My Body Makes Poo: A Four-Week Baby Unit
Big-Picture Goals
With a caring adult’s help, the baby will:
- Notice and name simple body parts and body actions, such as “belly,” “bottom,” “eat,” and “poo.”
- Learn that poo is something the body makes and gets rid of.
- Practice healthy routines before and after nappy or diaper changes.
- Communicate comfort, discomfort, or the need for a change through sounds, gestures, facial expressions, or movement.
- Explore body awareness through songs, books, movement, and safe sensory play.
- Build positive, calm feelings about toileting without pressure or expectation of toilet training.
Unit Materials
- Clean nappies or diapers, wipes, changing mat, and disposal bag
- Baby-safe mirror
- Board books about babies, bodies, nappies or diapers, and toileting
- Soft doll or stuffed animal
- Washcloths, soft towels, and comfortable clothing
- Baby-safe sensory items, such as a sealed sensory bag, soft fabric, or a rattle
- Simple songs or caregiver-made chants
- Paper and caregiver writing materials for observations
- Soap and warm water for adult handwashing
Safety note: All activities are caregiver-led. Never allow a baby to touch or taste poo, wipes, nappy contents, soap, or small objects. Follow safe nappy-changing practices, and contact a healthcare professional about blood in poo, repeated vomiting, severe pain, a swollen belly, signs of dehydration, or ongoing constipation or diarrhea.
Week 1: My Body and My Belly
Progression: The baby begins by noticing body parts and simple body words. The caregiver models calm, respectful language during everyday routines.
Day 1: Hello, Body
I do: The caregiver gently points to the baby’s belly, hands, feet, and bottom while saying, “This is your body.” We do: During a cuddle, the caregiver pauses so the baby can look, move, or make a sound.
Day 2: Belly Talk
I do: The caregiver says, “Food goes in your mouth. Your belly helps.” We do: The caregiver gently pats or rubs the baby’s belly only if the baby is comfortable, then watches for smiles, relaxation, turning away, or fussing.
Day 3: Mirror Faces
We do: The caregiver and baby look in a baby-safe mirror and make simple faces. The caregiver says, “Happy face,” “sleepy face,” or “I see you,” helping the baby notice feelings and body signals.
Day 4: Body Song
I do: The caregiver sings a short song using simple words: “Belly, belly, bottom too; bodies do what bodies do.” We do: The baby may listen, kick, wave, or vocalize while the caregiver names those actions.
Day 5: Change-Time Words
I do: Before a nappy or diaper change, the caregiver says, “Your nappy is wet or dirty. We will clean you.” We do: The caregiver uses the same calm words each time and gives the baby a moment to respond through movement or sound.
Simple Check for Understanding
Show the baby the mirror or gently point to the belly and bottom while naming one body word. Notice whether the baby looks, reaches, kicks, vocalizes, or otherwise responds; any response counts as participation.
Week 2: What Is Poo?
Progression: After learning body words, the baby is introduced to the simple idea that the body makes poo and lets it out. The focus is observation and language, not toilet training.
Day 1: Poo Is a Body Thing
I do: The caregiver says, “Your body makes poo. Poo comes out in your nappy.” We do: During a change, the caregiver uses a neutral voice and avoids showing the baby the nappy contents.
Day 2: Eat and Poo
I do: The caregiver connects familiar routines by saying, “You eat. Your body works. Later, your body may make poo.” We do: The caregiver follows the baby’s cues for hunger, fullness, comfort, and rest.
Day 3: The Doll’s Nappy
I do: Using a clean doll and clean nappy, the caregiver pretends, “Doll has poo. Doll needs a clean nappy.” We do: The baby watches or touches only the clean doll and materials while the caregiver models gentle care.
Day 4: Listen and Notice
We do: The caregiver watches for natural signs such as grunting, facial changes, stillness, or pushing, without assuming what they mean. The caregiver calmly says, “Your body is working,” then offers comfort or a change when needed.
Day 5: Poo Words
I do: The caregiver repeats a few consistent words: “poo,” “nappy,” “clean,” and “wash.” We do: The caregiver pauses after each word to give the baby time to look, move, smile, or make a sound.
Simple Check for Understanding
During a clean pretend-doll routine, say “poo” and “clean nappy.” Look for any change in attention, movement, facial expression, or vocalization. Do not expect the baby to repeat words.
Week 3: Clean, Comfortable, and Healthy
Progression: The baby now connects poo with a caring routine: notice, change, clean, wash, and comfort. The caregiver emphasizes that bodies and changes are normal and handled gently.
Day 1: Change Routine
I do: The caregiver narrates each step: “Nappy off. Wipe. Clean nappy on.” We do: The caregiver offers a safe choice, such as “Do you want the soft cloth or the rattle?” and accepts the baby’s response.
Day 2: Wash Hands
I do: After the change, the caregiver washes hands with soap and warm water while saying, “Wash hands.” We do: The baby watches the water or hears the routine song from a safe distance.
Day 3: Comfortable or Uncomfortable
We do: The caregiver notices the baby’s cues and labels them simply: “You are calm,” “You are wiggly,” or “You need a break.” The caregiver stops, comforts, or changes position when the baby shows distress.
Day 4: Healthy Body Habits
I do: The caregiver models simple habits: eating suitable foods, drinking as advised for the baby’s age, resting, moving, and washing hands. We do: The caregiver uses a gentle chant: “Eat, rest, move, poo, clean.”
Day 5: Clean-Doll Practice
You do with help: The baby may hold a clean cloth or pat the clean doll while the caregiver completes a pretend change. The caregiver says, “Gentle hands,” and praises safe participation: “You helped gently.”
Simple Check for Understanding
Offer the baby a clean cloth and say, “Clean.” Observe whether the baby looks toward it, reaches, pats, or vocalizes. The caregiver can also ask, “Wash hands?” and then demonstrate the action.
Week 4: Communicating and Reviewing
Progression: The baby reviews body words, poo words, and care routines while practicing ways to communicate needs. The final activity celebrates participation rather than measuring toilet use.
Day 1: My Signals
I do: The caregiver identifies the baby’s usual signals for a wet or dirty nappy, discomfort, or wanting a pause. We do: The caregiver responds consistently with words such as, “I hear you. Let’s check.”
Day 2: Choose a Routine Song
We do: The caregiver offers two songs or two safe sounds and follows the baby’s gaze, reach, or movement to choose one. The caregiver sings during a calm change or pretend-doll routine.
Day 3: Body Story
I do: The caregiver tells a very short story: “Food goes in. Your body works. Poo comes out. We clean and wash.” We do: The caregiver pauses after each part for the baby to look, move, or make a sound.
Day 4: Real-Life Practice
You do with help: During an ordinary nappy change, the baby participates by holding a clean item, looking toward the caregiver, or signaling a pause. The caregiver describes the routine calmly and keeps the baby safe.
Day 5: Review and Celebrate
We do: Review the mirror, doll, body song, and clean-change words. The caregiver celebrates the baby’s communication by saying, “You showed me,” “You noticed,” or “You helped.”
Simple Check for Understanding
Use three familiar words—“belly,” “poo,” and “clean”—during a short routine. Record which words or actions attract the baby’s attention. Responses may include eye contact, reaching, smiling, kicking, turning away, sounds, or relaxed body movement.
End-of-Unit Project or Assessment: My Body-Care Routine
The caregiver creates a brief, baby-friendly routine using a mirror, clean doll, song, and clean nappy. The baby participates in any comfortable way while the caregiver demonstrates the sequence:
- Notice the body: “Belly and bottom.”
- Name the event: “Poo may be in the nappy.”
- Care gently: “Change and clean.”
- Wash hands: “Wash hands.”
- Comfort and celebrate: “All clean. You are safe.”
Success Criteria
- The caregiver uses calm, consistent body and care words.
- The baby shows attention or participation in at least one way.
- The caregiver notices and responds to the baby’s comfort signals.
- The baby experiences poo and nappy care as a normal, respectful routine.
- No pressure is placed on the baby to sit on a toilet, use a potty, or produce a particular response.
Caregiver Reflection
Record one body word the baby noticed, one communication signal the baby used, and one part of the routine the baby seemed to enjoy or dislike. Use these observations to adapt future routines and revisit the unit when the child is developmentally ready for later toilet-learning conversations.