My daughter turned 2 in April and by July she was potty trained. Dry during the day and almost always at night although I still had her wear a diaper at night. Recently she has started wetting her pants again. Not fully, but it is like she uses starting to go pee as her indicator that she has to go. This results in many underwear and pants changes. I am wondering what to do about this. Is it a regression to get attention and new outfits? Is it because I am not constantly asking her if she needs to go anymore? I don't want to do something that adds to the problem instead of fixes it.
After watching her closely these last two days I decided to take her in to the doctor this morning so we could at least rule out a UTI. He said everything looked good. So at least now I can focus on the training without the worry that I'm letting an infection further irritate her system. Thanks for the advice everyone.
My youngest went through this phase shortly after training, he would wait so long he would wet a little in his undies, or start peeing before he could get his pants down. It just took some time and he got it figured out.
Yes, it's probably because you're not asking her anymore. Sometimes little ones regress, and it helps them to have reminders. Good luck!
Since the amount is small it could be an infection. Maybe you should have that checked out before you assume it's regression.
We've had bouts with regression a few times over here and after talking to a few mom friends seems pretty normal. I suggest just doing what you did before with training her and let her fall back into the habit of it again.
C.
Sounds like she's physically trained, but hasn't gotten the emotional component yet. "Being trained" carries with it a huge obligation to get to the potty on time forever after, no matter how fascinating and distracting your current activities are. Little kids are quite present-moment and not good at planning ahead or making transitions.
If it works for both of you, then I would say go on reminding her, or setting up a schedule with a timer for her to respond to, and perhaps even give her stickers or some small, immediate incentive to get to the potty when the timer goes off (though giving rewards can also have negative longer-term effects, so use cautiously). If she's close-to-ready for that long-term commitment, that should do the trick. She'll probably only need the chart/reward system for a few more weeks or months.
If it becomes a huge battle of wills to get her to go, then she's not trained, and not quite ready for it emotionally. Sometimes putting a child back in diapers gives them a few days or weeks to make that critical decision. Sometimes it's a reprieve from a burdensome obligation, and they'll be ready in a few more months. Backing away has been beneficial in a few young families I've known. When the regressing child decides they are ready and want to be out of diapers, they say so, and they finish training themselves, sometimes instantly.
I posted a similar question a few weeks ago with my son. He stopped using the toilet all together. It lasted 2 weeks- we rode it out with MANY poop and pee accidents. It stopped as quickly as it started. I now watch him more closely and "award" him to try when its been a while. Awarding involves a sticker chart. if he tries when I think its time, he gets a sticker. I don't take away for accidents, just award when its been a few hours and he doesn't protest. One good week and his Papa will take him out to lunch. Never had to award him with this sort of thing during the training process, he was just ready.
Good luck. Its VERY aggravating but it does get better.
Updated
I posted a similar question a few weeks ago with my son. He stopped using the toilet all together. It lasted 2 weeks- we rode it out with MANY poop and pee accidents. It stopped as quickly as it started. I now watch him more closely and "award" him to try when its been a while. Awarding involves a sticker chart. if he tries when I think its time, he gets a sticker. I don't take away for accidents, just award when its been a few hours and he doesn't protest. One good week and his Papa will take him out to lunch. Never had to award him with this sort of thing during the training process, he was just ready.
Good luck. Its VERY aggravating but it does get better.
Updated
I posted a similar question a few weeks ago with my son. He stopped using the toilet all together. It lasted 2 weeks- we rode it out with MANY poop and pee accidents. It stopped as quickly as it started. I now watch him more closely and "award" him to try when its been a while. Awarding involves a sticker chart. if he tries when I think its time, he gets a sticker. I don't take away for accidents, just award when its been a few hours and he doesn't protest. One good week and his Papa will take him out to lunch. Never had to award him with this sort of thing during the training process, he was just ready.
Good luck. Its VERY aggravating but it does get better.
My dd just did the same thing 2 to 3 weeks ago. She would just start peeing and hold it a little until I got her to the toilet and let the rest out. I did take her to the doctor for a bladder infection. Which she didn't have. The doctor said you just need to wait and potty train her when she is ready. That made me very upset and I wasn't going to do. She would never say she need to go anymore. She would just wait until she couldn't wait any longer. We pulled out the potty, the stickers, putting her on the pot every hour just like being trained. Once she realized she was having to sit even if she didn't have to go. She took back control, going when needed. It took a few days she is back to doing a great job. Your dd probably needs a little reminder like mine. It is important to take the time to go.
check her for a bladder infeciton
