Pooping outside

So I have a couple of kids potty training (they go pee on the potty at set times e.g. before we go outside, after we come in, before nap etc.) and my daughter who has been completely trained since Aug. They all go pee/poo before we go outside. The two that are "practicing" (I have no illusions that they are trained as they don't initiate but always go when requested and produce something) still wear diapers at daycare and when we go outside. Since these kids are in training they are very aware of when they go poo now. Not enough that they initiate pooping on the potty regularly (they both do sometimes) but if they poop, they tell me right away and want out of their diaper. There have been a few times (like this morning) where we get all ready to go outside and after playing for a bit one of these girls has let me know they pooped. I usually try to prolong our time outside but I know this makes them uncomfortable. I of course don't want to negatively effect their potty learning but this is a bit of a pain of course.

It wasn't my choice to start training these 2 right before winter but they both showed a lot of interest in the potty and have quickly learned how to pee on command. They rarely initiate the potty themselves but they do at times. They tend to hold their pee between potty trips but they do have regular accidents in their diaper (1-2x's a day). I have been very low stress about the whole thing as this was/is fun for them. The parents plan on doing away with diapers during my 2 week holiday over Christmas and they will be in underwear in the New Year.

Is it cruel to leave them in their poopy diaper outside for any period of time? I want them to continue to be successful but bringing the whole group inside is such a pain!

Ugh. potty training in winter is a pain. I would honestly leave her in it until you come in. Maybe this will help encourage her to go before you go outside or to tell you she needs to go. If a child actually told me they needed to go I would take them in but if they tell me after the fact then they have to wait. It is winter, we aren't out that long.

That sucks! Does the child tend to poop every time you go out? You could try to push back the time you go out so she poops before you go?

No, not every time and it tends to be maybe 2x's a week that it happens. I have 5 kids in my daycare, 2 babies and no direct entrance to the daycare (it's through a gate and down 5 stairs) so its a bit of work. Plus, you have to take off their whole snowsuit to change them while the other kids stand around.

In the summer, not a problem. I have a potty I keep on my back porch or I change diapers on a change pad on the grass, easy.

We can't push the time back any further or we'll have no time outside before lunch.

Well I'm sure your not out for hours so if the child has to wait 20 mins or so ... Then that's what it is .... What's going to happen in the New Year when she's in underwear.... Is she going to magically start telling you when she has to go .... It's not that far off .... Maybe start asking her to try and go poo when she's already on the potty before outside time

I would not go inside to change a poopy diaper. Especially in the winter. It's not like you are going to be out for hours in the wintertime. They can wait until you go inside.

It's a tough one and the main reason I hate potty training in the winter!! In the summer, it's easy, I just change them outside but in the winter it's a little too chilly for that. I don't like to keep a child in a poopy diaper for too long so if it was a warmer day, I'd probably just change them in the shed or garage. However, we are only outside for 25-45 minutes in the winter and I don't think that's too long of a time to wait until we back inside.

I usually toilet train in the Summer but sure enough, have one beginning at home this weekend, one beginning at home over the Christmas Break and one more in January. I also have a Mom pushing for her daughter even though she's only 20 months and simply not ready so I'm delaying her.

When I do have toilet-training children, I add a potty to our wagon of supplies. And some grocery bags to put the waste in. We are lucky in the sense we have access to a private logging road which is gated and where we spend a lot of outside time so there's at least privacy. LOL I have always taken diapers and wipes with me regardless of training as we tend to be gone most of the morning. I'd hate anyone, toilet training or not, to spend more than min time in a soiled diaper.

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Originally Posted by Rachael

I usually toilet train in the Summer but sure enough, have one beginning at home this weekend, one beginning at home over the Christmas Break and one more in January. I also have a Mom pushing for her daughter even though she's only 20 months and simply not ready so I'm delaying her.

When I do have toilet-training children, I add a potty to our wagon of supplies. And some grocery bags to put the waste in. We are lucky in the sense we have access to a private logging road which is gated and where we spend a lot of outside time so there's at least privacy. LOL I have always taken diapers and wipes with me regardless of training as we tend to be gone most of the morning. I'd hate anyone, toilet training or not, to spend more than min time in a soiled diaper.

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It's one thing to change a child in spring-fall but to change them in winter means stripping their jacket, boots, snowpants off, lying them down (in snow?) and changing them then redressing them. The amount of heat loss through that process would be unhealthy. Wipes would freeze before you got them to the child's bum.

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Originally Posted by Lee-Bee

It's one thing to change a child in spring-fall but to change them in winter means stripping their jacket, boots, snowpants off, lying them down (in snow?) and changing them then redressing them. The amount of heat loss through that process would be unhealthy. Wipes would freeze before you got them to the child's bum.

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Absolutely which is why I said I USUALLY train in the summer but sure enough...blah blah.

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Originally Posted by Rachael

Absolutely which is why I said I USUALLY train in the summer but sure enough...blah blah.

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You are right 5LM. I responded quickly to Rachael's 'blah, blah, blah' comment with annoyance. I should have ignored it altogether. I'm deleting my comment to try and keep the original thread going with some helpful feedback.

Oh my....I don't want to get in the middle of this but let's not have this thread turn into what the other one recently did.

I really enjoy this site but the bickering back and forth is getting old and it's not enjoyable and something I expect from our little clients, not ourselves!

TGIF lol....have a great weekend everyone! :)

Sorry, didn't mean to "scold" you....internet forums get the best of all of us at some point or another!! lol

If the child has pooped in the potty before for you then try to give her more time to "try" before going outside so she doesn't feel rushed. It may be that she is trying to push it out but is afraid of being left behind and says she is done even when she isn't and then once she gets outside - especially if crouching in the snow continues with the pooping.

You can turn it back on her as learning in the sense of reminding her when on the potty before going out that there is no potty outside and if she doesn't take the time now to poop then she is going to have to have a poopy diaper on outside and that will be uncomfortable. She will survive outside for a few more minutes with a poop - again remind her when she tells you that there is no bathroom and she should have done it before coming out. Then cut your outside playtime a bit shorter if you can without spoiling it for everyone else. Have had kids that hated outside pull the poop stunt to get back in the house so be aware of whether it is a game or not.

I don't do the potty outside in summer for the same reason that it isn't there year round so why teach them they have the option to not fully go before going outside.

Try to figure out if there is a difference on the days she does poop and doesn't - what is served for snack, timing, activity before going etc. and adjust if you can.

She will get more control over the next month or so meaning she will be able to push it out before going outside in most cases.