need help with this--pooping on the floor

[Nightingale]

I already posted another question today, but have another one that needs some immediate attention.

I posted a bit about it last week, but Kalli has been pooping on her floor during nap. I'm not sure I was too clear in my other post, most suggested that I supervise better. The first time both girls pooped on the floor was during play time in one of the girls' rooms, but then 4 times in the last 2 weeks, Kalli has pooped on her floor during nap. She hasn't said a word about it, and at least today, she went to sleep afterwards, and I didn't find it until she woke up. It's not even one "pile," it's a bunch of spots on the floor--today it was 20+. Some of them were light spots where it just got rubbed or something, some of them had a thick piece of poop on them.

Kiandra went through this when she was a little younger than Kalli, but she wasn't pooping on the potty consistently yet. As soon as she learned to do that, she stopped pooping in her room. Kalli has been pooping on the potty EVERY TIME for a year. When asked why she pooped on the floor, it's, "because I wanted to."

I feel stuck. My mom said I need to find something that shows her that it's not ok. I tend to agree. I'm struggling because I feel like my only recourse is to talk to her about it, and then spend 20+ minutes and half a bottle of expensive carpet cleaner cleaning it up while I cry because I"m trying to keep our rental house in good shape. My only "proactive" thought is to start really praising her for pooping on the potty again, and maybe talking at each nap about what to do if she has to go potty. She does go potty right before nap every day, and I show them how to let me know they have to go potty, and always let them go potty when they say they need to.

Is there anything else I can be doing? More supervision doesn't really apply here, I don't think, because it's nap time and she HAS to nap--we need more sleep around here.

TIA.

[mummy2boys]

My only "proactive" thought is to start really praising her for pooping on the potty again, and maybe talking at each nap about what to do if she has to go potty. She does go potty right before nap every day, and I show them how to let me know they have to go potty, and always let them go potty when they say they need to.

Rachelle....I think thats a good start. I think I m ight have missed how old your DD is but cans he help with cleaning it up? Maybe she can help you collect the things you need to clean it up and pass them too you if she is too young to do it by herself.

I don't know if thats much help but hopefully others may have more suggestions for you.

[HomeWithMyBabies]

I think she's old enough to help clean up, especially since she's shown control with pottying. I used to tell ds, "Oh, you didn't make it on time. It was an accident. Here, use this to clean up." Then we'd work on it together. He didn't like it because he'd rather play.

Is there something bothering her in her diet? Can you stay with her until she falls asleep? Maybe put her down earlier or later?

[marathonmom]

I so totally relate and empathize.

We've had this problem with my 5 yo off and on for a couple years. (So probably I'm not the best person to advise)

I would agree with pp's who said, have her help clean up. Perhaps for awhile stay with her
until she is asleep. Or check on her every few minutes until she is asleep. I know its hard.

Is she still going #2 on the potty every day? Could she be withholding stool?

[Nightingale]

she's still going every day...she poops SO much. It all seemed to start when they pooped at the same time while playing in Kiandra's room.

Kalli is almost 3, 3 in september.

[ShiriChayim]

Do you think perhaps she got the idea from her big sister that pooping on the floor is funny? If that's the case perhaps big sister can be in on the praising her for pooping on the potty too? I dunno, my kids aren't even potty trained, but I had a big sister just a little older than me, and boy oh boy if she said something was "cool" I did it.

[B Hope]

My eldest watched the dogs we're babysitting poop outside and before I knew it she was out there pulling down her shorts to join in the fun. She TOTALLY didn't get why the dogs were allowed to do it but it was wrong for her.

We also went through a phase where DD1 was pooping in her room. I think, at first, she thought it was funny. And then I think she just liked the privacy. I started giving her more privacy in the bathroom and that seemed to help.

Another Idea, and keeping in mind that I'm not one for doing anything that feels like "regression" but would she do okay if you gave her a potty chair in her room? Let her know she needs to potty in the big potty, but if she doesn't feel like she can make it on time that the other option is the potty chair.

(Like I said, I'm not sure about the whole "regressive" aspect to that advice, but I know I'd rather have her help me clean a potty chair then deal with poopy carpet.)

[MoongardenMama]

A potty chair in the room might do the trick. She's not even three yet? I certainly don't think it would be inappropriate. I would not consider it going backward either because just the fact that she would consider pooping on the floor (with any regularity) tells me that she's still in that learning phase anyway. Even IF she had a long period where she was getting it right...I've heard about that all the time with potty learning!

I was also wondering if her door is shut when she is napping? If so, maybe you could open it up when she does fall asleep so that she doesn't feel like she can't make it to the bathroom? Also, where you are in association with her during that time? (If you're like me, you're napping too! I don't waste any chance I can get for extra sleep.) In that case - an easy answer would be to nap right in there with her so you can help field any incidents. OR if you're at least in a place where you can hear what's going on (or use a baby monitor) in time to get in there and guide her through it. THose are really the only things I think will help.

[Aisling]

DD did this a while with peeing...it was mostly out of curiosity, I think. I had her help clean it up, and she eventually decided it was more work than it was worth.

Originally Posted by BabyHopes

My eldest watched the dogs we're babysitting poop outside and before I knew it she was out there pulling down her shorts to join in the fun. She TOTALLY didn't get why the dogs were allowed to do it but it was wrong for her.

I actually have a very vivid memory of doing this myself as a child. We had a small orchard in our backyard, 16 cherry trees, so I wasn't totally visible when I was doing it. I remember I had to go *bad* and I didn't think I could make it all the way to the house. I remember thinking that our German Shepherd did it, and really, *truly* thinking it was okay. I must have been 6 or so at the time. I DO remember my mom making me go clean it up, although I don't remember what her reaction was... I can visualize trying to pick it up with a paper towel and thinking I never wanted to have to clean it up again. How's that for vivid?

As far as the pooping on the floor... she is still pretty little, and it sounds like curiosity/experimenting. I would bet that if you consistently have her go before naptime (since it seems to be her natural time to go anyway) she won't have the opportunity to do it again for a while and might forget about it? It'll take work on your part, but maybe it can just be part of your naptime routine for a while.

I might not focus on it too heavily when it happens, except for a cheerful matter of fact, "oops, help Mommy clean this up, ICKY!" Sometimes when you make it a big issue they don't forget about it as quickly.