My 3yo just announced "Mom, I just dropped a deuce." Thanks, DH.

My husband taught our 2.5 DS about the "shock absorber" before pooping...that is, putting TP in first to prevent splash back. You just have to laugh...who cares.

OP, are you sure that the courtesy flush has introduced "unnecessary anxiety"? Both of my kids (2 and 4) love love love flushing the toilet. If I'm in the bathroom, they knock on the door and ask if they can "help" me flush. Maybe your 3 year old likes the sound of the flush, or the thrill of being able to do something that grown-ups do. This is not something for you to be so worked up over.

Alright alright, looks like husband wins this one. He is free to come over and teach the courtesy flush to members of your family. thanks for the insights!

Your husband was being socially responsible. I thank him!

OP, I'll trade places with you. For the life of me I cannot get either of my boys to flush the toilet. And they are in elementary school. I've started charging them every time I find a surprise in the toilet and it still doesn't work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now my 3 yo is aware of poop smells and will flush while on the toilet compulsively. I was so annoyed husband taught dc about this since DC is 3 and to teach dc to be self conscious is ridiculous. This is typical of husband. Always trying to "teach" them and to me it comes off totally crazy and rigid. Like he's trying too hard. I feel bad for dc because the expectations are nuts.

This is what husbands do, OP. It's in the male gene. My DH is the same way. Get over it. Your kids will be fine.

New poster here. My DH is generally sweet, kind and loving, but he does this too. Drives me up a wall.

OP here: I meant that husband brought the notion of being self conscious to a 3 year old who previously didn't feel self conscious. DC now flushes multiple times while pooping. This is unnecessary anxiety for a 3 year old.

As a tangent-- my DH has issues with poop too. He has an extremely strong preference for pooping before his morning shower. He was having such a strong disgust response while changing DD's poop diapers that I told him he was going to give her issues. He managed to get it under control. Just some quirks...

If the poop is under water, it cannot stink.

What is a courtesy flush? Is this where you try and flush at the same time it comes out?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell that to my DH and DD. Both will just sit there on the toilet while the whole upper level of the house fills with a sh(#$ smell. Yes I taught my DD about the courtesy flush and told her that everyone's poop is stinky. I certainly don't think it made her feel self conscious.

just sitting around once the action is completed, you mean?

I suppose if you're reading something particularly interesting, then it may take unnecessarily longer. . .

I think some people have 2 BMs in one sitting... separated by a lengthy period of time or something!

Maybe get him some poo-pourri for his stocking?

Anonymous wrote:Tell that to my DH and DD. Both will just sit there on the toilet while the whole upper level of the house fills with a sh(#$ smell. Yes I taught my DD about the courtesy flush and told her that everyone's poop is stinky. I certainly don't think it made her feel self conscious.

just sitting around once the action is completed, you mean?

I suppose if you're reading something particularly interesting, then it may take unnecessarily longer. . .

Tell that to my DH and DD. Both will just sit there on the toilet while the whole upper level of the house fills with a sh(#$ smell. Yes I taught my DD about the courtesy flush and told her that everyone's poop is stinky. I certainly don't think it made her feel self conscious.