is here (squeezing out of the fist), it’s already out, and it’s too late.” If
you feel really brave, you can explain what all happens with the anus
opening.
This is usually very fun and informative for the child. For most
kids, a total lightbulb goes off for them. And for you, it’s yet another
parenting moment of thinking, Never in my life would I have seen
myself doing this.
Your Child Is Doing Great with Pee But Seems Afraid of
Pooping
This child is doing mostly great, but the poops keep landing in her
pants or on the floor. I just want to be very clear, because the
distinction is important: this child is not afraid of pooping. This child
is afraid of pooping on the potty.
The number one thing to remember in the case of this child is
that the fear is real for him. As with any other fear—the monster
under the bed, water, or whatever—no amount of convincing on your
part is going to change his mind. So stop trying.
If you’re dealing with this child, you have a parenting call to
make, and I do not feel comfortable advising exactly what to do
because it will depend upon your child, and you know your child best.
What I can do is to give you some ideas. Most often, I tell parents to
do what they would do with any other toddler fear. If your toddler
fears a monster under the bed, you don’t keep her up all night, right?
You probably combine some sternness with some magical thinking