Why is my 3 year old doing this?

He was essentially potty trained just before all this happened. He was still wearing pull ups but good 75% of the time. Now, forget it. He has completely regressed and refuses to go on the potty. I am certain it's a control thing and I have just resigned to the fact that he has to stay in pull ups. He knows what to do and when to do it, he just doesn't want to.

His new thing is that he poops in his pull up and then HANDS IT TO ME. He reaches into the pull up and pulls it out and gives it me. It's so effing disgusting I could vomit. The other day I was on a Zoom conference call and here he comes with crap all over his hand! I wanted to die. Why is he doing that? What do I do about this? Anyone have experience with this?

Re: Why is my 3 year old doing this?

Hate to say it, but these kinds of regressions are probably due to stress about life being different right now. Our daughter is 4 and has had a bunch of #1 accidents when she's been fully potty trained forever. It seemed to mostly be happening all last week, and this week so far has been better. Hopefully this too shall pass. But other bad behavior I have realized has really been a cry for undivided attention. We've started basically platooning and giving more undivided attention and that has helped.

That sounds AWFUL though. Wishing you the good grace to get through this phase. And to think, I was so annoyed to have to clean up the pee!

Re: Why is my 3 year old doing this?

Hugs mama. I agree, this is a stress reaction and regression is to be expected. I would talk to him and ask him how we can solve this. Make him involved with this. Sesame street has a few videos on potty training that might help.

Re: Why is my 3 year old doing this?

Thanks so much. He might like the Sesame Street videos. This kid has a mind of his own. Very much a threenager...who poops his pants. LOL