Why does my baby go to a corner to poo in their nappy?

Picture the scene, you are sitting in your living room. Then out of the corner of your eye, your toddler who was happily playing a second ago, gets up and walks to the corner of the room…

They stand there, looking focused. Then one minute later…. A whiff of poo comes into your nostrils. In short, they are going there as they feel safe.

Has your child gone to a corner to poo?

They probably have/ will, but even if they haven’t it is an important signal as to when your child wants to go to the toilet.

What’s happening?

In short, your child is going to the corner to poo or wee as they feel safer doing this and want privacy.

Why does this happen?

I believe this is hard wired in human nature and part of our evolution. When you are going to the toilet you are in a vulnerable position. And going back thousands of years in the wild, if you are in a vulnerable position it can leave you open to attack from predators.

If you are in a corner, when you go to the toilet, you can see any potential threat coming. This is why I think children go to corners to poo and wee as they feel safe.

Primal instinct

It’s a primal instinct. Just think about when you sit around a campfire. It's mesmerising, isn’t it?

It keeps us warm and enables our survival in the cold as well offers potential protection from predators. To keep the fire going you have to watch it doesn’t go out, which could explain why humans are mesmerised by fire.  

By doing so it helped our ancestors survive harsh winters. The same can be said about going into corners to poo, as you are less vulnerable to attack from predators.

What have campfires got to do with potty training?

When potty training early or using Elimination Communication, spotting signs and signals is a major component of ensuring your child goes on the potty rather than in their nappy.

Spot the signs of your child going to a corner as it’s a good time too get them on the pot.

So when potty training, don’t put the potty in the middle of the room, put it in a corner/ more closed/ private space so your child feels safe and comfortable.