Potty Training Setbacks

S.,

My daughter was potty trained about the same time and she started wetting her panties last week. She'll be three next month. I asked her why she did that and she said "because I wanted to". I don't know why she wanted to but I told her to stop and she did. Seems she just chose to do that for some unknown reason. It could be something that simple. Good Luck

B.

Hello S., I had the same problem with my 4 year old a few months ago. She just started wetting her pants for no reason. Come to find out she was just holding it till she couldn't hold it anymore because she didn't want to miss out on stuff shows, games, and so on. I let her know (probably wasn't the nicest way) that only babies potty in there pants, not big girls. It took about 2 weeks to break her of this, but I did it. I told her that if she was going to potty in her pants like a baby that I would just start buying diapers again and she could be my little baby again. That made her mad and she quit. She didn't like the idea of having to wear BABY diapers and not big girl panties. To my daughter being a big girl is evertything and has been for about 1 1/2 years now. If you even say "I love you baby" to her she gets mad. That started before the wetting her pants thing did so I ran with it. It may work for you as well. It's not easy when you worked so hard to get them potty trained in the first place. Good luck with this.

Hi S.,
I think she is just not wanting to stop long enough to go potty. Maybe try instead of asking her Just say "It's time to go potty and say something like I'll going to the bathroom before you. Children love a challenge.
If she continues after different attempts, maybe you should check with her doctor.
Hope this helps!
J.
sweetsurrendercandlesllc.com

she needs to know that she is still your baby since you are expecting.
2cd she may have an infection.
i have 1 grand daughter that gets infections a lot and she wets her pants alot she is 7.
i have a 2 year old granddaughter that i took custody of from the time she was 2 months till she was 16 months her mother had a baby weeks after she came back home, she does not have anything to do with the baby nor does she fell like it is her home. she is not the baby there. but she is at her home as she calls it. good luck

Well I dont have much experience with potty training since my daughter is only 16 months old, however I have heard some things. Have you ever considered that maybe its because your haveing another baby? I heard many children want to resort back to being a baby when their mother is having another one, or after their mother has one. I dont know its just a suggestion.. hope it helps!!! GOOD LUCK

My three year old little girl did the same thing. Does she go to a daycare or in home sitter? My child does to a daycare and when I asked her why she wet herself, half of the responses were that she just didn't make it to the toilet in time. The rest of it was due to the fact that she was more interested in finishing her game or coloring her picture instead of taking the time to go potty. She'll be four on the 19th and she is doing excellent now. It should work itself out in the end. I know it's frustrating right now, but just becareful, because I have seen a child revert when a new baby comes along. So for now, Praise her when she does go to the potty and patiently explain to her that big girls always use the potty and that when her baby brother gets here that you need a "Big Girl" to help you take care of him.

It could really be either issue. A urinary tract infection could be to blame, especially if she's having any burning/itching. It might be worth a quick visit to the doctor to have a urine analysis. If you're like me, with a wait a little approach, try increasing water intake and add cranberry juice and see if it helps.

It's also getting closer to your due date. It could be possible that she's afraid of no longer being your little baby! I've always had toddlers/preschoolers help me get the nursery ready, pick out a special toy for a "birth" day present, and really talk up the "it's really cool to be a big brother/sister" thing. Some extra cuddle time, special mom-daughter activities may also be helpful. They can show her that you're not replacing her, she's still important to you, and that she is just as important for her new brother as Mom and Dad.

Good luck!

S.,

I am not sure but my opinion is there could be one of 2 possibilities. She may be nervous or anxious as mommy's belly is growing and the new baby will be soon. Or, and this is just what happened to me, my 7 year old was having the same problem even at school. I took him to the doctor and she felt his lower tummy/pelvis area and could actually feel hard stool. So, I did not give him mineral oil(like she suggested), I just upped his fiber and finally it fixed itself and also, since he is in school they allowed more bathroom breaks. I don't know if either will help, nut I know that feeling og being at your wits end.

Good Luck!

Part of it is probably the fact that you are pregnant. Lots of kids regress some when another baby is coming. It is normal. Also, is it possible that she has a UTI?

I am a practitioner of chinese medicine and would just like to tell you the way I view your daughter's "set-back".

Holding the bladder involves kidney energy meaning if it is physical you might think about whether she has been feeling tired or has been sick recently. The kidneys are located just above the waist and perhaps massaging or rubbing her lower back close to the spine before she goes to bed or when the time is right for you daily for a while.

If it is behavioral, the emotion associated with the kidneys are fear. Have you noticed her frighted more easily or is the coming new baby making her feel afraid. Has there been more stress in the household. Assure her she is loved a cared for and protected always.

How are you reacting to this? I have a co-worker who is having the exact same problem. I think this is an attention seeking behavior. Trying changing you reaction and do the exact opppsite of what you normally would.

Wow, your situation sounds just like mine. I have a three year old daughter and a 7mth old son. Your daughter is definitely regressing because you are pregnant. My daughter has been potty trained since two and about seven months into my pregnancy she started wetting her panties, and she would tell you no when you asked her about pottying. I had to start taking her even when she didn't want to go. Don't worry this too shall pass. She snapped out of it when my son was about two months old. Just make sure you pack extra clothes and underwear wherever you go.

First of all, I am going to assume that you mean she's been potty trained since 33 months (although, I would be more than impressed and want to know your secret if you managed to potty train a 1 month old! LoL)
My daughter went through this as well... one minute she was 100% potty trained and the next minute she was having daily accidents and wetting the bed every other night.
First I sat her down (at a time that was far from her last accident as I didn't want that on her mind) and I asked her if anything was making her upset... Of course she said "no" at first so I started asking her specifics (mostly about school since I know pretty much everything she goes through at home) after only a few questions I discovered that she was very upset that her teacher had left (almost to the day she started having accidents) and she just didn't like the new one as much; she was also very upset that her "best friend" had been playing more with another little girl and she was feeling rejected....I took measures to explain both situations to her and how they weren't as bad as they seemed and even talked to her new teacher and told her what was going on....
In less than a week she was accident free again. I work in the mental health field for children and have been taught that sudden interuptions in a previously potty trained child can mean anxiety or stress....not necessarily about anything we would consider serious but to a 3 year old losing a best friend or any changes in her routine can lead to major stress...talk to your daughter and see if you can identify any changes or anything that seems to really be bothering her.... then take measures to make it better (whether it be a good talk about how things will get better or giving her an actual solution) If that doesn't work try asking her MD for ideas....it's pretty normal for kids to back track on potty training and you shouldn't worry too much.... We also found it was helpful to tell her (rather than ask) that she needed to use the potty...at least until she was going on her own again...Good luck!!

Hey there! I read your post and thought I would respond. I have a four-year-old daughter. You may want to take her for a visit to her pediatrician to rule out any physical issues like a urinary tract infection or bladder infection. Another thing to consider is that there is probably a lot of activity going on right now revolving around the new baby. She may be feeling left our or anxious about the new arrival. My daughter went through a period where she was just too busy to stop and go. She was afraid she would miss something. We just took her to the bathroom frequently even if she didn't say she had to go. It worked itself out after a couple of weeks.
Hope this helps!

Does your daughter know that you're expecting a baby in March? Is she feeling "replaced" by a baby?

Hi S.- keep in mind that anything from major life/schedule changes to a UTI can cause this to happen. Also, I remember that my daughter had issues one time right around a big abilities development (what it was, I can't think of right now!!).

As long as it's not a UTI (and you'd probably know that), time will take care of everything. Keep in mind that when you're constantly asking if she needs to go potty, you've trained yourself just as much as you've trained your daughter. LOL!

Good luck!
J.

As they get older, they get more involved in things and don't want to take the time to go and will often have accidents.
As far as physical, you may ask her does it burn when she pees and try and find out if there is a problem or not.
It could be christmas anxiety or something in her life that is making her anxious. Observe!
Just be patient. This may be nothing and just one of those little bumps in the road.

I had this same problem when my oldest daughter was 2. She did really well for a while, but then began to wet her pants several times a day. Some said she was wanting attention because of her baby sister, but I don't think so. If I pushed her to go to the bathroom, it seemed she would wet her pants more. I just laid off and she started back to the potty by herself in about a week or two. Now my youngest, who is two, is doing the same thing, and she is definitely not looking for attention.

Both of my girls did this. I really tried to not stress over potty training. I would encourage them but also let them go at their own pace. Both of my girls were potty trained for a number of months before they were 3 years old and then started having accidents. I told them both they would have to go back to wearing diapers if they continued to have accidents. I did not let them think they were doing anything wrong I just told them maybe they are not ready yet for big girl panties yet. They both went back to diapers for about a month and then they both told me no more diapers and they never had an accident again.

Hey!! Just to let you know, you are not the only one having this problem. My oldest daughter is now 5 and we have had alot of problems with her potty training. when she was 3 she done very well and like you said she could make it threw the nite without weting the bed. But in the past year we have expierenced some family difficulties and it seems like since then we have went downhill with her being a big girl and going to the bathroom. she doesnt do it often but we have our days. sometimes we can go all week and not have 1 accident and then the next day we have 5. I think alot of her problem has to do with stress and being nervous. If you think about it how else is a child suposed to deal with things there not used to. i am not saying this is your problem i just wanted to share my story with you to let you now you are not alone!!!!!!!

i had the same issue with my 3yr old daughter when i was pregnant with my 5 month old. it's just a phase--because of the baby. my daughter is now back on track--i suggest buying more underwear and pull-ups. hang in there!!

S.,

Hi there I think that with her Baby Brother on the way that she is feeling kind of left out. I know as the months gets closer to the time for him to be born you will see changes in her. Some will be good and others will not be. I'm sure you all are getting everything ready for the new baby. Let her help you in some ways. Let her be apart of all of that and let her know that no matter what she will be the big Sister. I know its hard when there that age to do that sometimes we don't think they know what your talking about but they know more than we think they do. Also you may want to talk to her Dr about whats going on. You never know there could be something going on and there so little they don't know how to tell you. I have a 3 year old daughter and she was sick a wile back and had to have meds and she got a yeast inf from them and she had a really hard time with the pottying wile that was going on. I hope that this has helped you in some way. God bless you and your Family and Merry Christmas.

My son is similar, except I still put him in a diaper when he sleeps (both nap and at night). I just attribute it to him not wanting to stop playing to go potty. (Do make sure it's not something mental going on in her life--is your job or your husband's job suddenly stressful which may be causing stress in the home, and therefore stress in your daughter's life? It can happen.) I know when my son needs to go potty, because whenever I give him some juice to drink, he guzzles it and then has to pee a few times after about 15-20 minutes. So after giving him his juice, I'll set my mental clock to watch him to make sure he's going, and if not, remind him before he wets his pants. If he says he doesn't have to go, and then 5 minutes later he's all wet, I do punish him for that. Usually he takes himself just fine (and has for months), so I know he has the capability....just not the desire sometimes.

One more thing--does your daughter get positive reinforcement for wetting her pants? Does she get to spend more time with you (since she's getting washed, new clothes, etc.) than she would if she behaved herself? If that may be the case, you might need to step up the amount of time you spend with her--read her extra stories, turn off the TV and play with her at night, or just involve her in the activities that occupy your nights, whether that's cleaning the house or doing laundry (she can help put clothes in the dryer, or can hand you clothes from the basket to put into the washer).