For many children, learning to poop on the potty takes longer than learning to urinate in it. A child may feel tense or anxious about pushing something out into open space rather than into a diaper. Girls are generally easier and quicker to potty-train than boys, according to Baby Center, but each child moves at her own pace. Be patient with your little girl, since getting frustrated may make her even more anxious about potty training.
Step 1
Read books to your little girl about going potty and especially pooping in the potty, such as "Everybody Poops" by Taro Gomi. Help her make her own book about using the toilet to read each night as well. Give her paper and crayons and ask her to draw a series of pictures of what happens when she goes poop in the toilet. Staple the pages together and look through the book with her each night.
Step 2
Set up a comfortable toilet area. Place her potty in the bathroom or in another private, calm area of the house. Set up a box of books next to the potty and place a small stool in front of it. Placing her feet on the stool may create a more comfortable position for her.
Step 3
Add plenty of fiber to her diet. If she feels anxious about pooping, she may hold it in and become constipated. Feeding her fresh fruits and vegetables, bran cereal and whole wheat pasta and crackers will help keep her bowels moving.
Step 4
Lead her to her potty about 15 minutes after meal time. Ask her to sit on the potty and read her books while she tries to push out her poop. Let her sit on the toilet until she wants to get up.
Step 5
Look out for signs that she is pooping or is about to poop. If she seems to be concentrating hard or her face is turning red, she may be going in her diaper. Quickly lead her to the toilet so she can finish going in the toilet.
Step 6
Celebrate the first time she goes poop in her toilet, even if it's a small amount. Bake her a special cake, tell her you're proud of her and tell all the rest of your family members so everyone can congratulate her.
Step 7
Buy her new underwear featuring her favorite cartoon characters or princesses. Show her the underwear and explain she'll get to wear it as soon as she starts using the potty all the time. Let her start wearing this underwear as soon as she is using the toilet regularly rather than going in her diaper.
Things You'll Need
- Books
- Paper
- Art supplies
- Miniature potty
- Stool
- Foods with fiber
- New underwear
