Long-time Potty-trained 3 Year Old Having Frequent Accidents

A simple change in routine can cause a child to have accidents. My son started having night accidents the week my hubby left for NC for work!! Like you I got tired of changing his bed 4 days a week so I just started putting pull ups on him at night time. Your hubby getting laid off could be a factor in her accidents especially if there is a lot of stress in the home. Kids pick up on that sort of stuff.

What you can do with her is tell her to go potty. Don't ask if she does, make her go in there! Especially if it has been a while since she went last. The day care needs to be pro-active with this as well other wise you may end up spinning your wheels.

Good luck!
S.

Hi! My daughter is 3 and just went through the same thing. I read many comments and websites for suggestions. What seemed to work is sitting her down and saying how proud I am of her when she uses the potty like a big girl. Mommy uses the potty like a big girl too. I also laid it on thick and told her I'd be super happy and excited if she'd use the potty every time. Don't change back to pull ups, it may send her in a tailspin and show her that the behavior is ok. Next time she used the potty I made a big deal about it (hugs, kisses, dance, song, etc.). When she pooped on the potty I gave her a little treat (fruit snacks is what I grabbed the first time). Two days of that and she's back to normal. Good luck to you and your family! You'll get through this rough patch with big smiles :-)

Hey N.. I agree w/ the other ladies that it may have something to do w/ Dad and the change at home. Children are so observant!

Also, I would like to disagree w/ putting her back in pull ups. I didn't even like those during training (only @ night). I would rather suggest taking her to the store to pick up some brand new "favorite" panties and a new "big" girl outfit. Let her be part of getting new pretty panties that she won't want to mess up! Make a big deal over them. Tell her that the new outfit will be washed and waiting on her to wear after she has been accident free for 1 week!

This worked extremely well for me when I potty trained my two kids (5 & 7). They were both trained in less that 1 week.

Good luck to you. I hope your hubby is successful in getting employment soon!

God Bless,
A.

Could just be the change in circumstances at home...children are very sensitive to that, even when it is not discussed in front of them.

ALSO, if dad is now essentially a stay at home dad--and she still gets up and going to childcare, she would notice that as well. She can be having this reaction to what is going on around her, and not have the ability to articulate it.

I understand you have to hang onto her spot and he has to job hunt during the day, and I know that is a full time job....I would be inclined to cut the kid some slack. I have four kids and sometimes raising them is a 'two steps forward--one step back' proposition! Move her back into a pull-up so you can throw it away when she forgets the potty. Chances are she will hate it and go back to using the potty.

As I started reading your posting, my first thought was what has changed in your routine. Then as I finished, you sort of answered it. Dad got laid off, stress in the house, children dont' deal well with stress.
It's great that Dad can spend time with her. Relieving the stress will be difficult as you talk through job loss, job hunting, possible move with that job find, bills, etc. It won't be easy.
I suggest that you just go back to potty training again. Take her in to potty every 90 min. or when she starts that 'dance'. Keep on it for awhile and see if it helps.
Good Luck! Both with retraining and with the job hunt.

I had the same problem with my son, but it important to remember children develop and mature at different rates. Part of the learning process is learning there are consequences to our actions. Children are thrilled when they get to wear big girl or big boy underpants, but can only do so if they are going to be a big girl or big boy. If she is going to soil her clothing then maybe you need to go back to pull ups for a while. Explain to her why you are doing this and that she has to be a big girl if she want to wear her big girl or pretty panties that she has to use the potty. The pull ups are the consequence for not using the potty. This will also save you from having to clean up soiled garments.

She is a busy girl and just cant see stopping for the little things in life. This will pass with patience and understanding. Remember this also, lay offs etc... even though we do our best to minimize them to our children they still soak it up. They can not process like adults so they may regress. Be patient and do not freak out this too shall pass and she will not be being her pants until she is a teenager. Have a great day. Just my 2 cents