3 And Half Yr Old with a "Going" Problem.

My 9 year old went through something similar recently. She was going very often...to the point where her teacher was concerned about a UTI or something to that effect. We went to the doctor and all tests came back negative. The doctor suggested it was anxiety. My kids is a bit nervous by nature, nothing in particular was stressing her out- but she has a busy full life with school, sports, little sister, etc..
We've worked really hard on having a little more peace at home...just trying to not have it so hectic...especially at nighttime. She has DEFINITELY improved since we've mellowed out the home front.And the teacher set limits on how often she can go at school.

Maybe your son has a bit of anxiety. Or maybe he is like my brother-in-law and just has a dime sized bladder :)

Personally, I think that because he's 3.5 (which is still pretty young in regard to potty training), he thinks he has to go everytime he feels an urge. My daughter did the same thing. She will be 4 in January, and until recently, she is finally going longer in between potty visits. It got better when we were in Disneyland this past October because we'd be in a long line and she would say she had to go and I had to tell her to hold it or else we'd lose our place in line and she did. I'm thinking that it may have helped her realize that she could hold it. Maybe practice with him so that he knows he CAN hold it if there isn't a bathroom nearby. Don't stop 3 times during that 15 minute drive. Tell him he has to hold it. Take dry clothes just in case, but work on having him learn to hold it and not have to go at every urge. I would hesitate just putting him on drugs right away since he's so young. If he were 6 yrs old or something and had that problem, I'd be more worried, but at 3.5, he's still practically a baby who is just learning how to control all of those functions. Good luck.

My son takes Desmopressin, I have the same problem with my son he is now 14yrs old. I would never make my child hold their pee or poop. That's insane and I'm glad I never did. My son was 3yrs old when his daycare teachers were telling me he was going every 5 to 10 minutes to the bathroom to pee. Well I started to pay more attention to him going I kept a log the date and time if he pee'd or pooped and if his poop was soft hard etc...I took him to see a pediatric urologist and they did an ultrasound on him to measure his bladder. Lord behold it was smaller than normal and overactive. He has been on medication since that time and can tell you it affected his self esteem as he got older and asked if he could spend the night at friends homes. He was to embarassed as he had to wear pull-ups at night. The couple of nights that he did he stayed awake so he wouldn't wet himself. As years went by I was getting frustrated because he was getting older and then the doctor would say let's test him out and take a pill away at this time and see how he does well he would have to pee, so we new by doing that his bladder was still not mature. Yes the pills did help ALOT! He felt better sat longer in his seat had special doctors orders he had unlimited restroom access with any teacher. Never had a problem there, I started educating myself about this problem and realized it is what is it his overactive bladder. He now at 14 only takes them at night not during the day because his bladder has matured sometimes at night he will wet. But I was told by his doctor that he has seen many kids have it til they are in their early 20's. Wow!
Your son needs to see a Pediatric Urologist get him properly evaluated I was amazed how many children are affected by this. Good Luck!

My son who is 4 (today!) did the same thing until I started 'limiting' bathroom breaks. I also think he had the same problem someone else mentioned, with not emptying his bladder all the way. What we did was just have him hold it a little longer...say "When we get to daycare you can go potty" or "After we go down the bread aisle we'll go potty" that kind of thing, then encourage him to get all of his pee out. Tell him you won't be going potty again until you get home or after lunch or something. Of course don't make it hours or anything, but if he can hold it for 15 minutes at home, he can certainly do it elsewhere without a problem. Try and distract him. It could also be something he does when he's nervous.

Why don't you try playing a little game with him.
Do not give him alot to drink before leaving for daycare and make sure he goes before you go out the door.
Then you tell him you are going to play a game.
Say yesterday we had to stop for the potty 3 times....
I wonder if we can only have to stop 2 times today.

Also another thing that might be happening is when he goes in to go into the potty he may not be emptying his bladder all the way. If each potty trip is only a few seconds. Then that is most likely what is going on.