“Toilet Anxiety in Toddlers – How Did You Handle It?”

[Denis_8]

Hello!
I'm a dad from Latvia and I’d really like to hear from other parents who might have faced something similar.

My daughter refused to poop in the toilet until the age of 5. She was otherwise healthy, understood everything, and had no problem using the potty or toilet for urination. But when it came to bowel movements, she absolutely refused to go in the toilet or on the potty. She would ask for a diaper, hold it in for days, and sometimes become very anxious or distressed.

We even spoke with a psychologist who said this can be a form of anxiety or a fear of losing control. But as a parent, it’s really difficult — you don’t know how to help without making things worse.

Have you ever dealt with something like this?
How did you handle it?
What helped — or didn’t help — in your situation?

I’d truly appreciate any advice or personal stories.
Thank you in advance!